From left: Robert Zullo, Italia Romano, Leah Palermo, Caitlin Mumma, Zoe Johnson, Kaylee Pilate, Kendall Grossman, Roberta Abney, Tanner Babeo, Ryan Nogle, Aaron McCloskey, Artie. Prioretti, Connor Crews, Ethan McMaster, Brian Crowe Slippery Rock University faculty and students who worked at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
February 16, 2024
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania — It's 4 a.m. in Las Vegas, and two Slippery Rock University students are awake, staring at something that seems like a dream to them. Italia Romano and Artie Prioletti were cleared to watch what would become the most-watched event in U.S. television history in a few hours: the competitive side of Super Bowl LVIII.
More than 123 million people watched the game, and 15 SRU students and three faculty members had the opportunity to work on-site at Super Bowl LVIII in the week leading up to the game.
Romano and Prioletti, junior sports management majors, said they were thrilled and had tears in their eyes when they took one look at the field inside Allegiant Stadium before dawn.
“It feels surreal that we were there,” Romano said. “Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would have an opportunity like this.”
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Prioletti said. “Just being able to be in the Super Bowl was awesome, because I know there's a lot of people who can't say that. It was a blessing to be there, and it was a very rewarding experience.”
SRU's Sports Management program was selected by the NFL to provide students with experience working at the league's marquee events. SRU was one of the few schools in the country invited by the NFL to send college students to the event.
“This opportunity solidifies our position as one of the nation's elite undergraduate sport management programs,” said Brian Crowe, professor and chair of the Department of Sport Management. “I could not be more proud of the professional conduct of our students and how they truly represented his SRU well.”
SRU students will help staff the NFL Fan Experience on February 9th, assist with the Bart Starr Awards Breakfast on February 10th, and event staff at Allegiant Stadium on the morning and afternoon of game day, February 11th. We entertained. At kickoff, they had finished a full day's work and returned to their hotel to watch the game.
An estimated 600 college students from across the country volunteered for Super Bowl LVIII activities through various businesses and organizations. Because SRU was limited to 12 students, sport management majors were selected to participate by department faculty based on an application process. Based on the outstanding game day service provided at Pittsburgh's Acrizier Stadium last fall, three additional students were selected by Allied Universal to assist with event security and operations.
“We are extremely proud to be part of a division with such a strong position in the industry,” Romano said. “SRU has so many connections and a strong network of alumni that will give you access to these opportunities.”
SRU students have worked with supervising professionals in a variety of capacities, including John Radke '02, director of facilities operations for the Washington Commanders, and Randy Bokowski '07, branch manager for the security firm Contemporary Services Corporation. I met with alumni who worked at the Bowl.
Furthermore, since the group returned via Los Angeles, they visited Connor Dodd (15), a sales representative for the Los Angeles Rams, and offered him a tour of SoFi Stadium and Olivia Beach, the site of the Super Bowl two years ago. , '20, the University of Southern California's Athletic Compliance Coordinator gave us a tour of USC's facilities.
SRU students also participated in a professional development networking event for college students hosted by the NFL at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“Networking with other students and people who were managers I worked with in the NFL was great,” Romano said. “They were great and I hope to keep in touch with them.”
SRU professors were also surprised by the experience. In addition to Crowe, the SRU group also included Roberta Abney, associate professor of sport management, and Robert Zullo, instructor of sport management. Abney has appeared in no fewer than seven other Super Bowls during his career.
“I've never seen anything this big,” Crowe said. “It was great to see all the little details and how important they are, not just on game day, but throughout the week.”
Romano and Prioletti said they appreciate engaging with kids at the NFL Fan Experience, throwing footballs and practicing as part of the league's Play 60 initiative. They also benefited from participating in the organization of such a large-scale event and learned how they could apply the lessons to smaller events in the future.
SRU Sports Management
Professor Robert Zullo, Professor Roberta
Abney and Brian Crowe.
“One of the things I continue to learn is that there are so many more jobs out there and so much more that can be done,” Romano said. “It was eye-opening to see how much these events cost. Seeing the behind-the-scenes of event management is definitely something we can apply to our careers.”
“I would love to work in the sports industry, but there will be long days and long nights,” Prioletti said. “This type of work is what I want to do and I really enjoyed the whole experience.”
SRU students selected to work in the NFL include:
- Tanner Babeo is a senior sports management major from North Huntingdon.
- Connor Crews is a junior sports management major from St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Kendall Grossman, a senior sports management major from Alt.
- Zoe Johnson is a senior sports manager from North Olmsted, Ohio, who is a dual sport management major with majors in sports management and interdisciplinary programs.
- Aaron McCloskey, Clearfield College senior sports management major.
- Ethan McMaster, a junior sports management major from Mars.
- Caitlin Mumma, a sophomore sports management major from New Cumberland.
- Ryan Nogle, a junior sports management major from Dillsburg;
- Leah Palermo is a junior sports management and dance double major from Warrendale.
- Kaylee Pilate, senior sports management major at Gibsonia University.
- Artie Prioletti, a junior sports management major from Newcastle.
- Romano, Italy, junior sports management major from Rochester, New York.
The SRU students selected by Allied Universal are:
- Brandon Boyles is a second-year sports management major at Slippery Rock University.
- Brayden Himmelberger, a sophomore sports management major from Morseville.
- Ty Kefauver is a sophomore sports management major from Middletown, Maryland.
For more information about SRU's sports management program, please visit the SRU website.
Media Contact: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu
