The TCU Sports Networking Club had the exclusive opportunity to work the press box and interview room for the Texas Rangers baseball team during the 2011 postseason home games.
Club members began working with the Rangers during the postseason last year and were even present for the World Series games.
“It’s an amazing experience to be around professionals working in sports journalism and seeing behind the scenes,” junior marketing major Megan Brown said.
In 2009, three Neeley School of Business students created the TCU Sports Networking Club to help students interested in working in the sports field with networking experience, hands-on experience and the chance to meet with professionals in the sports industry.
Currently an organization within the Neeley School of Business, TCU Sports Net widened its scope to include any students interested in a career in the sports world. The group was founded by senior marketing major David Lindow, senior supply chain management major Kevin Able and senior finance major Carrie Patterson in 2009.
Sports Net caters to students in sports media and sports marketing, as well as those interested in sports management, Lindow said.
Judge Howell, the club’s recruiting chair, said that by proactively making use of members’ connections, the club has met with business and communications professionals from teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars. Members have also met with people such as former Major League Baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan and general manager of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, Donnie Nelson.
“My way of thinking is that anyone can go to a Rangers’ game, but not everyone can meet the team’s executives and that’s what we offer,” Howell, a junior strategic communication major, said.
Besides the networking and volunteering opportunities, Sports Net offers members assistance with getting jobs after school, Lindow said. Members check job listings for sports related internships and work opportunities, which they then forward to other members.
Sports Net members have also attended various job fairs throughout the years. For this semester, members plan to attend the Professional Baseball Employment Opportunity (PBEO) job fair in Dallas in December, Lindow said.
“Since the club is geared towards helping members get their foot in the door, sports teams see this and want to help out,” Howell said. “The Texas Rangers obviously want us to help out with their postseason games. The Dallas Stars put on a career fair for all the sports teams in the area once a year and they always invite us out there.”
Lindow said former and current members have interned with the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the United States Olympic Committee, the Texas Motor Speedway, IMG College and TCU Athletics.
Sports Net does not limit itself to the DFW area. Club members shadowed employees of the Houston Astros baseball team and met with members of the Active Imagination Sports Marketing Agency last year.
“Its one of the coolest clubs I’ve joined,” Howell said. “Not only do you just meet interesting people but you get to hang out with people who work with sports for a living. You get to see people from all different parts of the industry.”
Although future guest speakers have not been announced on TCU Sports Networking’s website, the next event will be the club’s second annual sand volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The event is sponsored by Red Bull and supports the Pro Players Foundation by donating sporting goods to help them in their mission to aid disadvantaged youth in the North Texas area.
Sign-up information is available on the club’s website for the tournament and club membership, as well as news about internship opportunities and coverage of past club events.
