Meeting notable figures like Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman Jr. was a regular occurrence for Jacob Rausch ’24 during his internship at training camp for the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I was picked from a small D3 school when almost every other intern came from a D1 school. I was so proud of myself.”
Jacob Rausch
“I was picked from a small D3 school when almost every other intern came from a D1 school,” Rausch said. “I was so proud of myself.”
Every year, the Chiefs conduct their summer training camp on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Once Rausch arrived, he was provided with his own room inside a campus residence hall and a schedule for the weeks ahead.
“This experience gave me a perspective on how demanding it can be to work with the National Football League (NFL),” Rausch said. “The NFL means business — there was an itinerary for every single day.”
A few of Rausch’s responsibilities included escorting fans with mobility impairments, serving as crowd control for excited fans, and setting up and overseeing the camp’s Kids Zone.
“My favorite part of all of it was making a fan’s day every time,” Rausch said. “From running another drill for the Kids Zone because they didn’t want it to end, to sharing the sweet spots with fans so they can get a high-five or wave from their favorite players, it was a lot of fun.”
In addition to being a valuable resource along the practice field, Rausch was required to take part in a leadership course throughout the duration of training camp. This course acted as a team-building activity for all 34 interns, allowing them to bond and work together more effectively.
“If you work in professional sports for one team, there’s a good chance you have the skills to do it for another team.”
Jacob Rausch
“Going into the interview for this, I showed who I really was,” Rausch said. “I shared how my past experiences were relatable and transferable in this internship. If you work in professional sports for one team, there’s a good chance you have the skills to do it for another team.”
While at Brockport, Rausch worked various on and off-campus positions including Club President for Men’s Ice Hockey, Game Presentation Assistant for the Buffalo Sabres, and a Graduate Assistant for Campus Recreation. These experiences played a key role in Rausch developing a solid understanding and foundation in the field.
“Skills like working hard and being unselfish were instilled in me through the lessons of Adjunct Professor Nate Bull and Lecturer Michael A. Murtagh,” Rausch said. “They taught me how to be humble, which is important in the professional sports environment.”