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by Jadon Bosarge
Some people wish on stars, others toss coins in a fountain; I simply emailed my dreams to a fairy godmother – Gina Lehe, Media Director of the Rose Bowl & BCS Game. She waived her magic wand and granted me media privileges to the 100th Rose Bowl & the final BCS game. There were no glass slippers or pumpkin and mice involved. There was only glorious, wonderful college football at its finest!
During the season, I had acquired media credentials to see several teams pursue their goal of grandeur – Arizona State, Cal, Stanford, USC, and Washington State. I even landed a one-on-one interview with a semifinalist for the Butkus Award – Khairi Fortt, a goodhearted guy with great talent, from Connecticut. The trip to the Rose Bowl and BCS game was the pinnacle of them all. While in southern California for two weeks, I was able to revisit the Stanford Cardinal team; their success had granted them a berth at the Rose Bowl. I attended press conferences, interviewed coaches and players, and watched team practices.
I was able to meet Ms. Gina Lehe. She was doing a magnificent job running the show! I was amazed at the amount of work required by her position and her ability to make it seem effortless. I asked her a few questions on topics ranging from her childhood to the new college playoff system. She was kind, respectful, and candid with her answers.
Growing up, she had two loves in life – sports and music. Little Gina wanted to be a singer. For most of her life, she was performing in theatre, choir, and music groups. Her father fostered her love of sports. He was a referee, coach, and PE instructor. For Gina, sports became another form of expression. She loved playing and watching sports. This love eventually led her down a career path in the sports world.
Gina now loves football, even though she grew up an avid basketball fan. Football stumbled into her life in college – which coincidentally also opened the doors of this industry. She started as an intern with the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson, Arizona. She hosted a postseason game which eventually moved its roots (and her) to the greater Phoenix area.
She shared, “There is something familial with college football. People come together, take time out of their lives to dedicate and support the game”. It is special – “the atmosphere, the time of year, the athleticism and camaraderie – it is unbeatable! Every angle of the game is unique and exciting. To sit back and think of all the moving parts to create a game day atmosphere is quite amazing.”
Sports is all about winning and losing. Ms. Lehe is definitely a winner. When I asked her what it takes to be a winner, she told me that “being a winner in life takes confidence and courage – confidence to believe in the impossible and courage to accept failure along the way.” She does not measure success by a first place finish or vote. For her “success comes from having passion in what you do and knowing your full effort is always being put forth.”
Being a kid reporter, I had to ask Ms. Lehe her advice for a young person who wanted to pursue a career in this business. She said, “Today’s ‘job in sports’ can include so many avenues. Take any large event and there a million little pieces that come into play in order for its success. Now step back and see where those pieces come from – is it marketing, media, tickets, operations? Once you can narrow down an area that you feel passionate about and motivated to succeed, patience and perseverance come next. Your edge against competition becomes a belief in what you do and the craft of achievement. Strive to be better each and every day. Network with others in the industry and doors will open!”
Finally, I wanted to know about her new position with the College Football Playoff. She told me that “The health of college football has never been greater. Fan interest is at an all-time high, television ratings are through the roof and social media has allowed for a 24 hour engagement in the sport. Similar to the start of the Bowl Championship Series, the College Football Playoff will be met with some level of skepticism. My position per its title, Senior Director of Communications and Brand Management will encompass a myriad of responsibilities. On one side, I will have the media relations and public relations and the other will be the branding of the system. Media relations will include the operation of the game from a media perspective – collateral materials and information, press conferences and credentialing to name a few”. She shared that much of her initial work will be educating others about the College Football Playoff system. She will help answer questions like: Why it was started, how it works, etc., to help build awareness and acceptance. Their goal is to keep the momentum and interest of college football going forward. Gina acknowledges that there will be challenges, but is fully aware that it is a very exciting time!
As a young reporter, athlete, and sports enthusiast, Gina Lehe made my dreams come true. I found her to be a beautiful person both inside and out. She helped me experience firsthand, the life of a sports reporter – covering college football at its finest! For this, I will be eternally grateful.
