Recent News

August 25
SPORTS will take a hiatus in fall 2008 - see Drs. Morse and Love for more details

April 16
Trip to Birmingham a great success as students visit with Barons, SEC and ESPN Regional executives before closing with stellar BBQ at home of graduate student's parents
Trip Photos: 1,  2,  3,  4,  5

April 9
Students enjoy "Lunch with Larry" at the Sanderson Center
MSU Director of Athletics imparts experience in management, finance and intercollegiate athletics on students

March 19
Spring Special Olympic Event just around the corner
MSU Track is the site, Friday, April 4th (11th is rain date), WEAR MAROON, 9 AM through 12:30, bring friends

January 9
Georgia Southern Sports Management Conference coming soon
Students encouraged to attend, network and participate in the Career Fair

November 7
Informational meeting next week in McCool Hall on Thursday night
Come join us November 14th at 7:00 pm in McCool 216 to learn more

October 7
ESPN's Fall Special Olympics event slated for Wed. Nov. 28 from 9 AM until 1 PM at the Sanderson Center
Come help the regional athletes qualify and prepare for state in the sports of volleyball and basketball

October 22
Stellar SPCO and SA Students head to Louisville, Kentucky, to work national TEAMS Conference & support Bulldogs
Aaron Epstein, Jamie Griffin, Bryan Kim, Erin Mullen, Courtney Pratt, Mike Stough, Ryan Trichel, and Barbara Wilson slated to represent Mississippi State University then watch MSU battle UK in Lexington

August 28
ESPN's Vice President of Programming David Brown to speak at College Speaker Series kick-off prior to MSU/LSU football game
Sanderson Center conference room, off the lobby, 1 pm, Thursday, August 30th, $2/students, $3/others
POST-EVENT PHOTOS:  Brown Speaking   Group Photo   Mingling with Students

May 5
Photos from inaugural Shane Power Fashion Show and Spring Special Olympics event online
Click here for a look back at a great evening for a great cause as over $2,000 was raised for SPORTS and Special Olympics - Thanks to the MSU Fashion Board!  Special Olympics photos to the right!

April 5
SPORTS Honor Society hosting inaugural Shane Power Fashion Show
$3 for students, $10 for all others at Dorman Hall on Wednesday, April 18. Silent auction begins at 6 pm and show starts at 7 pm. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics, SPORTS and others.  Detailed website to right.  FLYER (Publisher)

April 4
SPORTS announces Memphis educational trip details - Photos at right
Trip includes visit with President of the Memphis Grizzlies, Director of the Liberty Bowl, Regions Morgan Keegan ATP Tour Tennis Tournament and the Memphis Redbirds, Triple AAA Team for the St. Louis Cardinals

February 14
SPORTS hosting inaugural Sports Agent Night with Bus Cook, agent to Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Jerious Norwood, Calvin Johnson & more!
$3 for students, $5 for MSU fac/staff, $3 for all others at the McCool Building at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, March 27.  Come learn from an elite sports agent about negotiations, endorsement, and career strategies.  FLYER.

February 14
SPORTS hosting inaugural Media & PR in Sports Night
$1 for students, $2 for MSU fac/staff, $3 for all others at the McCool Building at 8 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 27.  Come learn career strategies, improve hear from the experts in TV, print, radio, internet and media relations.  FLYER.

February 10
SPORTS undergoing transformation, evolving into honor & service fraternity that welcomes all majors at MSU
Details coming in late March for the elite students at Mississippi State University interested in careers in sports

November 5
SPORTS to host Maroon & White Magazine's Whiffle Ball Championships and Frisbee Golf Extravaganza
For more information look to the "Signature Events" in the column on the far right of this website

October 10
SPORTS to host Sales School October 17th, 6 pm, 242 McCarthy
In conjunction with the two fall charity events, learn how to "sell" in sports with respect to rate cards, negotiations, value-in-kind, upselling, inventory, exclusivity and categories.  We keep it simple and to the point.  Freshmen through graduate students welcome and encouraged to attend.  Applications will be accepted at the event as we kick off the fall.  Application forms and scheduled fall events can be found to the right.  RATE CARD   SALES SCHOOL HANDOUT

September 28
SPORTS to host Graduate School Night October 5th, 5 pm, 242 McCarthy
Decide whether to pursue a MS or MBA route and where to look for schools. Thursday night in McCarthy Gym 242. Get the inside tips on how to make graduate school cheaper even when attending out-of-state.  Hear from current graduate students and Dr. Zullo as you plan for your future.  Freshmen through seniors welcome and encouraged to attend.  Applications will be accepted at the event as we kick off the fall.  Application forms and scheduled fall events can be found to the right.  PHOTOS/RELEASE
 
September 24
Atlanta Fall Field Trip Details Released  RELEASE
MSU students head to Georgia metropolitan to meet experts in the sports business industry

September 15
College Speaker Series secures Tulane Athletic Director as speaker
Rick Dickson to share stories of adversity in athletic administration with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at 4 pm at Sanderson Center on Friday of MSU/Tulane weekend  PHOTOS

September 8
College Speaker Series secures Auburn Athletics speaker
Second in command to speak at 7:15 at Sanderson Center on Friday night of MSU/Auburn weekend  PHOTOS

September 7
College Speaker Series extends invites for fall and spring speakers
Athletic Directors from Charlotte, Florida, LSU, Vanderbilt and Michigan invited to come to Starkville in November, January, February and March months

Archived Years in SPORTS: Click here

 

Students wanting to pursue a career in the sports industry need more than a college degree.  They need to advance themselves outside of the classroom with educational opportunities that are conducive to networking and meeting experts in the sports industry.  All the while enjoying what makes sports so great.  The people.  While textbooks are valuable the industry of sports management evolves daily.  So texts are outdated the moment they leave the press.  To combat that aspect SPORTS is a student organization that represents Students Professional Organization for Research and Training in Sports.  Whether you are an undergraduate student or a graduate student, a communication major or pursuing the MBA, a freshman or a doctoral student, we welcome you should you meet select criteria.  The state of Mississippi may not have as many resources in sports management relative to Florida, Tennessee or Georgia, but that is no excuse.  SPORTS is about helping you to create your own opportunities and getting ahead of your competition in the industry.  The same way coaches and players watch film, go through repetition in practice and pursue excellence on gameday, you too can pursue excellence in your pursuit of a career in sports management.  Regardless of the area of sports management you hope to pursue or your lack of experience in the field, we welcome you to join this organization to further your career pursuit.  

Benefits

The benefits are numerous but the highlights are two-fold.  Overnight trip to area metropolitans to meet with the experts as well as the opportunity to operate your own events in sports management in your own backyard here in Starkville.  The 2005-2006 year saw overnight trips to Atlanta, Memphis and Birmingham, where students visited with representatives from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Octagon Sports Marketing, Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chick-fil-A Bowl, Profiles Sports (player representation), Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Redbirds, Birmingham Barons and the Southeastern Conference headquarters.  It also saw students host two Special Olympic events to improve their event management skills.  Members also designed and implemented a tennis tournament to hone sponsorship experience, sales skills and publicity efforts.  Students also initiated a 5K race as well with over $1,000 being raised and donated to area charities.  Events that are planned for the 2006-2007 year include a Graduate School Night, Career in Sports Night, more overnight field trips, further design and implementation of events on campus and more.  But it only happens when pinnacle students come together and make the most of the opportunities.  The organization is nothing without the collective efforts of its members.
 

Involvement

Part of being involved in SPORTS means "being involved" in SPORTS.  While the trips are fun and speakers are fantastic, what separates students during the job search process is the opportunity for a student to sit down before a potential employer and state "Through SPORTS I directed my own sporting event" or "I sold over $1,000 in sponsorships" or "I handled media relations for a student organization that ran numerous events" as you hand them your portfolio with samples of your experience.  The traditional cover letter and resume are nice, but think about it...Atlanta is a great city, New York is a great city, Chicago is a great city, Memphis is a great city.  And who wouldn't want to work in professional sports, college sports, NASCAR, the PGA Tour or the likes.  Getting a foot in the door is very difficult and extremely competitive.  That is why SPORTS exists to help provide you opportunities to pursue your dreams with experiences that are rewarding and enjoyable.  You are not conducting brain surgery.  You are creating and running your own events in sports management just like the professionals. 

College Speaker Series

One of the cornerstones of SPORTS is the College Speaker Series.  Mississippi State University is part of the Southeastern Conference, the premier athletic conference in Division I-A athletics.  When the opportunity presents itself, we invite administrators from visiting schools or representatives from the sports industry to share their expertise on campus.  The 2005-2006 year saw Bill Curry from ESPN, Tracy Wolfson from CBS Sports, Mitch Barnhart - Director of Athletics at the University of Kentucky and Mike Hamilton - Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee share their knowledge.   And 2006-2007 should experience even greater heights. 

 

Community Service

Going to class, socializing and getting the most out of the college degree is great.  But to whom much is given much is expected.  There is more to life than the library and partying.  Students are young and in their mental and physical prime.  They are the leaders of tomorrow regardless of the community they reside.  Part of being involved in SPORTS means being involved in giving back to those less fortunate.  It might be in the form of picking up trash, working in a soup kitchen, volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club, assisting with charity work and more.  Students have found that in addition to being intrinsically rewarding, the community service aspect of SPORTS provide a relief from the stress of academics and a mental break to put life in perspective.   It also affords the opportunity to meet new people and gain a sense of duty and responsibility as you grow older.  The PGA Tour's mission is a Drive for a Billion with money given back to the community where events are held.  What are you doing to make a difference today?