How many students and staff does it take to run a UW-Stout football game? It’s not a trick question, but the answer may shock you. Eric Johnson, the current Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities for over 15 years, says, “There’s anywhere from 65 people on the payroll… just to run one football game.”
Stout Athletics is a major part of campus, home to 20 recognized sports in total. With that comes the responsibilities of hosting home games for fellow Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) competitors or any other visiting schools coming into the Johnson Fieldhouse.
There are three groups of students and staff that make these gamedays possible, according to Johnson.
A student events staff manages the facilities side of gamedays, such as setup of the facilities, managing components like the game clock, being a liaison to competing teams, and take down after a game or meet.
Promotions are another side of gameday as two to four people are working to include video board elements, music, and on-field or on-court promotions for gameday competitions.
Lastly, the sports information staff is managed by Casey Parrott, the director of Athletic Communications, who will have anywhere from four to six students running cameras, doing stats for the game, and managing social media accounts, including photo and video, according to Johnson.
“When you start putting those three groups together, there are quite a lot of people,” Johnson says. “With the additional help of coaches, athletic trainers, and community members, it’s definitely a team effort.”
On a smaller scale, there might be 20-25 people running events inside the gymnasium, like basketball or volleyball, says Johnson. With multiple teams from different competition seasons working combined with the general student population, the Johnson Fieldhouse remains well-staffed. “It tends to balance out,” Johnson says.
Rayni Brenshaw, a member of the UW-Stout women’s softball team, is a junior studying Criminal Justice. While balancing school, sports, and life in general, she is one of the many student employees who make up gamedays here at Stout.
While running promotions, she is tasked with writing and editing scripts for her co-workers and announcers, working with sponsors, and finding people to participate in halftime events and other gameday activities.
“It definitely helps public speaking and being confident in front of a crowd,” Brenshaw says.
“It can be stressful, but some days it’s a piece of cake,” she claims.
From the fans in the stands to the players competing, UW-Stout Athletics is more than what it seems. Behind the scenes, dozens of students, staff, and community members work together to ensure each gameday runs smoothly. It holds together a community of people that proves success in athletics starts long before a whistle is blown, or a buzzer is sounded.
