The Red and Black

Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: JULIA NORMAN Student volunteers host tours of Sanford Stadium for small groups of potential recruits during football games.

For the past three years, student volunteers have been able to get out of the stands and onto the sidelines at Georgia football games while acting as gameday hosts for recruits.

These students serve as guides for small groups of recruits by taking them on the field, introducing them to coaches, showing them around the stadium and sitting with them at the games.

The hosts are responsible for answering questions from the recruits and their families and for learning a little more about them to assist the coaches during the recruitment process.

Bryant Gantt, a recruiting assistant, said, "The volunteers are helpful to the athletic department as far as being able to enlighten recruits to what the University of Georgia is all about."

For some recruits, it may be their first visit to the University's campus.

"These recruits have never been here before," said Connie Connelly, a recruiting assistant for the University. "The volunteers are so vitally important as guides on their level to answer their questions and to tell them what it's really like."

Until three years ago, hosts were chosen and organized by the Athletic Association specifically to give tours to football recruits. Then the NCAA changed its policy on who was allowed to show recruits around on visits.

The new policy mandates anyone giving tours to athletic recruits also must be involved in another campus group that gives tours to general prospective students - not just athletes. When the rules were changed, the volunteer group for gameday hosts was started and has been going strong ever since.

"Last year we had a pool of about 50 students, around 30 of whom would be hosting at each home game," Connelly said.

And it's this time of the year when the group starts looking for more student volunteers. The group held two information sessions last week and hopes to find a large group of students who are willing to help.

Kristi Mejias, a junior from Carrolton, who now serves as a student worker in the University's Football Recruiting Office, has been a gameday host for the past two years and is looking forward to a third.

"It's a great opportunity. I've loved it," she said. "It's exciting when you have recruited an athlete and then you get to see them on the field."

For students who qualify, the possibilities are exciting. Guides are given the chance to get free tickets to home games and walk the sidelines while playing a crucial role in the recruitment process.

"And if you have interest in business or sports business, it's a great thing to have on your resumé," Mejias said.

Abby Wilson, a freshman from Dunwoody, decided she was interested in volunteering as a host for the upcoming fall season.

"I've always gone to the games and loved UGA," she said. "I've wanted to be a part of the games in any way I could, and this seems like the best way to do it."

Students interested in learning more about being a gameday host can call the recruiting office at 542-9202, or contact Connie Connelly at connelly@sports.uga.edu.

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