The Southern Ohio Copperheads baseball team fields a squad of college stars and major league hopefuls. These players work tirelessly to improve their skills for the next level. The players, however, are not the only ones training for the future.Off the field, the Copperheads employ members of Ohio University's Sports Administration graduate program to help run the organization.
Dave Palmer, the general manager of the Copperheads, said that the organization hires about 80 grad students during the year. This includes graduate assistants along with paid and unpaid interns. The club also uses several volunteers.
Interns are involved in all aspects of the Copperheads' organization. In fact, the internship program is responsible for much of the success the organization has experienced in its six-year history.
I can't really tell you what I don't do
said David Bamford, the Copperheads assistant general manager. A lot falls on my plate.
Because of the many responsibilities placed on each employee's shoulders, the Copperheads' program is considered the premier internship for sports education majors at OU.
(In most internships) you're basically making copies and doing menial stuff Bamford said. This is a lot of hard work
but at the end of the day
I get to say I ran a baseball team for a summer.
The hard work is paying dividends for the entire Copperheads family. Former members of the internship program have landed several prestigious jobs. Current interns are also benefiting because of their connection to the program.
We now have 40-some former staffers who have significant jobs in either college or professional sports
Palmer said. We're starting to see networking. Former Copperheads are now interviewing more recently former Copperheads.
Before entering the real world, the Copperheads' interns leave an indelible mark on the organization. The Copperheads regularly play home games in front of 300-500 fans, ranking them near the top of the league in attendance. But the product on the field is not the only reason fans come to watch.
For those of us who love the game of baseball
we want to believe that the game is enough. In other words
people will come to the stadium simply to watch the game. Unfortunately
that's not the case
Kim Lance, commissioner of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, said. What Southern Ohio does really well is put on a lot of these in-game promotions. Having these fan-friendly activities attracts the casual baseball fan.
Not only do the promotions draw people to the games, but they also keep the fans involved during lulls in the on-field action. Mid-inning activities, such as the Pepsi chug or dancing contests, amplify the crowd's energy and create a minor league-type atmosphere.
That is absolutely the goal
said Wade Martin, a former assistant general manager for the Copperheads. We realize that you can't always control what happens on the field
