By David Carter (’11)
For the past five weeks, I have had the privilege to intern in football operations with the New England Patriots. This unique opportunity would not have come to fruition without the OU network and loyal alumnus, Monti Ossenfort ('02). Monti is currently a national scout for the Patriots, and I had the privilege to meet him at the NFL Combine, this past February. With his help, I was given a chance to compete for this position, and was thrilled this past June, when I received the invitation to work for New England.
Upon my arrived in Foxborough (July 19th), I was immediately impressed by the organization and culture of this infamous franchise. Here, the team comes first, period. There is a tone and business-like approach to all phases of the program, and daily expectations are very high. Almost all of my time is spent at Gillette Stadium, the team headquarters. This is where all facilities are located, from team offices to weight and training rooms.
One of the great aspects to this internship has been the wide range of tasks and projects in which I have taken part. Our role in football operations is to support the coaches and players in any fashion, so our objectives vary each day. Duties have included transporting players throughout camp, hosting VIP guests for practice sessions, constructing player and coach playbooks, and assisting in a variety of media projects. In addition to my daily operational tasks, I was given the opportunity to work on several projects for the Patriots scouting department. These projects include creating preseason video cutups, breaking down college game film, and writing reports on prospects. My time in the scouting department has been quite interesting, as it has provided invaluable exposure to an often-concealed side of professional sports. I have been amazed at the complete and diligent work the player personnel department performs, as they attempt to build another Super Bowl winning team.
One of the most exciting aspects to training camp this year was the joint sessions held with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints arrived three days prior to the opening preseason game on August 12th. The Patriots and Saints completed three full sessions in the days leading up to the preseason kickoff. This gave both teams a fresh opponent with which to practice and compete. During the Saints’ visit in New England, operational responsibilities were highly augmented to support both teams. Without a doubt, the highlight of the Saints’ trip was watching the 27-24 Patriots victory over the defending world champions.
Overall, I have had a tremendous internship in New England, and feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity. A value cannot be placed on what I have experienced and the projects in which I have taken part. I look forward to bringing the lessons from this experience with me as I return to Athens, and using them in my career ahead.
