"Down, Set, Hut"

Grace Haines

Dr. Jackson

Journalism 271

October 18, 2013

“Down, Set, Hut”

From growing up on a small family farm in Kentucky, to walking the halls of Ole Miss, to signing deals for the NFL on Park Avenue in New York City, Renie Anderson’s rise to success shows the rewards of hard work and utilization of opportunities.

Sixteen years after graduation, Anderson returns to campus to participate in “Game Changers,” a discussion of sports marketing. Her job as the vice president of business development for the NFL and connection with the University provides a unique perspective for the transition from college life into the work force.

As an undergraduate student at Ole Miss, she studied journalism which provided her with valuable skills that she utilizes today in selling the NFL brand, Anderson said.

“I use my desire to tell stories in my sales pitch,” Anderson said.

Through her education in journalism, she learned how to present clear and specific elements to a story that help her audience understand exactly what she is trying to convey, Anderson said.

            Although her profession takes a lot of work, travel, and sacrifice, she has the ability to sell the NFL brand to over 185 million fans worldwide.

            “Baseball is America’s pastime, but football is America’s passion,” Anderson said.

Looking back at her experience at Ole Miss, she always enjoyed the essence of history and allusion of romance that the city of Oxford possesses.

“There’s history all around us here, with the Lyceum and Roanoke right down the road,” Anderson said.

Her favorite memory from Ole Miss was during her student internship with the Athletics department. She helped to create the first Midnight Madness on campus for the Ole Miss Basketball team in 1997. That year the team had a very successful record and advanced to the round of Sweet Sixteen held in Kansas City.

“I loved being a part of something that will continue on for years to come,” Anderson said.  

            Her advice to Ole Miss graduating students about to enter the real world is to, “have self-awareness of your gifts and weaknesses so that you can be the best at what you do.”