Montclair State Students Gain Valuable Experience Working ESPN’s Heisman Trophy Ceremony

For the second consecutive year, School of Communication and Media students worked at the Heisman Trophy Ceremony which recognizes the best player in College Football and is broadcast live from New York City on ESPN.

Over the course of two days in early December, 13 students received an amazing, behind-the-scenes experience that included working in the production truck, acting as stand-ins for the players during rehearsal and shadowing a separate crew that produces the ESPN series, 30 for 30.

The volunteer experience left a lasting impression on the students.

“I was a stand-in and was given the role of CJ Stroud on the first day,” said junior Sports Communication major Matt Bruchez. “Throughout the two days wherever he was going to be, that is where they put me. For example, there was one part of the show where they had four former Heisman Trophy winners go on stage to ask the finalists questions. When we rehearsed the blocking for that section, I was standing directly next to Robert Griffin III who proposed a fake question to me. They practiced bringing the finalists from the trophy room to the other room where Holly Rowe was conducting interviews with the finalists and their families. I learned a lot from some of the ESPN employees who worked behind the scenes. It was a surreal experience.”

On the day of the ceremony, the students also interacted with  four of the finalists, including quarterbacks Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Max Duggan (TCU), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) and Caleb Williams (USC), and ESPN talent including emcee Chris Fowler, college football reporters Holly Rowe and Marty Smith and ESPN analysts and former Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III (2011), Desmond Howard (1991), Tim Tebow (2007) and Andre Ware (1989).

“Being in the Jazz at Lincoln Center for two days and witnessing the creation of a major production like the Heisman Trophy Ceremony was inspiring,” said senior Sports Communication major Matt Orth. “Everyone from ESPN were very nice and helped us along the way, and to interact with former winners like Desmond Howard added to the experience

The students also learned a valuable lesson about how the opportunity originated. Networking and volunteering in the extremely competitive  sports industry are perhaps more critical than any other field.

“Last year, colleagues of mine from ESPN recalled that I work at Montclair State and some of them guest-lectured a few times,” said Professor Stacy Gitlin.  “When they saw the quality of our facilities, they realized they wanted to use Kasser Theater and the Montclair State University Symphony Orchestra for a Monday Night Football tease.   The students who work at the Red  Hawk Sports Network did a great piece for the “Inside the Nest Show” about ESPN coming to campus. The students hung around to be helping hands if needed. From that interaction and willingness to be proactive, the ESPN team felt it would be a great fit for the students to work on the Heisman Trophy Presentation, knowing that local help is always key for short events.  The students did such a great job last year that we were asked for assistance again.  In fact, last year they had students for other NY area schools but this year it was just us. I think that says something about our amazing students and their work ethic, and the quality of our program.”

In addition to Bruchez and Orth, students Charles Baduini, Maria Barbieri, Teni Bello, Anthony Cafone, Gianna Daginis, Campbell Donovan, Brandon Marrazzo, Jason Naccarella, Cathryn Pace, Ryan Tullio and Oscar Venegas also worked the event and gained valuable lessons and made valuable connections.

Story by Keith Green

About the Sports Communication degree: This program exposes students to diverse careers in the ever-changing, fast-paced industry of sports media while preparing them for careers as a writer, producer, or director of dynamic media content. Classes are in state-of-the-art facilities, enabling students to learn on equipment used in the industry today. The major delivers hands-on experience in sports media production and storytelling, from broadcast content, analytics, play-by-play opportunities, radio and digital news writing, to public relations and social media — done in partnership with Red Hawk athletics and broadcast via our own Red Hawk Sports Network. With deep professional contacts, and as the academic partner of NYC’s annual Sports Public Relations Summit, the program offers internships with major sports media organizations and professional teams.