Get to know one of our uncommon Concordians, Chase Temple (’26), a golf and hockey player who is majoring in sport and entertainment business.
Editor’s note: A version of this story first appeared in the fall 2023 edition of Hearts Together. The official magazine of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor publishes biannually.
Sometimes learning how the business world works comes with some pretty cool opportunities. While helping out at a big charity celebrity golf event in Florida last spring, CUAA sophomore (then freshman) Chase Temple had a “brush with greatness” involving Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new quarterback. Long story short, Chase—a sport and entertainment business major—put his golf skills to good use on Mayfield’s behalf. We’ll let him explain the rest!
What happened in Florida last spring?
I was on an ELO (Extended Learning Opportunity), and we were helping run this big charity golf tournament in Tampa with a lot of current and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and coaches. I was working at a par-3 hole, and when the players found out I play on the golf team, some of them asked me to hit their tee shots for them. When Baker Mayfield asked me, I hit it two feet from the hole, and he made birdie for his team!
What’s Baker Mayfield really like?
Before I met him, I wasn’t sure because he has a bit of a reputation that some fans don’t like him. But he was super cool! I was like, I don’t know what those guys are talking about! He was happy to take a photo, and he let me hit that shot for him.
Did the experience influence or reinforce any career choices?
Last year when I started I didn’t really know what I wanted to do for a major. But when I was talking to some friends who were in sport and entertainment business it sounded interesting, so I declared that as my major. Ever since then I’ve just really enjoyed what we’ve been doing. Going to Florida was a really cool experience to be able to get my feet in the water and show me a little bit what it’s like in the industry.
How are golf and hockey going for you so far?
Well, hockey wasn’t all that great last year because I broke my wrist just seven games in. But golf has gone well. At a tournament in Indiana, everything was just clicking one day, and I shot a 68 to set a CUAA single-round record!
If you could play only one, would it be golf or hockey?
If you mean forever, it would be golf because I can play my whole life. But if I’m focusing on my time at Concordia, it would probably be hockey. We have a great team; it’s like a family. I live in a house with a bunch of other players, which is a great way to create friendships and build connections with teammates. These are people I’m going to know for the rest of my life.
Want in?
If you’re a fan of sports but not necessarily into the health and fitness side of things, you might want to consider a major in sport and entertainment business, There are countless fulfilling and dynamic careers you can choose that will keep you in the middle of the action. A BS in sport and entertainment business is just one of many exciting business degrees available at the Haab School of Business at CUAA.
The fall 2023 Hearts Together magazine hit mailboxes in November. View a PDF version of the magazine here. If you are not on our mailing list, but are interested in receiving a free copy, email Jennifer.Hackmann@cuaa.edu.