Student Interns from Florida State University’s Sport Management Program
Dr. Jason Pappas, Assistant Teaching Professor, Sport Management, Florida State University
The Fred Biletnikoff Award organization is an excellent opportunity for FSU Sport Management students in providing them with an impactful internship opportunities in multiple areas in the sport industry such as event management, development, marketing and communications. The Biletnikoff Award is one of the biggest college football awards to be given each year and to have this award housed right here in Tallahassee is a tremendous opportunity for a FSU Sport Management to take full advantage of. The organization is second to none in helping provide scholarship opportunities for underprivileged high school students in the local community. In addition, our students are provided leadership and structure from some of the finest business leaders in the country. I would recommend this internship to any motivated and eager student who wants to gain first hand knowledge within the sport industry.
Charlie Stafford
B.S. in Sport Management
M.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University
My name is Charlie Stafford, and I am extremely honored and thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to such a fantastic organization. I am a junior at Florida State University, pursuing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sport Management, along with minors in Hospitality Management and General Business. I graduated from Pensacola Catholic High School in Pensacola, Florida, and began pursuing my degree at Florida State in the summer of 2021.
For as long as I can remember, sports played a pivotal role in shaping my life. For most of my upbringing, College Football always fascinated me more than any other sport. I was raised as a devoted fan of the Florida Gators, watching players like Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin play each weekend at the highest level. Despite my love for the Gators, I decided to attend their cross-state rival school, Florida State. Early on in my college career, I was unsure of what kind of career I wanted to pursue. Once I learned in depth about the Sport Management Program that Florida State offers, I changed my major and decided to join the combined Bachelor’s and Master’s programs that the school offers. As I entered my college years, I always thought a career in sports would be fulfilling, yet unrealistic. I am overjoyed that Florida State has made that dream a reality.
I quickly fell in love with the program, learning everything from the analytical aspect of sports to marketing techniques. As I entered my first semester in the program I caught wind of the internships that the Biletnikoff Award had to offer, and I immediately reached out to Professor Manley about a potential internship. I was fascinated with the idea of working for an award that recognizes excellence in college football. I was extremely honored to be selected for the internship program and for the opportunity to work with some of the best and brightest in the sports industry. I am eager to further my skills in marketing, communications, and event management as I aid Professor Manley, the Biletnikoff Award, and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation in all their endeavors in the coming months!
Drake Lilly
B.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2025
First, I would like to thank Walter Manley for providing me with this extraordinary opportunity to be a part of the Biletnikoff Award and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. I am honored to have the chance to further my sports experience and knowledge within this role, and I look forward to contributing to the legacy of the Biletnikoff Award.
My name is Drake Lilly, and I am a junior at Florida State University. I am currently studying Sport Management with minors completed in Business and Economics. I was born in Naples, FL, and graduated high school in Fernandina Beach, Florida, a small town on Amelia Island just below the Florida/Georgia border. Growing up attending FSU football games in the Fall and Tampa Bay Rays baseball games in the Spring, I have always held a deep-rooted passion for athletics and the culture surrounding sports. After trying my hand at multiple sports, I found my love in baseball and played through high school.
To begin my journey into sports management, I worked with NuBoard Media, a sports marketing company specializing in major sporting events. Through this endeavor, I have played a pivotal role in orchestrating various promotional events at multiple prestigious sporting venues such as the Orange Bowl in Miami, the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Pheonix, the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Furthermore, through this initiative, I have had the opportunity to contribute to various marketing campaigns that took place at a broad range of sporting events outside of the realm of college football, spanning from the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans to the 2023 F1 Miami Grand Prix and the 2023 Final Four in Houston, where I led a team through NRG Stadium to enhance the fan experience with strategic promotional implementations.
These experiences with NuBoard Media led me to obtain an internship as a Stadium Operations Intern with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins – Triple A affiliate) during their 2023 summer season. In this role, I was intricately involved in the management and coordination of various tasks and services, ensuring the seamless functioning and success of events within the facility. This hands-on experience in stadium operations reinforced my commitment to excellence in sports management.
Beyond academic and professional endeavors, I actively engage in various activities and organizations, including membership in an on-campus IFC fraternity, the FSU Sport Management Student Association, the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and the Zupp Brand Ambassador Program. I am consistently seeking opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.
2022 Owen Tomasicchio
B.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2022
M.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2023
I grew up just outside of Philadelphia and have always had a passion for athletics. Despite my hometown roots, I was raised a diehard New York sports fan (Go Giants!). I played and watched every sport that I could growing up but fell most in love with football. I played wide receiver for my high school team and began considering a career in sports. At the end of my senior year, I gained my first internship in sports, working under Villanova University’s Sports Information Director. In that position, I gained experience in sport information, analytics, and journalism. I chose to attend Florida State University so that I could enroll in the combined bachelor’s and master’s program in Sport Management.
At Florida State, I have gained experience in a couple different fields within sports. I first worked in sports fundraising with the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, an organization that works with college football teams across the country to run drives to recruit bone marrow donors on campuses. For the Foundation I worked directly with College Football Hall of Fame Coach Andy Talley to research the NCAA and identify potential contacts to expand the foundation. I then worked as an operations intern with the Florida State University Athletic Ticket Office, where I gained experience in ticketing, game day operations, and customer service.
I am now very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Biletnikoff Award and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, where I will gain experience in sports information and event planning. I look forward to getting started and am honored to be a part of such a prestigious award
2022 Matthew Cohen
B.S. Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2024
As a young child, I have always found an affinity for sports. When I was young, I played soccer, basketball, and football recreationally. Playing sports has always been a part of my life. Growing up in South Florida, I have always enjoyed going to Miami to watch the Dolphins and Heat play. I also enjoy reading and listening to experts and journalists offer opinions on my favorite teams. Throughout my life, the weekend has consisted of watching football all day. With football, my father and I have a mutual interest that we can discuss all the time.
As I have grown older, I have found a new passion for the business side of professional sports. Following a team and actively researching their shortcomings or progression has become a large part of my life. Every NFL and NBA off season, I look forward to hearing about new player contracts and how each team allocates their salary. I also strive to learn new rules and procedures from the NFL and NCAA. Once I graduate with my bachelor’s in Sport Management from Florida State University, I plan on pursuing a Juris Doctorate.
Thankfully, the Biletnikoff Award and Walter Manley have afforded me this opportunity to learn what is required to become successful in the sports industry.
2022 Brandon Myers
B.A. Business Administration
M.S. Sports Management
University of Central Arkansas, Class of 2021
Florida State University, Class of 2022
I’ve spent my entire childhood growing up in the Tampa Bay area here in the state of Florida. My family and I have competed in sports all through our youth through high school. I focused specifically on football when I attended Durant High School in Plant City, FL and was fortunate enough to be highly recruited by various schools. My recruiting process eventually led to me signing to play Division 1 football at The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in the FCS subdivision.
While working endless hours as a collegiate football player, I excelled in their business program while attending monthly Student Athlete Advisory Committee meetings and participating in the Read-To-Succeed program for UCA. These activities helped me develop leadership and communication skills that can help me transcend the sports and business world. Additionally, working for Amazon in 2020 and 2021 during the off-season helped me develop customer service experience while still finishing my degree. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Business Administration in May of 2021.
Going into my junior year I suffered a dislocated kneecap which resulted in a torn medial patella femoral ligament. For a year, I battled through the adversity of trying to overcome the pain of breaking through mental and physical barriers in rehab when it was supposed to be a 6-month recovery. I received another minor surgery a year later since the injury never fully healed, and this minor surgery did not resolve my issue. From consulting with several orthopedic surgeons about a third major surgery, it was more manageable for me to cut my football career short. In the end, family ties connected to Florida State influenced me to pursue my Master’s in my desired major, sports management. I was accepted to Florida State University (FSU) for the fall of 2021, and I was grateful to have the opportunity to interview for the Biletnikoff Award internship through FSU’s sport management contacts. I am very excited to work for one of the most prestigious awards that I have always idolized being a former collegiate wide receiver so I can further my sports experience and knowledge.
2021-2022 Robert “Bo” Saburn
B.S. Sport Leadership and Management; History Minor
M.S. Sport Management
Miami University (OH), Class of 2020
Florida State University, Class of 2022
Ever since I was young, I have loved sports, both collegiately and professionally, and played several sports for most of my youth. I played baseball for most of my life, 13 years, but had several injuries later in my career, headlined by a spinal fracture sophomore year of high school, that led to me ending my playing aspirations after junior year. However, after being asked to return as an assistant coach for my high school team for senior year, my love from the sidelines grew. I realized that even if I could not play, I could not leave sport entirely, so I decided to pursue my bachelors and masters studying the industry.
Later in high school, I was blessed to be offered an internship for two summers in the baseball department at the University of Rhode Island. The next several years I continued to work internships within the sport industry in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and at my undergraduate institution in Ohio. I was even fortunate enough to land a business development internship at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Through these experiences, my passion for working in the sport industry, specifically in collegiate athletics, has grown exponentially.
I am honored to have the opportunity to work for such a major and prestigious college football award in the Biletnikoff Award while I continue to hone my craft and absorb all the valuable experiences in this role.
2021-2022 Clayton Barnes
B.S in Anthropology
M.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2019
Florida State University, Class of 2022
I am born and raised in Tallahassee, this has afforded me such a unique opportunity to be connected to collegiate athletics. I have been attending Florida State games since I was three years old. My first FSU football game was a 48-0 win against Clemson in 1998. The exposure I had from FSU athletics spurned a lifelong fandom to my favorite university.
Growing up, I was active in many sports such as football, baseball, and golf. In my senior year of high school, I played left tackle on Godby’s 5A State Championship team. My background in sports is the reason why I decided to further pursue my education with a Master’s Degree in Sport Management.
While at Florida State, I have been an intern with the prestigious Biletnikoff Award and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. and a Volunteer Coordinator with the FSU Department of Sport Management. My internship with the Award has been extremely gratifying because I am able to give back to my local community while developing several integral professional skills. I would love to continue working with the Foundation in the future!
2021-2022 Daniel Madden
B.S. in Editing, Writing, and Media
Minor in Communications
Florida State University, Class of 2021
Growing up outside the city of Philadelphia, I have spent most of my life around sports. Whether it was participating in competitions or watching them as a fan, I fell in love with the spirit of competition. In high school, this love continued. I played basketball and rugby, and when I no longer played, I became the color commentator for the football and basketball teams on the local radio. When deciding to go to college, Florida State University became the clear option for me to further my career in the sports industry.
My time spent at FSU has taught me a great deal about the sports industry through FSU faculty and internship opportunities such as working for Don Yaeger’s Greatness Inc. I am a senior set to graduate in the spring of 2021 and look forward to the next chapter of my life in graduate school.
My free time is spent watching any collegiate or professional sport, and I am especially a fan of any Philadelphia team. I am honored to have this chance to intern for The Biletnikoff Award and I look forward to this opportunity to advance my knowledge within the sports industry.
2020-2021 Reece Fishback
B.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2021
As a native of Tallahassee, Florida, I have been able to be around one of the most prestigious sporting programs in the country (Florida State University), as well as being able to live in a city with a proud tradition of sports. I have been able to compete in a variety of sports throughout my life, ranging from soccer to football and this was the reason that I chose to pursue a degree in Sport Management.
After finishing high school, I chose to attend Florida State University and pursue a degree in Sport Management as being from a family that almost exclusively attended Florida State, I felt that it would be the best place to continue my education, as well as learn from some of the best and most experienced faculty in the country. Throughout my time at Florida State University, I have been able to gain experience in the sport industry through a variety of internships and experiences, the first of these being able to become a part of the Sport Management Student Association. Being a part of this organization on campus has allowed me to gain valuable experiences and knowledge that I can utilize in my future career in the sport industry. I am set to graduate from Florida State University in the spring of 2021 with my B.S. in Sport Management
2019-2020: Sara Newmann
B.A.A. in Sport Management
Minor in Professional Sales
M.S. in Sport Management
Central Michigan University, Class of 2018
Florida State University, Class of 2020
A San Diego native, I have spent the better part of my life in and around sports. Slightly unathletic, and entirely uncoordinated, I did both competitive and sideline cheerleading for seven years. Standing on the side of a football field for four years, I cultivated a love for the sport, and chose to further pursue. In high school, I helped scout and recruit local football players, and developed a passion for the sport which provided so much opportunity to youth.
After high school, I chose to attend my parents Alma Mater, Central Michigan University. Despite having no clue how to drive in the snow, I made do with many layers of warm clothing, and went through the Sport Management program. At CMU I involved myself in as many extracurriculars as possible, including a chair on the Sport Management Association Conference Planning Committee, as team manager for the women’s varsity lacrosse team, and as a tutor for students athletes. With thanks to a few well placed high school AP classes, I was able to graduate with a Bachelors of Applied Arts in less than three years (summer classes allowed me to avoid another winter in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Over my collegiate summers, I interned with a San Diego based marketing and event management company, Integrated Sports Marketing. At ISM, my primarily responsibility was to plan the Celebrity Championship, a 21 year-old celeb-am golf tournament. Over my three years at the company, I had the opportunity to work with countless Hall of Famers and MVP’s, as well as cultivate the ability to speak with my childhood idols without being entirely enamored by prestige. Along the way, I helped raise over $225,000 for the Jr. Seau Foundation.
In August, I made the move to Tallahassee, Florida, marking my second decision to move to a town where I know no one but my opportunity at hand. I am continuing my education in the number one Sport Management masters program in the country: Florida State University. I am working as a teaching assistant for the department, as well as interning with the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. to plan the 26th Biletnikoff Award Banquet. I spend my free time pretending to know how to golf, exploring the Eastern seaboard, and somewhat ironically searching for a place to snowboard in the American southeast.
2018-2019: Michael Gonzalez
B.S. in Economics
M.S. in Sport Management
Minor in Business
Florida State University, Class of 2020
I am a native Floridian born and raised in Miami. A first-generation Cuban American, I attended Christopher Columbus High School before choosing to stay in-state and attend Florida State University. While there, I completed my undergraduate degree in economics at the Florida State University College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
I am currently working to complete my Master’s in Sport Management at Florida State University while living in New York City. I work for the National Football League’s Statistics & Player Participation team auditing gameday statistics, logging college film for club scouts, and tracking head impacts throughout the season.
While at Florida State, I participated in the Phi Sigma Theta honor society and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. My previous work experience includes internships at Royal Caribbean and UPS which focused on increasing efficiency and improving customer satisfaction. I also taught three courses as a Graduate Assistant for the Sport Management program.
I am an avid follower of Miami’s professional sports team and enjoys devoting my weekends to college and professional football. My experience working with The Biletnikoff Award and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation is one I will never forget.
2018: Jessica Clark
B.S. Sport Management
Minor in Hospitality
Florida State University, Class of 2018
Born and raised in Floyds Knobs, Indiana
It has been such an honor to be a part of the Biletnikoff Award ceremony as an intern. I am so thankful to The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. and admire this amazing group of people, who have provided scholarships to students overcoming challenges and leading them to success in higher education. This prestigious Foundation has taught me so much and I appreciate to have had this opportunity.
2018: Emily Munyon
Hometown: Apopka, Florida
Florida State University, Class of 2018
B.S. in Sport Management
I am honored to have the opportunity to intern for the Fred Biletnikoff Award ceremony. It is an honor to be able to learn from so many successful professionals in the sporting industry. I am the President of the Sport Management Student Association, a student run organization at FSU. I plan, organize and execute networking trips every semester as well as host weekly guest speakers. As a Senior graduating in May 2018, I am excited to take everything I learn and experience from this internship and apply it to future positions in sport.
2017-2018: Benjamin Pereira
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Class of 2017
B.S. in Sport Management
Florida State University, Class of 2019
M.S. in Sport Management
Benjamin Pereira is a class of 2017 graduate of the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a current M.S. candidate in Sport Management at Florida State University. Originally from Massachusetts, he joins the Biletnikoff Award after working for The Association of Diversity in Sport, serving as their Vice President over the past year. Ben’s previous experience included working for sport organizations like the New England Revolution, the New Bedford Bay Sox, and Zero Gravity. Ben is a strong sport researcher, who hopes to utilize some of his market analysis skills and contribute to the greater mission of the award on a broad scale. Ben is very excited to join the team.
2016-2017: Stuart Langer-Marshall
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut
Florida State University, Class of 2017
B.S. in Sport Management
The Biletnikoff Award has taught me that the richest successes come from a person’s true character. All people come from different backgrounds, and each one has to cope with various obstacles to achieve greatness and satisfaction. I was honored to have the opportunity to volunteer my time with the Biletnikoff Award due to the fact that every trustee, especially including our Founder, Professor Walter W. Manley, II, passionately cares about our careers following this internship and for the inspiration to every Biletnikoff Award applicant that they may find the best educational, and career, path that suits that individual. I have never been surrounded by an organization prior to this internship that better demonstrates and promotes positive attitude, character, passion, and to approach life by doing the things the correct way and always looking for guidance from knowledgeable mentors. I could not be more thankful to the entire organization and absolutely plan to stay involved with the Biletnikoff Award along with its creators and sponsorship from the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Inc.
10-27-2017
To second Anthony, thank you for putting us in the best position to succeed in these prestigious organizations! We took away so much from working with the local communities of northern Florida, and we will certainly create a positive impact wherever our paths may take us.
2015 – 2016: Anthony Onimus
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Saint Joseph’s University, Class of 2015
B.S. in Business Administration, Dual Major in Finance & Risk Management
Florida State University, Class of 2016
M.S. in Sport Management
Interning for the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. was an experience, I believe, happens once in a lifetime. Working with many of the Trustees, involved with the Biletnikoff Award, assisted me in growing both as an individual as well as a young professional in the sports industry. The internship was very challenging but also very pleasing due to the experience, knowledge, and connections gained throughout my time with the Foundation. The Biletnikoff Award is an amazing award that not only spotlights an outstanding, collegiate wide receiver but also gives back to the community through its scholarship foundation. Working with the scholarships was very rewarding due to the individuals I met as well as the stories I heard. In our beautiful country today, an education does not come at a cheap price and many young students are driven into debt to receive a college degree. The Biletnikoff Award does an outstanding job in assisting young, high school seniors, that have overcome a significant challenge, in receiving an education at a cheaper price by providing 10 – 15 scholarships a year. It was an honor to receive an opportunity to work alongside the Trustees at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. and I look forward in assisting the Foundation in the future!
10-26-2017
Walter,
I hope your week is finishing up well and you are getting ready for a weekend filled with some great college football! As of earlier this week, I have accepted the position of Aquatics Program and Risk Management Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. The position is going to be an amazing start to my career and I truly appreciate everything you have done to help me get to this point. I will be mainly running the University’s aquatics center that includes duties such as hiring/training lifeguards, scheduling of the pool, maintenance of the aquatics center, running the swim program, and keeping updated CPR/First Aid/AED certifications with all of the staff. Along with running the Aquatics Center, I will also be representing the University’s RecSports department on the campus wide Risk Management committee. As a representative on the committee, I will be voicing the RecSports department’s concerns on risk management initiatives and collaborating with other representatives on campus.
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with Arianne and Todd. I hope the Foundation’s trustees are doing well and everyone is getting excited for the upcoming months and banquet! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I’ll give you a call once I am settled in South Bend and GO IRISH!
Best Wishes,
Anthony Onimus
2015: Colton Schultz
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
B.S. in Sport Management, 2016 Florida State University
Minor in General Business, 2016 Florida State University
Interning for the Biletnikoff Award Foundation was an amazing experience, I am thankful that I got to be a part of such an unbelievable group of people.
2014 – 2015: Edward J. Billington, III
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Florida State University, Class of 2015
B.S. Sport Management, minor in General Business
University of South Florida, Class of 2018
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Sport and Entertainment Management
My experience with the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation afforded me the invaluable opportunity to give back and impact this community in a very meaningful way. I am very fortunate to have been associated with such an upstanding and prestigious foundation, and I look forward to continuing my affiliation.
12-08-2017
Walter,
Congrats on another successful Biletnikoff Award Winner! I wanted to send you a quick note and say thank you again for all your help in getting my career started.
Interning for the Tallahassee QB Club Foundation/Biletnikoff Award was instrumental to my career, and it opened so many doors for me. I truly appreciate the opportunities you provided me. I am currently working in the Corporate Partnerships with the Tampa Bay Rays, while finishing up my MS/MBA at USF. If there’s ever any way I can help, don’t hesitate to reach out. Additionally, if you’re ever in the Tampa/St. Pete area, I’d love to grab lunch.
Happy Holidays,
Edward Billington
Biletnikoff Intern ’14
2013 – 2014: Kristin Olson
Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida
B.S. in Family and Child Sciences
M.S. in Sport Management
Event Management Certification
Interning at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. has provided me with the necessary tools and experiences to be successful in my current career.
I think most sports fans are familiar with the Biletnikoff Award, but I do not think they are familiar with the organization behind it. The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation is so much more than just the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award. The Foundation also provides generous college scholarships to local counties’ high school seniors who have overcome significant challenges to achieve at the highest academic and extra-curricular levels. I was very honored to have been tasked the responsibility to conduct outreach to prospective students and to guidance counselors, review and classifying applications, and make award recipient recommendations to the Committee Chairman and Members.
I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing people and organization!