Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Football Staffer Gained Valuable Experience at Super Bowl LVII
April 11, 2023 | Cowboy Football
The biggest game in football calls for the brightest stars in the business.
Mariah Turner, Oklahoma State's Director of On-Campus Football Recruiting, spent the week of the Super Bowl in Arizona working as an area manager for 1Team, the company the National Football League outsources for its biggest events.
Turner flew to Glendale eight days before Super Bowl Sunday.
"There's stuff to do all week out there," Turner said. "Most of what we did was during the week leading up to the game."
Her role consisted of helping set up and maintain fan activation experiences including autograph signings, pickleball stations and flag football games. On game day, Turner arrived at the stadium eight hours before kickoff to help set up merchandise tents and other stations.
"There's lots of private tailgates, too," Turner said. "Our main job is just to get people excited about the game, whether they're at a private gathering or are just going as a fan."
Turner has a background in operations and fan engagement, most recently serving as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations for the University of Tulsa before coming to Oklahoma State. She's also worked for the Big Ten Conference and the Atlanta Falcons in similar roles. This wasn't the first NFL tentpole event she's worked.
"There was a friend I met at an NCAA seminar, and she asked me if I wanted to be an area manager at the NFL Draft," Turner said. "Now I've done that for three years."
That friend is Kathleen Ikpi, who's worked in the NFL for more than 14 years, and now works as the special events manager. While in Glendale together, Ikpi invited Turner to multiple brunches held exclusively for women working the Super Bowl.
"It's awesome to be around that many women that are doing what we do at the highest level," Turner said.
Turner isn't the only one benefiting from the experience; it benefits the Oklahoma State football team, too.
"I'm always looking for ideas, things that we can implement at some of our recruiting events," Turner said.
Last season's Orange Blitz, one of Oklahoma State's primary recruiting events, featured a virtual reality setup, which was an idea Turner brought from the Super Bowl. Another concept, a tent with video game consoles, drew inspiration from a prior bowl game. Both received rave reviews from players.
"I'm not sure if I'll work this year's draft, but either way it's been a great experience," Turner said.
Regardless of what her future holds, there's no doubt that Oklahoma State has benefited from Turner's time in Stillwater and around the NFL.
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Mariah Turner, Oklahoma State's Director of On-Campus Football Recruiting, spent the week of the Super Bowl in Arizona working as an area manager for 1Team, the company the National Football League outsources for its biggest events.
Turner flew to Glendale eight days before Super Bowl Sunday.
"There's stuff to do all week out there," Turner said. "Most of what we did was during the week leading up to the game."
Her role consisted of helping set up and maintain fan activation experiences including autograph signings, pickleball stations and flag football games. On game day, Turner arrived at the stadium eight hours before kickoff to help set up merchandise tents and other stations.
"There's lots of private tailgates, too," Turner said. "Our main job is just to get people excited about the game, whether they're at a private gathering or are just going as a fan."
Turner has a background in operations and fan engagement, most recently serving as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations for the University of Tulsa before coming to Oklahoma State. She's also worked for the Big Ten Conference and the Atlanta Falcons in similar roles. This wasn't the first NFL tentpole event she's worked.
"There was a friend I met at an NCAA seminar, and she asked me if I wanted to be an area manager at the NFL Draft," Turner said. "Now I've done that for three years."
That friend is Kathleen Ikpi, who's worked in the NFL for more than 14 years, and now works as the special events manager. While in Glendale together, Ikpi invited Turner to multiple brunches held exclusively for women working the Super Bowl.
"It's awesome to be around that many women that are doing what we do at the highest level," Turner said.
Turner isn't the only one benefiting from the experience; it benefits the Oklahoma State football team, too.
"I'm always looking for ideas, things that we can implement at some of our recruiting events," Turner said.
Last season's Orange Blitz, one of Oklahoma State's primary recruiting events, featured a virtual reality setup, which was an idea Turner brought from the Super Bowl. Another concept, a tent with video game consoles, drew inspiration from a prior bowl game. Both received rave reviews from players.
"I'm not sure if I'll work this year's draft, but either way it's been a great experience," Turner said.
Regardless of what her future holds, there's no doubt that Oklahoma State has benefited from Turner's time in Stillwater and around the NFL.
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