DSU’s Wockenfuss Superbowl Bound
Head football coach to work Game Security
Dakota State University head football coach, Gene
Wockenfuss, hopes the St. Louis Rams can beat the Philadelphia
Eagles in the NFC Championship game this Sunday. The Rams are his
favorite team, but that’s not the only reason he wants to see
them win.
Wockenfuss will be working at the Superbowl as game security for
the security company Contemporary Services out of Los Angeles and
Fort Collins, CO. The company provides its services for 28 of the
31 NFL teams, as well as several NBA and NHL teams. He will be at
the nerve cell of the Superbowl, the NFL Control Room, making sure
no unauthorized personnel get between him and the control room
door.
Contemporary Services Security President, Pete Kranske
asked Wockenfuss to help with the Superbowl four years ago.
“Are you kidding me?” Wockenfuss recalled saying to
Kranske. “It was a dream come true. Every year I think-- what am
I doing here? I feel fortunate to have made that type of
connection and to have Pete as a friend.”
That connection was
made because Wockenfuss went on a recruitment trip to Fort Collins
to recruit Pete’s son, Mark, to play Offensive Line for Doane
College.
It was the second year Mark was on campus when Wockenfuss’
dream came true. Kranske was impressed with what kind of person
and coach Wockenfuss is and asked him to be part of his team at
the Superbowl. Kranske and Wockenfuss created ties in Sweden,
where they traveled together with Kranske’s son to play and
coach football internationally.
The connection has
escalated at Doane College as several players get to be part of
the security team as well. For the last two years, 30 players have
gone to the Superbowl to venture in the behind-the-scenes
activities.
“It’s such an experience to see the business and
marketing side of the game. It’s a once in a lifetime
experience.”
That kind of experience will happen for the fourth time on
Sunday, February 3.
“It’s new every year,” said Wockenfuss.
“It’s not something that gets to be old hat.”
During his three
years at the Superbowl, Wockenfuss has seen several big name
athletes. He was part of the endzone security when former Denver
Broncos quarterback, John Elway played his last game. He escorted
Elway and Mike Shannahan, Broncos Head Coach, to press conferences
throughout the week. He secured the Broncos game room, where he
says players just hang out. He was there when his Rams beat the
Tennessee Titans. He’s met legends Joe Montana and Dick Vermeil
as well as several others.
“You name them, I’ve seen them,” said Wockenfuss
about the many players and coaches he’s came in contact with
during the past three years.
Wockenfuss leaves for New Orleans on Wednesday to help with
security measures at the NFL’s biggest event. He’ll work
12-hour days prior to the Superbowl and virtually 24 hours the day
of the game.
|
