Have you ever walked into a stadium or sporting event and felt chills from the excitement there? Have you ever been so pumped about a game that you screamed until your throat hurt? Have you ever painted your body or face in your team’s colors in support? Kevin Borzenski the University’s events and promotions coordinator said he wants every Pepperdine student to experience these emotions and rituals whenever they attend a Pepperdine athletic event.
Borzenski a 2006 graduate does everything from organize promotional events for teams to design all materials in print and on the Pepperdine Athletics Web site. Borzenski is also in charge of entertainment during half-time and media time outs. He oversees the give-aways and advises the cheerleaders and Willie the Wave Pepperdine’s mascot as well. He even trains student DJs and screens all music for home events. There is little that Borzenski does not do for Pepperdine athletics.
In a nutshell Borzenski said his job is “to get people to come to sporting events and have fun when they are there so they come back.” To Borzenski this is important for both the fans’ college experience and the sports teams’ success.
Hailing from Lansing Michigan Borzenski came to Pepperdine to play tennis and was part of the 2006 Championship team. Ever since he graduated with a major in political science and minor in philosophy he has worked at Pepperdine full-time. Borzenski did not know what he wanted to do with his degree but caught a break when he discovered the events and promotions position.
“The summer after graduation I had a discussion about the new position John Watson had created he said. He thought I would be good for the job because I had been the Riptide president for two years. Even though I was on the tennis team, I was always trying to develop some traditions, especially at our basketball games, which could last and make the atmosphere more fun for students.
This is why Borzenski said he loves his job and is so dedicated to it. He wants students at Pepperdine to feel the excitement and energy that students from large schools do at their athletic events. Borzenski claims that the most rewarding part of his job is seeing a large crowd at a sporting event.
“It’s awesome when I see tons of students going nuts at an event he said. It is exciting to know that I know have played a little part in helping that happen.”
Borzenski is a true sports fanatic. He said he supports the Michigan State Spartans for college basketball and Notre Dame for college football. His love for these teams has inspired his work at Pepperdine.
“My experience being a sports fan shows me what I want the Pepperdine sports experience to be for students Borzenski said. I look at the atmosphere of sports in schools in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and I think ‘Let’s do that.'”
Borzenski brought the Pepperdine band to campus to boost school spirit. He said this is perhaps his greatest achievement thus far as the events and promotions coordinator. The band made its first debut in ten years at Orange and Blue Madness just a few weeks ago inspired by Borzenski’s love for the Michigan State basketball games he attended when he was growing up.
“The idea is not to have a relaxed band sitting in the stands and playing songs the students cannot interact with Borzenski said. Rather the idea is create an atmosphere an environment for our basketball team and for students to have fun.”
Borzenski said it was easier when he was in charge of Riptide to get students active and participating but he is still finding new ways to get Pepperdine students out and excited for games.
“It’s not going to happen overnight he said. We’re a young school. We have to give ourselves the opportunity and the room to grow. A lot of people say that school spirit is down. I don’t look at it that way. There’s potential in the students they’re eager and waiting to go nuts and experience college like other students do across the country.”
While Borzenski is in charge of all sports promotions the tennis team still has a special place in his heart. Borzenski said that being a part of the championship team in 2006 was very special.
“We definitely had a great family of players he said. I will be friends with those teammates and coaches for the rest of my life. When we grow older and we come back for reunions we will never stop being honored for something that special.”
However tennis is not a large revenue-producing sport and it’s hard to get fans out. Still Borzenski sets up small games in between the singles and doubles matches or provides t-shirts and pizza to get more fans to come support men’s tennis which is one of the top teams that Pepperdine has.
Borzenski said he feels fortunate to be a part of Pepperdine and he said he hopes to make his mark on Pepperdine Athletics by establishing traditions and exciting atmospheres to foster school spirit and team success.
“It’s hard not to be excited when I show up at campus every day and get to look at this view he said. I consider myself lucky to be at this job to have gone to Pepperdine and played on a national championship team.”