How K-State Athletics is getting ready to paint Ireland purple for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic
Members of the K-State football team are preparing to travel a bit farther than normal
for their first away game of the season — make that about 4,000 miles, the distance
from Manhattan, Kansas, to Dublin, Ireland.
The Wildcats are participating in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday, Aug. 23, vs. Big 12 rival Iowa State. It’s a thrilling opportunity,
but it’s also going to take a team effort of hard work behind the scenes to make this
unique game day happen.
We caught up with several K-State Athletics staff members to learn more about how
the ’Cats are prepping for this game day overseas.
Casey Scott ’77
Executive Associate Athletics Director/Operations
What is your role in helping to prepare for the K-State football game in Ireland?
As the designated home team for this Big 12 matchup, it is K-State's responsibility
to manage all aspects of the event as if it were being played at Bill Snyder Family
Stadium. Therefore, our K-State operations team, in cooperation with our great event
partners in Ireland, will oversee all game management details which, for example,
include working with the Big 12 on the assignment and lodging of game officials and
other personnel; arranging for auxiliary personnel such as scoreboard and clock operators,
and our public address announcer (yes, Mitch Fortner will be on site); assisting ESPN
with setup logistics; coordinating infrastructure and setup of replay technology;
preparing the pregame timing protocol; conducting the pregame officials meeting with
team personnel; and the many other details of stadium preparation it takes to put
on a college football game.
What is something unexpected or unique you've encountered as part of this special
opportunity for K-State Athletics?
We have conducted "home" events outside of campus previously, such as the two football
games against Iowa State in Arrowhead Stadium in 2009 and 2010, and the many men's
basketball games at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, but halfway across the world presents
its challenges. We made a site visit to Dublin in February which was extremely helpful
in getting to know the lay of the land, so to speak, and the people we will be working
with at Aviva Stadium. All the folks associated with the Aer Lingus Classic have been
great, and because they've been putting on this game for several years they have an
excellent working knowledge of American college football and our needs.
What are you personally most excited for about the K-State game in Ireland?
The opportunity to experience the sites and culture of Ireland and, of course, seeing
Aviva Stadium packed with purple!
Scott Eilert ’91
Director of Video Services – Football
What is your role in helping to prepare for the K-State football game in Ireland?
As the coaching video coordinator, my department will provide video and computer services
for our coaches and players during the trip. Like at Vanier Family Football Complex,
we will videotape the practice and the game for educational purposes while in Ireland.
This equates to 10 staff members creating a networked environment for 12 different
meeting rooms at the team hotel, utilizing over 20 computers, a large self-contained
database/media server plus eight cameras to record both the practice and game. We
are the Sesame Street of K-State football.
What is something unexpected or unique you've encountered as part of this special
opportunity for K-State Athletics?
The electrical system is different in Ireland and previous schools have noted challenges
in powering classroom computer equipment. In addition, traveling to Ireland is like
traveling to a bowl game except you have to be exact with the equipment and your lists
of equipment that you are taking. You have to forecast this list out weeks in advance
of your travel with little to no room to deviate once the departure day arrives. No
additions, means no mistakes.
What are you personally most excited for about the K-State game in Ireland?
The challenge of assembling the puzzle pieces that will allow our players and coaches
a chance at success on a football "pitch" in Ireland. Having spent 30+ years as the
director of video services for my alma mater, I am looking forward to adding another
exciting travel opportunity abroad.
Kacey Feldkamp ’08, ’11
Director of Football Operations
What is your role in helping to prepare for the K-State football game in Ireland?
My role involves overseeing logistical aspects of the trip, including coordinating
our team’s overall schedule, charter flight, hotel accommodations, ground transportation,
and game day logistics for the team. I have been working closely with both our internal
staff and the game organizers to ensure that we are aligned throughout the planning
process.
What are you personally most excited for about the K-State game in Ireland?
I am excited to help provide our players with this unique opportunity. It is incredibly
rewarding to be part of something that will be such a memorable experience for them.
Al Cerbe ’09
Head Football Equipment Manager
What is your role in helping to prepare for the K-State football game in Ireland?
- Planning and coordination of all football equipment operations for players and staff.
- Strategic planning on flipping normal tractor trailer planning and packing, into flying with much more documentation, support staff coordination and limitations to normal operations.
- Preparing additional apparel and details for trip and game day similar to bowl games with much more coordination with multiple different groups.
What are you personally most excited for about the K-State game in Ireland?
I am excited to get over there for unloading and setup on Monday and Tuesday of game
week. Also a blessing to be doing it beside my former equipment assistant, now head
football manager at Iowa State, Mikie Schiltz. Dinner with my wife in a nice Irish
steakhouse will be a highlight as well, I am a foodie! I believe it is going to be
an awesome experience for everyone, Ireland is amazing! I am excited for some of the
small details in preparation to be enjoyed by players, coaches and staff. But probably
will be most excited when everything makes it back to Manhattan hopefully no later
than Tuesday, Aug. 26, and maybe even better the Sunday morning of Aug. 31.