A Sea Of Red

I need some advice/opinions. All that is remaining for me to complete my MS in Sport Management through LUO is my internship. Ultimately I want to work in the Liberty University Athletics Department because there's not any other college or professional team I care about more. I realize I may not be offered an internship with any team I want, but if I wanted a career in college athletics would it be better to do an internship with an NFL team or a college team? Any advice/tips/connections would be a great help!

College.

I can't help you at all with connections. But, you might consult the new coordinator of internalize, newly appointed by the sport management department and overseen by Dr. Clark Zealand. I believe and email to Dr. Zealand requesting such assistance would be entirely apropriate.

If you want to work in college, intern in college. Skills can translate over from the pros to the "amantuers", but it's completely different.

Okay thanks college internship it is. The closest major university is South Carolina. Who should I be contacting now? Athletics Director/Director of Football Operations? Thanks for the help!

LibertyVeteran wrote:Okay thanks college internship it is. The closest major university is South Carolina. Who should I be contacting now? Athletics Director/Director of Football Operations? Thanks for the help!

Look for D2 or smaller schools. Who is the Internship Director for your SMGT MS?

My Internship Director? I don't have a clue. What I was told is find an internship and when I do then request the internship be approved through the Liberty Sport Management Department. The contact email address for getting my internship approved is smgtinternship@liberty.edu.

LibertyVeteran wrote:My Internship Director? I don't have a clue. What I was told is find an internship and when I do then request the internship be approved through the Liberty Sport Management Department. The contact email address for getting my internship approved is smgtinternship@liberty.edu.

That can't be right. SOMEONE should be in charge of the Internship program and have a bevy of opportunity postings.

That's the info I was just given yesterday. The most recent internship "openings" were posted in 2011 on the Liberty website and all of the links on the website take you to job search sites like TeamWork Online and the NCAA job openings website. Oh and of the LUnetWork. Don't get me wrong these are great links to find internships and jobs but not all schools or professional teams use these sites to post openings. For example I've been looking for U of South Carolina sport internships but I'm not having any luck whatsoever. This makes me think I just need to contact someone in their Athletics Department.

Then again I also spoke with someone in LUO Advising so they may have just not been able to find the correct info...

LibertyVeteran wrote:Then again I also spoke with someone in LUO Advising so they may have just not been able to find the correct info...

Call the Program Director directly. LU used to have a well respected reputation in placing Intersand had100's of posted openings. I don't know how it works now or whether it is different for LUO.

Well the school's within driving distance of me all say they typically only take interns who are students at that school. I've decided to intern at Liberty and want to start right away. The ONLY down-side to this is having to find temporary housing in Lynchburg, because I know this internship will probably not be a paid internship. I really want to get into football operations, game-day operations, and marketing. If anyone has any connections at Liberty I'd greatly appreciate some help!

I've emailed Clark Zealand and the Athletics Department Receptionist. What else should I do. I need this to happen ASAP.

LibertyVeteran wrote:I've emailed Clark Zealand and the Athletics Department Receptionist. What else should I do. I need this to happen ASAP.

Do you need it this semester?

Yeah I do. I would've done this sooner but I wasn't eligible to do an internship until just a couple weeks ago.

I think youll have to pay a late fee because most internships have to be finalized during the previous semester

I'd have no problem paying a late fee to get an internship at LU

LibertyVeteran wrote:Yeah I do. I would've done this sooner but I wasn't eligible to do an internship until just a couple weeks ago.

Who was your advisor? I know that back in the day you were expected to look foran internship AT LEAST the semester prior to enrolling in it. You may be SOL for this semester.

Purple Haize wrote:

LibertyVeteran wrote:Yeah I do. I would've done this sooner but I wasn't eligible to do an internship until just a couple weeks ago.

Who was your advisor? I know that back in the day you were expected to look foran internship AT LEAST the semester prior to enrolling in it. You may be SOL for this semester.

My sister is a JR at LU and was told just this week that LU no longer provides advisors for Jr or Sr students bc they "assume that upperclassmen are able to make their own schedules, etc."

That's odd. They don't need as much help but they need some, ie sign in for overloads etc. they are DEF needed for internships. Thus, the position of Internship Coordinator

I knew going into this my timing would be bad trying to get an internship. Graduate students have to wait until we complete all core courses and pass the comprehensive exam before we are allowed to start an internship. I finished my final course in this last summer term. My academic advisor is luoadvising@liberty.edu...I wish it was one certain person. And I did notice there was a job opening for Internship Coordinator for Liberty...Might be why there isn't one right now.

There is a difference between 'starting' and 'looking'. You should have gotten the process going last semester. Your best bet is to punt this semester and work on getting one for next semester

Yeah I know but I knew exactly where I wanted to do an internship for a while now. My setback was not inquiring about interning at these places sooner. I just didn't want to tell someone "Yes I'm going to intern here at this time" and then not be able to because of a potential setback academically. It is what it is. I might have to wait until next semester but it doesn't hurt to ask. I'd rather get a no than not know if I can or not. I've sent a few emails all I can do now is hope for the best.