Getting in on the Action: From March Madness to the NFL Draft

This spring, students from St. John Fisher University’s sport management program traveled to the NCAA March Madness and the NFL Draft to see firsthand what it takes to host these national sporting events.

Experiential learning at Fisher places students in settings external to the traditional classroom where they engage in hands-on experiences, gain knowledge, and develop skill sets applicable to realistic career and professional opportunities. 

Making March Madness Magic Happen

In March, four students headed down the thruway to get hands-on experience at the highest level of collegiate sports, the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament in Buffalo. Nate Canale, Colin Geelan, Connor Levy, and Tyler Liebold were accompanied by Paul Hemingway, director of experiential learning and outreach for the sport management program.  

The group worked behind the scenes throughout the tournament, supporting event operations, media relations, and pre- and post-game press conferences, serving as valuable members of the tournament team who contributed in a very real way.

Geelan, who is a sport management major with a minor in economics, served as a member of the telecommunications help desk along with other gameday operations. “I learned a lot about what goes into setting up and running large scale events such as March Madness,” he shared.

The experience also provided clarity for his career path. “I have been going back and forth between event management or the business side of sport. This experience has given me more firsthand experience in event management and has strengthened my interest in the field.”

For students looking to participate in these types of experiences, Geelan encourages them to show a strong interest in the major and get involved with the Sport Management Club. “Most importantly in my opinion, look for and take as many opportunities as possible within the industry. The Fisher education is one of the best in the world but there’s no better teacher than firsthand experience.”

Behind the Picks at the NFL Draft 

Eleven students traveled to Pittsburgh with Hemingway in April for the NFL Draft, including Eva Buchukovska, Xander Burke, Nate Canale, Brendan Johnson, Mikayla Miller, Ally Nickson, Xander Ranc, Charlie Roberts, Christian Robinson, Chloe Ward, and Teá Weinstein.

The group worked as part of the NFL Draft Experience team, focusing on guest experience, fan engagement, and serving as ambassadors for the NFL throughout the event. They helped fans across a variety of interactive areas, including photo ops, the 40-Yard Dash, Vertical Jump, Autograph Stage, and overall, making sure fans were entertained. 

“They really did a great job creating a welcoming, high-energy environment, and we heard a lot of positive feedback about their professionalism,” said Hemingway.

A main part of their role was being visible, helpful, and positive when answering questions, giving directions, troubleshooting where needed, and keeping things running smoothly as fans moved through the space. 

The three-day event welcomed over 800,000 fans, requiring students to be adaptable and problem-solvers. Ranc, who is graduating this spring with a B.S. in sport management and minors in data analytics and economics, shared how Fisher has prepared them for moments of uncertainty. 

“In sport management, we’ve always been taught that, in sports, you never know the outcome, how things are going to work out, and how hard it is to plan, but we’ve worked through situations, in the classroom and on the job, that have taught us how to think on our feet the best,” he said. 

“Something I took away from this experience was how lucky we are to get these opportunities through our experiential learning. Our major isn’t just sitting in classrooms all day every day; we get the chance to go out there and actually do the job and see it firsthand instead of just hearing it from people in the media,” added Robinson, who is also a senior sport management major. 

To other Fisher students interested in experiential learning opportunities, sophomore Buchukovska, who is majoring in sport management with a marketing minor, shared her advice. 

“Accept every task offered, because everything is a learning experience. Most importantly, go into it with a positive attitude and have fun with the opportunity,” she said.