While there are only two teams that get to go to the Super Bowl, there's four Sun Devils who are making sure it's a game to remember.
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, a private non-profit company with a staff of 18, helps promote Super Bowl XLII within the Valley community, said Dan Vertlieb, committee media and public relations consultant.
Four current and former ASU students work for the host committee.
"Very few people have an opportunity to go to a Super Bowl and even fewer get to work for one," said Brandi Bloodworth, the committee's director of sponsorship and marketing and a 2007 ASU graduate.
Super Bowl XLII takes place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 3, 2008 and is the Valley's first since Super Bowl XXX in 1996.
In order to build a staff to promote the Super Bowl, the Committee hired interns from ASU during 2006, Vertlieb said.
Christina Estes, committee vice president of media and public relations, said the organization had a positive experience with the ASU interns, who then became full-time staff.
"We've been very fortunate with ASU students and recent graduates," Estes said.
"We have a small staff but are passionate and excited about [our] jobs."
Estes added that the ASU students give the group a positive and younger perspective.
Melody Rodriguez, committee media and public relations specialist, started out as an intern in September 2006 and was brought on full-time three days after her May 2007 graduation from ASU.
One of Rodriguez's responsibilities is to coordinate the appearances of Spike, the Super Bowl XLII mascot, at about four events per week around the Valley.
Spike — a 7-foot football with giant sunglasses — made trips to the Phoenix Children's hospital, a Chicago Cubs spring training baseball game, and a concert in Glendale put on by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said she enjoys attending the appearances and also answering kids' questions.
The committee is working with NFL Youth Football to provide football clinics to 20,000 kids in Arizona, helping fund a Boys and Girls Club building in Glendale, and staffing the NFL experience just outside University of Phoenix Stadium the week before the Super Bowl, Bloodworth said.
In addition, the committee is in the process of recruiting 10,000 volunteers for related Super Bowl events and activities, Vertlieb said.
But with the Super Bowl taking place in February 2008, the staff's jobs end on March 31, 2008, Vertlieb said.
When asked about her next step in April 2008, Rodriquez shrugged her shoulders.
"Hopefully, I'll make some connections to get the next job in either sports or
entertainment," Rodriquez said.
Until March 31, 2008, Dustin Watson, a 2007 ASU graduate and committee Web content manager, said he is excited about his job.
"What do I like about my job?" Watson said. "I'm working for the Super Bowl, man!"
