DISCLAIMER: This is a blog post by me, Jon Wepking, Associate AD for External Relations...these are my thoughts and do not necessarily express the views of MSUM or Dragon Athletics.
WEBBIE'S WORDS: Make the bucket overflow
How did MSUM win 26 national awards in 2023-24 including the NCAMA Marketing Team of the Year? I'll explain that in a second, but I always start our 'too long' weekly posts to the GO! TEAM with gratitude...and I'm overflowing with that right now and it's the reason I'm writing.
I know these are not my awards but I need to start by thanking my amazing wife and partner in life, Jamie, and our two girls for supporting me and this team. I know it's not easy with dad gone so much and scheduling life around events…but you've embraced it and make it work. They've always been a big part of this team and deserve to share in its success.
I need to recognize the enormous contributions of Nolan Schmidt and Alex Nelson. Nolan has been an incredible addition and immediately allowed us to take a big leap forward the last two years. Alex is a monster in broadcast. A believer from day one as a volunteer student in what we are trying to build and sticking it out with us through thick and really really thin. Both of them doing their roles so impressively well allows us to move forward as a whole group and not just one area at a time. I can't express how grateful I am for their faith in me and how much I appreciate their dedication, energy, and sacrifices. Thank you gentlemen.
Thank you to the reason we have a job, our student-athletes…who trusted us and allowed us to cover these moments of their life. Thank you to our coaches & colleagues at MSUM. Thank you to Doug Peters who saw potential in me and this program way before I could. Thank you to Chad Markuson for allowing us the opportunity to continue to build something unique and special here at MSUM. Massive thanks to the tech fee advisory group, and of course our incredible sponsors, donors, and fans!
Thank you to NACMA. It is an amazing thing…showing we are peers in this sports industry at all levels. We "get" each others' obstacles and sincerely love helping one another. Neither me nor the GO! TEAM would be here today without the help of this organization and many peers in the industry. Thank you to NACDA, NSIC, judges, voters, Old Hat, PrestoSports, and congrats to all award winners and finalists.
Now…GO! TEAM…And the bucket.
How do you raise the level of the water in a bucket? You could pour in more water ($). You could drop a brick in (like a facility). For us, we decided to focus on what we could control and asked a group of students to put their hands in the bucket (people). There were holes, there were splashes, and there were some major spills. But this team didn't just put one hand in the bucket…they put both hands and both feet in, fixed leaks, and made a handle to take this bucket on the road. Eventually, the level rose so high it overflowed...earning all these amazing awards and recognitions.
All the credit for these award goes to those students, the MSUM GO! TEAM internship program that was over 60 people deep this season (not a typo). This award is for our alumni who built the foundation for this group to stand on. And this is specifically for the 15 seniors who absolutely crushed it this year and left this program better than when they found it. They are all the reason this is possible. They inspire, teach, and humble me every day and I'm honored to be able to be a part of their life.
After I said that "60 deep" thing during my speech when accepting the award...I had a flood of people after asking why, how, and in disbelief.
WHY: We tried Graduate Assistants (GAs) model and they were AMAZING...for a year. Then they'd go on to do more amazing things. They were also relatively expensive. Now, we get 3-4 students for that amount and get to keep them for 2-4 years (sometimes 5...Mr. Rice).
HOW: Believe students are capable of amazing things. Deal with imperfection. Focus on growth. Create systems more than goals. Recruit your ass off.
LIES: No lie, we had 62 on the roster this year at one point. Think about a normal gameday. We try to have 3 working stats, 4-8 in broadcast, 2 photo, 2 video, 2 social, 2 promo, 2 tabling/kids club, 1 music and signs operator, 1 floater, 1 mascot, and a partridge in a pear tree. That's 24 people, each game, for all sports. To create enough depth to be consistent, so people can be sick, or take days off...we need 2-3 deep at each role much like a football roster. That gets you to 60+ real quick with just the events team. Not to mention the operations team, communication leads team, graphic designers, archives team, and other office staff helping us prepare for those events. A majority of these students are work study students, some are paid, some are doing internship for courses, some are straight up volunteering because they love being on a team, around sports, and are investing in themselves so that they love what they do and do what they love.
Okay...that's the bucket and how they made it overflow. But one other thing I talk a lot about in the GO! TEAM is not focusing on awards or results. Hang on...don't get mad me for that...let me explain. I stress constantly that if we stay disciplined to the mindset of getting a little better everyday…awards will inevitably happen as a result. Focus on the process...not the results.
SO WHAT!? What happens if the GO! TEAM bucket overflows?! Well, here's what happens.
- Moms and dads can watch their child do what brings them joy from South Africa at 4 a.m.
- Doing hard things repeatedly and overcoming adversity is celebrated.
- Young adults gain confidence in their abilities, love their jobs, define their values, and lead a fulfilling life of service.
- Role models are given a platform and opportunities to lead. Equity is emphasized and diversity is engraved in our culture.
- Consistency, effort, and discipline everyday and not just on gamedays is highlighted and valued.
- The moment an unforgettable memory happens and lifelong relationships galvanize is captured forever.
- Kids and grandkids will be able to see mom, dad, or even grandad live their dream at the highest level they can…and be inspired to do the same.
- Our community gains talented ambassadors who will create more of the same.
So what happens when the GO! TEAM bucket overflows…a lot.
So why am I so pumped for the Marketing Team of the Year award?! This award proves that focusing on the process philosophy is not a fairytale. It gives permission for all our Dragons to dream big and believe they can go anywhere from here by focusing on the little improvements everyday. By focusing on what they can control and not get caught up in the results, it gives permission to leave doubt and impostor syndrome behind and be confident that who you are and what you've learned at MSUM is capable of incredible things on any scale.
AND...because we've had the flier for the NACMA Inagural Marketing Team of the Year award on the wall in our office since 2012. My first convention in Orlando with Doug, seeing that award, reading those submissions, meeting those people inspired me to jump into my new career opportunity with both hands and feet. It reminds me not to win awards, but to inspire people to dream and to take action on that dream. To help people get to their the breaking point where they decide to either push past their own doubts and abilities or decide it's not worth the effort and sacrifices anymore.
The former, haven't hit their capacity yet or haven't fully committed yet to making Plan A work and get to try again knowing exactly what they have to do to get better. They know what doesn't work for them, and what does. They gain self-awareness and refocus their discipline to the level they want to attain.
The latter, hits their full capacity and willingness to go further. They have what many people never attain and we too often see some chase past a healthy point, enough. AND THAT'S OKAY! Sometimes things are simply out of your control (timing, support, market size, technology, etc) and you hit the ceiling. You can't always break it sometimes you shouldn't if it costs you your family, your health, or your values. It means you get to have closure and clarity when choosing the next thing to tilt at.
I'm so grateful that I get to push our GO! TEAM there, watch our athletes do it every day, help our MSUM students do it in the classroom, and do the same for myself and my family. We get to play in this wonderful sandbox of character definition.
That convention I was feeling overwhelmed and unworthy. Doug looked at me and said, "You're just as good as anyone here." He believed in me. That moment was bigger than either of us knew. Now I get to give that gift he gave me to our students...and they repay me with more than I can possibly say thank you for.
I do need to ask one favor. To those reading this in a position to hire…never overlook a Dragon and especially a GO! TEAMer. You see GO! TEAM on a resume…give em a shot. Reach out to me and I'll honestly let you know what they're capable of. We design this program not to win awards…but to create ideal team players. Hungry, Humble, and Smart. If you're impressed by their capacity to earn a national award…just wait till you get to see how great they are as a human. That doesn't show up on a resume…and that is what impresses me most about our team.
GO! TEAM, you can be proud of this and all the awards. But also be proud about moving the opportunities for others forward. Be proud of capturing and creating life-long memories and relationships. Be proud of your failures. Be proud of your growth. And finally, be proud to be a God Damn Dragon! I'm so proud of you all and proud to be your coach. Thank you for adding immeasurable value to what being a Dragon means.
To those coming into the GO! TEAM soon who are possibly and understandably intimidated because of this honor, new standard, and expectations…don't be. This group thought the same exact thing when they began this year. They grinded, they stepped up, they messed up, they focused on what they could control, they leaned into obstacles, they stayed humble, they stayed together. This is in you too…and the opportunity to do that is here for you when you're ready.
For those on the outside looking in…If you didn't already know….MSUM IS THE PLACE TO BE! It's a place to be yourself. It's a community where people believe in you. It's an opportunity to gain confidence in your abilities. It's a place to start with no limits on where you can go. It's a team willing to fight for and with you. It's a stage to become and do more than you ever thought possible. I know this because I see it everyday. Hopefully this award and this team is part of showing to more and more people what's happening here at MSU Moorhead. Something truly special. And you're invited to join us! Let's make the bucket overflow again and again.
Thanks again and of course, GO DRAGONS!!!
Jon "Webbie" Wepking
