Sunday, July 22, 2007
2007 College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
Okay, I need to pre-empt this by stating...all of the pictures are from my phone so do not give me crap about quality...
The College Football Hall of Fame just celebrated it's annual enshrinement and this year I was a part of that! To be honest, ever since I began my new position there (only a month or so ago) I have been almost DREADING the event. Everyone has been so wrapped up in it that as an "Event Supervisor" they were making me nervous! HOWEVER once the big event arrived I HAD A BLAST!
Thursday evening was the VIP reception and the staff team was playing ALL POSITIONS. I for one had a part in acting as "security" while the VIPs arrived and walked across the street from their hotel in order to "protect" them from autograph seekers. Okay, have you seen me? Have you seen a Football Player? I was having a total Charlie's Angel moment and looked at my shoes and decided that I was prepared...I have 3 inch heels and I am NOT afraid to use them! The reality of the situation is that I was just using my abilities to keep things flowing smoothly and being kind but stern to people who might approach the VIPs that night.
Friday 8am I reported for duty and was given quick instructions on how to operate and drive a scissor lift and spent a couple hours in it doing some decorating. Friday Evening was the Beach Party...There was food, and fun and music and VIPs mingling and having a good time. (By 10am I was sunburned - appropriate for a beach party right? -and was primarily on my feet until 11pm and I was EXHAUSTED and wanted to trade my feet in by the time I got home)
Back in Saturday at 7am to prepare for (more time in the scissor lift) the Parade and Fan Festival which included the celebrity flag football game, football clinic for the kids, lots of inflatables for the kids at the Kids Zone (which I DID NOT get pictures of) and the Enshrinement Ceremony - which not only was I off the clock for, I was done in time to hit the 7:30 pm service at church while the ceremony was happening, nice relaxing church.
Friday and Saturday each had autograph sessions scheduled and, for me - not being a sports fan, I found it funny when I arrived Friday at 8am to find people had camped overnight to purchase tickets to them. I don't love anyone enough to camp out in line for them....well, maybe Jesus...but other than that I doubt it. Both autograph sessions were sold out very quickly on Friday...many people were disappointed.
One thing I did enjoy was being in the Pressbox to help make sure that the autograph line went quick and smooth. It was fun talking to these guys...by the way>>>they are HUMAN. They have families and friends and a life outside of football. The ones I had a chance to speak to are kind and intelligent, and funny. During the first session I was stationed between Frank Sheptock and Mike Rozier. Frank Sheptock is just flippin nice and down to Earth and I kept running into his sister during the weekend who is just as nice and if it weren't for the VIP credentials I would have sworn they were South Bend residents. Mike Rozier is...funny, and quite a character. He could not open his beverage bottle and asked if I had any keys and when I told him the key he chose to use happened to be the key to a church he found it rather amusing considering the beverage. He was like the class clown for the first autograph session.
The second session I was with Chad Hennings and Jessie Tuggle. Chad Hennings and I chatted about the Air Force and he gave me some direction to help Breanna get into the field that she would like to pursue when she begins her journey toward enlistment. Did you know he had to sign a special waiver in order to be a pilot in the USAF because of his height? Apparently there are torso length limitations that they prefer to adhere to. While I was chatting with Jessie Tuggle, I found that he is now coaching high school football and one of his kids is on the team. I guess that both his kids are very good athletes (according to their proud father) and that we should probably watch for them in the future. He was very kind and you could really hear his love for his family when he spoke of them.
So many things to share, but I hesitate to blog a novel - and --though I am exhausted, sunburned, scraped, scratched, bruised, and sore...I am glad I had the opportunity to take part in this event. It was interesting and totally different than what I am used to doing and it was a great learning experience for me. It also gave me the opportunity to spend more time with the College Football Hall of Fame staff and see everyone pitch in and try to create a fun atmosphere for our community.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
2007 College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
Okay, I need to pre-empt this by stating...all of the pictures are from my phone so do not give me crap about quality...
The College Football Hall of Fame just celebrated it's annual enshrinement and this year I was a part of that! To be honest, ever since I began my new position there (only a month or so ago) I have been almost DREADING the event. Everyone has been so wrapped up in it that as an "Event Supervisor" they were making me nervous! HOWEVER once the big event arrived I HAD A BLAST!
Thursday evening was the VIP reception and the staff team was playing ALL POSITIONS. I for one had a part in acting as "security" while the VIPs arrived and walked across the street from their hotel in order to "protect" them from autograph seekers. Okay, have you seen me? Have you seen a Football Player? I was having a total Charlie's Angel moment and looked at my shoes and decided that I was prepared...I have 3 inch heels and I am NOT afraid to use them! The reality of the situation is that I was just using my abilities to keep things flowing smoothly and being kind but stern to people who might approach the VIPs that night.
Friday 8am I reported for duty and was given quick instructions on how to operate and drive a scissor lift and spent a couple hours in it doing some decorating. Friday Evening was the Beach Party...There was food, and fun and music and VIPs mingling and having a good time. (By 10am I was sunburned - appropriate for a beach party right? -and was primarily on my feet until 11pm and I was EXHAUSTED and wanted to trade my feet in by the time I got home)
Back in Saturday at 7am to prepare for (more time in the scissor lift) the Parade and Fan Festival which included the celebrity flag football game, football clinic for the kids, lots of inflatables for the kids at the Kids Zone (which I DID NOT get pictures of) and the Enshrinement Ceremony - which not only was I off the clock for, I was done in time to hit the 7:30 pm service at church while the ceremony was happening, nice relaxing church.
Friday and Saturday each had autograph sessions scheduled and, for me - not being a sports fan, I found it funny when I arrived Friday at 8am to find people had camped overnight to purchase tickets to them. I don't love anyone enough to camp out in line for them....well, maybe Jesus...but other than that I doubt it. Both autograph sessions were sold out very quickly on Friday...many people were disappointed.
One thing I did enjoy was being in the Pressbox to help make sure that the autograph line went quick and smooth. It was fun talking to these guys...by the way>>>they are HUMAN. They have families and friends and a life outside of football. The ones I had a chance to speak to are kind and intelligent, and funny. During the first session I was stationed between Frank Sheptock and Mike Rozier. Frank Sheptock is just flippin nice and down to Earth and I kept running into his sister during the weekend who is just as nice and if it weren't for the VIP credentials I would have sworn they were South Bend residents. Mike Rozier is...funny, and quite a character. He could not open his beverage bottle and asked if I had any keys and when I told him the key he chose to use happened to be the key to a church he found it rather amusing considering the beverage. He was like the class clown for the first autograph session.
The second session I was with Chad Hennings and Jessie Tuggle. Chad Hennings and I chatted about the Air Force and he gave me some direction to help Breanna get into the field that she would like to pursue when she begins her journey toward enlistment. Did you know he had to sign a special waiver in order to be a pilot in the USAF because of his height? Apparently there are torso length limitations that they prefer to adhere to. While I was chatting with Jessie Tuggle, I found that he is now coaching high school football and one of his kids is on the team. I guess that both his kids are very good athletes (according to their proud father) and that we should probably watch for them in the future. He was very kind and you could really hear his love for his family when he spoke of them.
So many things to share, but I hesitate to blog a novel - and --though I am exhausted, sunburned, scraped, scratched, bruised, and sore...I am glad I had the opportunity to take part in this event. It was interesting and totally different than what I am used to doing and it was a great learning experience for me. It also gave me the opportunity to spend more time with the College Football Hall of Fame staff and see everyone pitch in and try to create a fun atmosphere for our community.