Aug 19

Well it has been a exciting and successful summer. I have no regrets about coming down here and hopefully it is not the last time. There are a couple main things that I have learned. This internship was in it's basic roots, a glorified water boy position. I feel confident in saying that I can fill any size cooler and keep it filled under extreme heat. The second thing is that I can see myself living down here. The summer is not that bad but the main difference is that you don't get a break from the heat down here. The third thing is that I think that I can be successful in a career in sports and I love this job. I enjoyed team operations more then the youth camps. I also learned that working at a young age helped me to gain the ability to work my ass off. Well I still have some work responsibilities next week but for the most part I am done and until I leave on the 31 I plan on getting my fill of the beach. I will keep updating. Go Fins and Bucks!

Aug 16

This past Saturday we had our first game. It went well and it was an awesome experience. I will post some pictures. I did a lot of set up and filling coolers, which is something that has been a big part of my summer. I got to stand in the tunnel during the game to watch and that is a great way to watch the game. This is the last scheduled week of the internship and it seems like just yesterday that I left Ohio but I guess that means that I was working.

Aug 13

I got my first day off today in two weeks and sleeping in felt amazing. I went and hung out on the beach for a couple hours and it was nice out for sure. Tomorrow night is the Dolphins first pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I doubt it will be on back home but you never know. We are getting close to coming home from the internship here in a couple weeks. I will get some pictures from the game in order to post.

Aug 9

It has been a busy couple days. Sunday I went into work to finish credentials for everyone for the entire season, so there was a lot to do. I did learn that the Dolphins have "ambassadors" which are essentially pretty women in dresses that socialize with the big whigs. Today it was hard to wake up but practice went well and then we were supposed to have practice in the stadium tonight but it was cancelled due to the weather. Last week I had some trouble while driving to work on the freeway. I had my tire go flat while in the fast lane. Luckily I was able to get over and change the tire right there but that was an annoying way to start the day. Well everything else is going well. Time to relax a little bit. Go Fins!!!

Aug 8

Well I was scheduled to have a day off today but I volunteered to go into work and help get stuff done. They way that I think about is that I will have plenty of time to relax here when this internship is over but I can't guarantee that I will be in this kind of position to make a good impression again. As far as training camp there has not been anything to interesting. There are no players that are refusing to take their conditioning test. There was a player that tore their Achilles during practice which means that he is out for at least a year. He was then released the next day. The NFL is a ruthless business. Monday night's practice is in the stadium and then next Saturday is the first pre-season game against Tampa Bay. I am looking forward to that as well as my day off Sunday, or at least at this point I think I have a day off. That's it for now. GO FINS!!!

Aug 5

We are getting into the heart of camp and things are getting fun. The camp practices themselves are not that bad but the youth camps are getting annoying. It is all part of the grind. I have Sunday off but other then that everyday it is back to practice. I feel like I don't have much to talk about so if you have questions just let me know. In other news I talked to the sports agent today that they consulted and modeled after when they made Jerry Maguire.

August 2

Well it has been a busy start to camp to say the least. The heat has not made things any easier. During the week we have a youth junior training camp during the day, which makes things rather busy. We eat lunch on the run and do the camp and then head back for our second Dolphin's practice of the day. I have also noticed that while NASCAR fans are hick there are some NFL fans that are not far behind. It is amazing how some people are constantly at practice. I have been to a lot of football practices and believe me they are not that exciting. During the time I have had to watch the team there have been some good players that are going to make some noise this season. I just cant say who in case any of my friends who play fantasy football are going to read this. In other news it is Shark Week so I leave you with some advice, "Live every week of your life like it's Shark Week." GO FINS AND GO BUCKS!! Also one last note, this past Sunday was the last Sunday without football until February 13th, 2011.

July 30

Well the first day of camp went well. I just made sure the fans were moving around without doing something stupid. There was on fan that apparently comes every year but he dresses up in full gear. He wears a workout jersey and then wears football pants with cleats. There are some times when I just have to laugh but hey, it gave me something to laugh about during what was the hottest day all summer.

July 29

Well tomorrow the fun part of the summer starts, training camp. It is going to be a grind but I am looking forward to it. I will just be doing something different everyday but once I have more to talk about my job responsibilities more.

July 27

Well I know it has been awhile since I have updated but with the end of the last and final youth football camp for the summer I decided to come home for a couple days. It was really last minute but I am glad I did. I got to see a lot of people and it was a nice break before the real fun of summer begins. I fly back down tomorrow and then Thursday I have a meeting and then Friday is when training camp starts and the big boys get there. Starting Thursday I will be working for three and half weeks straight but it will be fun. I will continue to update. Go Fins!!!

July 21

I found an article online that I thought was cool. I am not working with the Ravens but what this article talked about was pretty cool.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/21/ravens-announcement-of-pr-interns-could-include-future-coach-commish/

It also looks like we are going to get hit with a tropical depression this week, which is just a fancy term for a shit ton of rain. I also got to meet Brian Hartline today and gave me a big I-O! Well time to eat some dinner.

July 20th

Well it has been a little while since I have updated. Last weekend I just hung out during my day off. Saturday was hazy out and it turns out it was dust from Africa, that is a new one. Sunday I headed north for our fourth and final youth camp. I was able to get a hotel room for this week so my driving is limited. It is nice to be on the Atlantic side as there is a nice breeze all the time. Work is going well otherwise and I am looking forward to training camp starting next week, which is a whole new kind of grind. It has now been a month since I left Columbus and I am missing the familiarity of home but I also think I could get used to having the beach this close. Well I am going to take a shower and get ready for another day with all the spoiled kids from West Palm Beach. GO FINS!!!

July 16

Well the camp in Ft. Myers this week went really well. There were fewer kids which allowed for a more laid back atmosphere. The camp ended today and we had a 15 mph breeze all day which made things a lot more tolerable. When the camp was over we loaded up the truck and headed back. It was really nice to be able to stay with my Aunt all week and she was very generous for letting me stay. I made it back to Miami tonight and it was nice to be back. Florida is really quick and easy to drive across compared to driving north to south. I get tomorrow off and then I have to meet again Sunday to set up for our last camp next week. Training camp starts the week after and things get even crazier but it will be fun. I also found out that I wont be back in Columbus until September 1st. That seems like so far away but it will be here before I know it.

July 13

Well it has been a busy couple days since the camp has started. It is not as busy as the last two camps I worked but still busy. It has been hot these past couple days as well, there is not as much of a breeze on this side of Florida. I am not doing anything to interesting other then just making sure that these kids keep hydrated and there are no problems. It is the kid of job this if we do a bad job we will hear about it but if we do a good job we don't hear much. It was interesting today in that we had fried chicken from Publix for lunch. It was good but not what I would expect for lunch at a football camp.

In other news to anyone who is reading this George Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees, died today. It may not seem like something I would care about but he did donate the marching band center at Ohio State so that is a place that I have spent some time in.

July 10

Well I made it over here to Ft. Myers and I have to say that the drive across the Everglades is boring. I am staying with my Aunt Maureen this week so it is really nice to be able to no live alone this week. We went paddle boarding this morning. That is where you stand on a larger version of a surfboard and paddle around the ocean. I fell in the first 30 seconds but I am happy to say that I didn't fall after that. While we were paddling around we saw some dolphins and sea turtles as well as a school of 5-foot fish, although I wasn't sure what they were. I start work tomorrow setting up for this week's youth camp and while the break has been awesome I am excited to get back to work and get these next two camps started.

On a different note about this whole Lebron thing, in a way I can understand why he chose the team he did but damn that was a mean and egotistical way to do it. Honestly I feel sorry for Cleveland. I am not a fan of any teams up there but that city just can't catch a break. It is weird to think that the team now with the best chance to win is probably the Browns, and that is just because they got rid of that diva Brady Quinn. That is all I have to say for now. Go FINS!!

July 8th

Well it has been a fun week with a close friend. We went down to Key West Tuesday and came back Wednesday. We stopped at a state park along the way and the water was amazing. It was hard to tell where the ocean stopped and the horizon began. Today we just hung out at the beach all day. My friend leaves tomorrow and then I head to Ft. Myers for 8 days to start working again. It has been a fun break from work but I am excited to get back at it. It has been going fast, I have been down here four weeks already and it just seems like yesterday I was graduating.

July 5th

Well we have lucked out with weather the past two weeks during camp and we are paying for it this weekend. It has rained everyday so far since Saturday. The rain held off long enough for Gomer and I to go to the beach for fireworks. They were not as glamorous as Dublin fireworks but the fact that I was standing in the sand made it awesome. We went to the beach today for a little while until it started raining again. We are just going to get a nice dinner tonight and then get up early and head to Key West.

July 3rd

Well it has been a long couple weeks with the youth camps but yesterday was the last one. It was a great learning experience and a lot of work but fun at the same time. Now I get a break until next Sunday when I have to be in Ft. Myers for the next youth camp. Tomorrow a friend from home comes down, which will be nice since I get to see a familiar face. We are going to see fireworks on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow and then just hang out the rest of the week. We are going to Key West on Tuesday morning and getting back sometime Wednesday. It should be a fun week. Well I am doing laundry so I need to go make sure that I have cleaned the lint filter. GO FINS!!

June 30

It has been a busy two days. We have been busy making sure this week's camp is going smoothly, which it has. The heat is definitely intense but as long as you drink water it isn't that bad. I am looking forward to my week off next week and then it is time to head to Ft. Myers for a week.

In other news I had a complaint filed against me at the condo this week. Apparently people down here frown upon a dirty lint filter in the drier. Well I guess I just have something else to look forward to when I do my laundry. I think with this recent lapse in judgement I need to re-evaluate how I live my life. Dirty lint filters can lead to fires which of course lead to death. Death is bad.

Well I am going to go check the lint filter before I head to bed. More later and Go Fins.

June 28th

We started this weeks youth camp today. It was not anything different then last week so everything went well. The days have gone faster and today was the first time that I woke up at 5am and had not trouble getting out of bed. I am excited for this weekend with my friend coming in. Gomer was able to get a hotel next week right off Duval Street. That should be a lot of fun. Well nothing really interesting to talk about other then I think that I could live here and the heat is not that bad.

June 26

Well yesterday was the last day of the youth camp for this week. It was actually pretty fun and I found myself getting into the championship games. The teams that won play the winner of next week's youth camp in a championship game during the first pre-season game for the Dolphins in August. I then got some good news that I was going to get today off. Then all the staff and coaches from the week went out to dinner on the dime of the Dolphins. It was nice to get out and do something different then just work and go straight back. I ended up going to bed at 11 and waking up around 10. My body clock woke me up around 530am but it didn't take much to fall back asleep. I then went to the beach after lunch and did some swimming for a little bit. I did watch the end of the USA game and part of me is upset but then I realized I don't really care about soccer that much. Well back to work tomorrow.

June 24

There has not been anything to interesting going on here the last couple days. I have just been working the youth camp doing different things. We had a staff against the coaches football game. There are three or four former NFL players that were playing. We lost of course but it was still fun. Tomorrow is the last day of the camp which should be fun but another long day.

I am starting to get used to this heat and as long as you drink water it is not that bad. I am thinking that I could live could live down here for sure. It is different hear than in Ohio. When it is hot up north it just sits there but down here there is always a breeze. I am tired as hell but I am having fun so GO FINS and time for another day of work.

June 22nd

Well it has been a busy past week. The youth camps have been really going well but are really tiring. I have just been doing things like making sure water jugs are full. It is not a glamorous job but in this heat it is important. I have also learned that I am not in any hurry to have kids. There are a lot of annoying kids at this camp. I got to meet Bernie Kosar which was cool. It has just been a grind here at work but I expected that, but that doesn't mean that I am not tired.

I learned that there is a ferry that does day trips to the Bahamas which would be really cool. Well I have youth camps the rest of this week and then a Brandon Marshall event on Saturday. I am just looking forward to my first day off on July 3rd.

I also talked to Austin Spitler yesterday. He was a linebacker at Ohio State the last five years. He was real nice and it was cool to meet someone else from Ohio State. It is nice to live in an area of University of Miami fans at have someone to help me tell them all this it was indeed pass interference.

Sunday, June 20th

It has been a busy couple days to say the least. I have looked at my hours and I have worked 52 hours in the last 4 days. I am actually doing pretty well. I knew that it was going to be long hours from the beginning. This is the NFL and the hours are long. We have just been doing a lot of setting up and tearing down for different football camps. It has been a lot of grunt work but I look at it as paying my dues for future success.

I had a little scare today at work though. I was unloading boxes from a parked golf cart and one of the boxes fell onto the accelerator and the golf cart dragged me into a parked box truck. It hit the landing step and stopped. I reached down and pushed the brake with my hand and switched it into neutral. I was lucky to not be wedged under the truck but I was fine. I had to fill out a report but the only thing that had any damage was the golf cart.

I got off work a little early so I went to the beach and did a little swimming. I think that I could get used to doing that on a regular basis. I really appreciate all the support and I will try to continue to update the blog. Go Fins!

June 18th

Well everything has started of fast with work. We have been setting up for a 7-on-7 tournament which is tomorrow. Last night I got back from work at midnight and was up at 5:30am to head back to work. I then got off at 9pm tonight. I have set my alarm for 3:30am in order to be there at 5:30am. I imagine that I will be done around 10 pm tomorrow. It is all worth it though if I can get a job. Just paying my dues.

There have been some things I have noticed about living down here. I am having a hard time getting used to the weather in that it rains everyday at random times. Since storms come from two directions it is hard to get an idea of what is going to happen. Also storms move REALLY slow which makes them even more annoying. Also traffic signals take forever to change in the morning, like 5 minutes. It sucks. I also notice that while I am drinking a lot of water I don't have to pee that often. I would guess that is because I sweat it all out before it gets that far. Well off to bed for another long day in the sun.

First Day

I had my first day of work today. I got an email last night from my boss that he needed help today and that if anyone was available to come in. I jumped at the opportunity to make a good first impression. I didn't do much for the first couple hours but then we loaded trucks with equipment for the upcoming youth camps. I was the first of two interns to show up. I then went to the orientation meeting smelling to high hell but I think they understood. I get a tour of the Dolphins training facility which is really nice of course.

We had our first meeting and got our schedules and it is looking like I won't have a day off until July 3rd, and this includes weekends, which I will be working. I knew this coming in and they talked in the meeting about having made numerous hires from people that have done what I have been doing. I have a great opportunity to make a good impression. I also will be working this Saturday from 5am until about 9pm while I am working a 7-on-7 camp. The hours suck but I am working for the Miami Dolphins so things could be worse.

The drive down

Well I left Columbus at 3am on Monday morning with my dad. We got into Savannah Georgia that afternoon about 3 o' clock. We went downtown to old Savannah along the river and this cargo ship came by which was cool because we were able to get really close. That is the first picture.

We left Savannah around 7:30am this morning. We got into Delray Beach around 2:30pm, which is where I am staying. Here are some picture of where I am staying.

The second picture is my bedroom. The third picture is the living room where I am staying. Then the final picture is the ocean.

The first meeting is tomorrow night at the team complex so I am interested to see how that goes.

Graduation

Well I graduate tomorrow and so far I am completely moved out of my apartment and kind of moved back in at home. I pretty much just piled everything in a corner and left it for the fall when I get back. I am really excited to leave and get started down in Miami. When I left for Carolina last summer I was a nervous wreck but I think that experience has helped to ease my nerves this time around. I also want to thank everyone who has helped me these last four years at Ohio State. It is crazy how fast they have gone and at the end of the day the main thing I will remember from Ohio State is the marching band and getting to do everything that I did. Well I will update later but I leave Monday morning at 3am so it is coming up quick.

Getting ready to leave

Everything is already off to a good start. I got an email from my boss this morning asking where my drug testing results were. I have never gotten any forms for that so I called the HR lady I have been talking to and it turns out that the forms for drug testing consent that I emailed her, she never got. I am guessing they went in her spam filter. Luckily I scanned them and saved them so they were easy to send again. Meanwhile I guess I need to lay off the grass so I can take this test, just kidding.