I never really thought in the entirety of my life I’d be working at Gillette stadium, but I would never have had this opportunity if I didn’t apply to BSU. I’m extremely thankful.
When New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye finds wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the end zone at Gillette Stadium, Bridgewater State University is part of the celebration.
That’s because every time the home team scores, as part of the celebration, BSU’s Carly McMahon, ’24, G’26, and JT Goudas, ’26, sprint through the end zone waving giant flags as more than 60,000- fans cheer them on.
“Getting to be on the sidelines, waiting for the Pats to score…then getting to carry a 12-foot flagpole with a 6-foot flag on it and run it across the end zone? It’s insanely fun, I love every minute of it,” JT said.
JT, an aviation science and aviation management double major, and Carly, who has a degree in communications and is working toward a master’s in public relations, both work for the Kraft Group as event presentation ambassadors.
As far as part-time gigs go, both agree the experience is a 10 out of 10.
“This job is fun, but it also comes with hard work like any other job,” Carly said. “It has been extremely valuable to my learning and growth as a professional, I am grateful to work with such an amazing team and be guided by leaders who inspire us.”
Carly and JT aren’t the only BSU students currently employed by the Kraft Group, Miranda MacLeod, ’28, who is studying public relations, also works as a part-time event ambassador. She doesn’t run the flags on game day, instead, her main responsibilities are to ensure Patriot fans have a stress-free and memorable experience when visiting Gillette.
“I want to work in professional sports, so this has been a really great experience working in the sports industry,” Miranda said. “I’ve made a lot of connections and have gotten to see how operations work behind the scenes.”
There are, of course, some perks like rubbing elbows with Patriot legends.
When working at the recent Patriots Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, that inducted former head coach Bill Parcells and wide receiver Julian Edelman, Carly shared the same rarified air with past players Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Danny Amendola, Rob Ninkovich, Devin McCourty, and current head coach Mike Vrable.
The most memorable experience was when she got to see the GOAT himself, quarterback Tom Brady, at Brady’s statue unveiling event.
“My family grew up watching him,” the Norton native said. “It was a privilege to be able to see him walk by and see the event in real-time.”
JT didn’t grow up in New England, but he’s still a Patriots fan. While most of his friends in his home state North Carolina were cheering on the Panthers, he stood out like a sore thumb in his Pats gear.
Coming to Bridgewater State not only gave him a place to study to become a pilot but also helped him find like-minded fans and put him in close enough proximity to work for the team he grew up idolizing.
“I definitely caught a lot of flak growing up, especially in middle school,” JT said. “I never really thought in the entirety of my life I’d be working at Gillette stadium, but I would never have had this opportunity if I didn’t apply to BSU. I’m extremely thankful.”
Miranda is from Taunton, so being a Patriots fan is part of her birthright. She admits it’s easy to get starstruck being that close to the players but emphasizes the importance of remaining professional.
“It’s exposed me to a lot of different people. Yes, it can be fun, but it’s also shown me what to expect as I pursue a career in professional sports,” she said.
Carly, who recently was awarded the MVP of the month for September by the Kraft Group, also believes this job will open doors for a career in public relations and social media.
“As a public relations student I value this opportunity and have learned how to navigate a fast-paced environment, which is something I will be able to keep with me as I navigate my career,” she said. “This and learning how to maintain professionalism as well as discretion are things that will translate into my future career.”
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