Editor’s note: This story concludes a two-part series on the four student sports information directors.
 
While many students are looking forward to the fun and excitement of attending many events during Super Bulldog Weekend, junior communication major Shealy Molpus spent her time hosting the SEC women’s tennis tournament.
As the women’s tennis sports information director, Molpus handles the majority of the media relations work for the tournament.
Molpus took over as the women’s tennis SID last spring, the same semester she became the recruitment chair for Chi Omega. For someone who loves to socialize, Molpus said she has learned to balance her time among all of her responsibilities.
“The main thing it inconveniences is the time I have to do homework,” Molpus said. “One benefit is I do not like to sleep very much; I’ve definitely had to give up a couple of hours of sleep here and there. But everyone is so helpful, and that’s a big way I’m able to balance it. If I know I need help, I know I can lean on them. It’s great to work with people that are like that and so helpful.”
Molpus’s counterpart for the men’s tennis team is junior communication major Hunter Richardson, who helped oversee the SEC men’s tennis tournament at MSU last spring and will help out Molpus along the way this year.
In his first year as the men’s tennis SID, Richardson took over a team ranked No. 11 in the country.
Richardson said because he played tennis in high school, he has enjoyed watching the talent level of the Dogs.
“You’ve got to make sure you’re on the ball with everything and make sure you’re not missing anything,” Richardson said. “But it’s kind of fun because you get to watch these guys that are incredible athletes and watch them beat guys that are ridiculous in themselves.”
While working about 30 hours a week sometimes causes the SIDs to miss class, they both made it clear school comes first.
Richardson said in his first year on the job, he has found it difficult to balance school and work because he became deeply involved with his job.
“Eventually you have to step back and say ‘Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. when classes are, I have to be focused on school’ because at the end of the day, if you don’t do good in school, you won’t have a job,” Richardson said.
He also said assignments for work can ocassionally count for class, or some teachers may award bonus points for the articles he writes.
Molpus said having already taken classes like introduction to newswriting and public relations writing, she had an advantage because she could write a news release, even in crunch time.
Gregg Ellis, assistant director of media relations, said he does not have to micromanage the four student SIDs (Richardson, Molpus and men’s and women’s golf SIDs Tyson Rodgers and Lee VanHorn) because the four have proven they know what they are doing.
“In this office you have to work your way up the ladder, and all four of those guys and girls did that. They did all the extra things that you do to set yourself apart from everyone else,” Ellis said. “It’s a full-time job; it’s a lot of responsibility. They had already proven themselves assisting in all the other sports.”
The work load is never as daunting when coworkers get along well and enjoy each other, which was a common theme among the experiences of the four students. The three male SIDs were quick to admit they tend to pick on Molpus, but she said she does not mind when they give her a hard time.
“They pick on me all the time, but I kind of love being picked on just cause it’s fun,” Molpus said. “They’re great; they’re good friends. They mess with me all the time, but I know they’re there for me whenever I need help with anything. Forming those relationships has been a priceless part of doing this. It makes it worth it whenever I get really frustrated.”
Richardson said everyone in the department gives 110 percent every day to make sure the job gets done.
“It’s a great group to be around. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else – not just these three but everyone that works in this department,” Richardson said. “I seriously think in this athletic department we’ve got the best staff there is.”