Tarleton Sports Internships offers career launching experience

BY ANDREW UTTERBACK

News Editor

Tarleton State University sports have been the talking point of Stephenville, Texas for the past couple years. Their push to Division I athletics, paired with two back-to-back strong football seasons has helped Tarleton become a win column-filling school and, recently, a transfer portal magnet.

Off the field, Tarleton offers a host of sports-related degrees and programs, one of which is the sports internship program.

Imagine this: As a student, you are given the chance to work with professional ESPN sportscasters, photojournalists and reporters to run a DI football broadcast.

Jake Withee, Tarleton’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications, says that this program exists to prepare interns for jobs right out of college.

“They have these real-life roles like running the video board, inputting and calling stats, producing an ESPN+ broadcast, things of that nature,” Withee said.

The internship program is broken up into four separate “tracks” that Withee said are designed to help students learn in a specific sector of the industry.

“We have sports information, marketing/fan engagement, production and creative,” Withee said.

Each role contains different jobs that replicate almost exactly what the “real world” version of that job would entail. Those on the sports information track will assist with media relations, game recaps, game previews and writing bios for student athletes and coaches.

Withee said there are usually about 30-35 interns in the program every year. He works with each of them to figure out what their post-graduation plans are, and then matches them to a track that fits with their goals and interests.

The obvious benefit of being a sports intern is the extensive training and hands-on experience. Something just as valuable are the networking opportunities that the interns get at the various events they cover.

Withee said the interns have gotten to meet sideline reporters, radio personalities and even ESPN talents at various games they’ve either covered locally or traveled to.

“When Texas Tech comes here, for example, you're talking to the Texas Tech sports info people and making connections there,” Withee said. “College athletics can be a small world where people know who does a great job and who doesn't, and people speak about that. So our interns, if they're doing a great job for us, get noticed.”

Drew Lawton is a senior at Tarleton and a sports intern on the production track. He is part of the team that runs all of the Tarleton ESPN+ broadcasts, which he says is helping his goal of becoming a professional play-by-play commentator.

Lawton recently took another step closer to his goal with what he said was his biggest internship opportunity so far.

“I did my first sideline reporting for the Tarleton broadcast. I did a hit for the open, I talked to both coaches at halftime and then I interviewed Coach Brock for us after the Texans win,” Lawton said. “That was an amazing experience, and I'm looking to keep doing that and keep getting better and growing as the semester goes on.”

Lawton said networking has been a major part of his internship.

“Back in early December, I got to meet the (Dallas) Mavericks broadcasters,” he said.

“I got to meet with the pregame show host, Dana Larson, play-by-play commentator Mark Followill and color analyst Devin Harris, who also played for the Mavericks. I got to talk with them for a little bit before the game, ask them questions and just get their insights on how they got to where they are, and what their daily life looks like for being in a professional sports setting. Networking is definitely huge in this business.”

Lawton encourages other sports-interested students to join.

“Take the opportunity, go with it, because getting the experience is the best way for you to really know if this is something you want to do,” Lawton said.

Ryan Montgomery is also a senior on the sports intern production track. He currently works with replays and directing, where he’s working on how to tell a better story as the game is developing live.

He said to achieve a smooth broadcast, the team shows up hours before the game to plan through anything that could go wrong.

Montgomery’s favorite experience was being able to take his production skills to the national level.

“Our FCS quarterfinal game was on the main ESPN channel. They needed some workers for the national broadcast, so I was able to work the parabolic microphone for national television,” Montgomery said. “I also got to meet the audio director on the truck, the A1 and the A2, and really see what it's like for a big ESPN show to come in on game day.”

Montgomery also encourages those considering the internship to apply.

“Our mentors are going to push you to your limits to make you grow as a person,” Montgomery said. “And if you're worried about having to meet new people, I'd say this internship is a family. We're all a very close knit group of people. We all hang out outside of work and have fun on game days. So not only is it a great work experience, but it's also a great experience for lifelong friends.”

Withee’s message to those considering applying is to always take advantage of opportunities that you find.

“Keep looking for opportunities, and once you get one, don't let it slip away,” Withee said. “Sometimes you're blessed with opportunities and, not realizing that you're blessed with one, you take it for granted. You don't attack it, you get caught up, overwhelmed, you get busy with school or personal life and you let things slip that you actually want to do for a job.”

He says this kind of college opportunity is a rare one that helps launch you into the career that you want.

“You gotta get out there,” Withee said. “If you want to be a color commentator and you choose your entire college career to sit and watch sports rather than trying to get in the field, you're going to be behind. It's hard to break into the industry.”

Those interested in applying can go to the Tarleton Sports website.

“There's a lot of opportunities here,” Withee said. “If you care enough and you want something enough, there's always the means to go find it and go do it.”