Wesley Wilcox

COM 481

Dr. Halcomb

October 13, 2015

Working for the Jacksonville Suns

Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia meant only a couple things for a kid who wanted to one-

day work for a sports organization in some capacity. First, was that sports were what I loved with

every fiber in my body. Secondly, was that no matter how old I was, I could have a conversation

with someone about any sporting event that took place the week prior or even the night before.

Finally, was that the Atlanta Braves and baseball had my heart the first time I walked through the

gates at Turner Field in downtown Atlanta. In the spring of 2012, I was accepted to Flagler

College as an incoming freshman, and I already knew what I wanted to do, and that was to either

be in the booth for a baseball organization, or to be working for one. This summer I was granted

my first real opportunity to experience what it is like to work for a baseball organization with the

Jacksonville Suns. This summer through working for the Suns I learned how an organization

runs, gained experience in the field, completed task, and made relationships that I hope carry

with me into the professional field.

Coming into this summer I only knew a couple details about how an organization worked

such as ticketing, ushering, and other basic tasks. As a result of the summer, I came out knowing

how to conduct on field interviews with players, how the promotional aspect of a game works,

and how to be a good and active General Manager. Earlier on in the summer I was lucky enough

to meet one of the Suns bullpen relievers Frankie Reed. Reed’s generosity allowed me to

interview him for a brief five minutes just to familiarize myself with the mentality of a pro ball

player. The task I was given this summer was to mainly be a participant in the promotional

activities done throughout the course of the nine-inning contest. The promotions ranged from t-

shirt tosses and pop fly challenges, to participating in the car race, which required a lot of

balance in order to not embarrass yourself in front of a couple of thousand people a night. This

summer I also had the privilege to work under General Manager for the Suns, Chris Peters.

Peters, a University of Florida Sports Management Grad, had this look about him that garnered a

lot of people to be friendly and to have a good time while working for the Suns. Coming out of

this internship I learned that being a good GM is not being strict, but about having his team

willing to let their hair down and to work with a smile on their face.

While participating in promotions was the majority of the internship experience for the

Suns, making relationships was also my job behind the scenes. The job title was intern, but that

was not how I went about my job. In the first month I had made friendships with players and had

made my way up into the booth where voice of the Jacksonville Suns Roger Hoover and Kyle

Crooks resided. I was at the time working for WFCF 88.5 learning radio experience and running

a sports talk show myself, and I was able to pick the brains of two professionals in the field.

Throughout the span of the internship, my admiration and relations increased. By the middle of

summer I had been granted the code to the booth to come up and watch them in action, and to

watch the game from the best seats in the house. From my first class on campus in Saint

Augustine I have been fed the idea of making as many connections as possible, and looking back

at the summer with the Suns I can smile knowing that I made friends in security, game-day

operations, management, media, and the players.

Coming into senior year at Flagler College could not be a more exciting time for me. The

boy who wanted to be in the sports world years ago now sits just under thirty weeks away from

getting his crack at it. My overall experience with the Jacksonville Suns not only went great, but

also now has me heading in the direction of wanting to start my career with them in Jacksonville.

The experience not only expanded my knowledge of the game, but the knowledge of the city of

Jacksonville and their sports fan base. The Suns head into new ownership in 2016, as I was a part

of the final season under the original owners, The Bragan Family. It was a blast and it truly

enlightened me in knowing I have in fact chosen the right life and path for myself. So I

recommend this experience to anyone looking for a chance, because in this age that’s all one

needs. A chance.