August 2, 2008

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  This was in the Milwaukee Journal the other day.   Granddaughter Lydia made the news!!

  
  

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  Concordia University students interning with Rams

  
  

  By NICK HALTER
  nhalter@journalsentinel.com

  
  

  Posted: July 31, 2008

  
  

  In summers past, the few dozen Concordia University students who stuck around campus would make ends meet by mowing lawns, painting houses or flipping burgers.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Rams Camp

  Photo/ Kristyna Wentz-Graff Concordia University athletic training majors Lydia Stuebs (left) and Samantha Bloxdorf are interning with the St. Louis Rams. “They’re just normal guys, really,” Stuebs said.

  
  

  This year, they’re hanging out with NFL stars.

  
  

  When Lydia Stuebs and Samantha “Sam” Bloxdorf, athletic training majors, caught wind that the St. Louis Rams had chosen Concordia for their training camp and were looking for interns to work with their players, they quickly applied.

  
  

  By the end of last week, Bloxdorf and Stuebs, Packers fans who knew nothing about the Rams, were out on the field, doing a little bit of everything for the team — taping ankles, driving players to the hospital and assisting other trainers — sometimes for up to 17 hours a day.

  
  

  “The players have been really nice and so welcoming,” Stuebs said.

  
  

  Bloxdorf said she was greeted one day on her way through the lunchroom by a group of rookies singing to her. They were led by first-round draft pick Chris Long, son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long.

  
  

  The 21-year-old seniors are traveling with the team to Tennessee, St. Louis and Kansas City for preseason games later this month.

  
  

  Most of the 60 or so students still living on campus are in one way or another working to accommodate the Rams, said Joel Bahr, a 20-year-old student who was pulled from his job in the admissions office to help out.

  
  

  Bahr’s job is simple, yet most college-aged football fans would kill for it. He’s a gofer. He gets the players whatever they need, whenever they need it.

  
  

  “Most of these guys know me by name now,” Bahr said after exchanging greetings with backup quarterback Trent Green.

  
  

  “I’m on call 24 hours a day,” he said this week as he moved around campus on a golf cart, a vehicle that is an easy target for the players. “They will give me a hard time when I am driving girls around in the cart.”

  
  

  The campus is fairly isolated, with Lake Michigan on the east and I-43 to the west. The only bar or restaurant within easy walking distance is the Highland House, across the interstate at 12741 N. Port Washington Road.

  
  

  Dan DeMarsch, the restaurant’s owner, said a few players have made their way to the bar after nightly meetings, but they usually can’t stay long before breaking their 11 p.m. curfew. No bad behavior to report, he said.

  
  

  DeMarsch said business hasn’t been as good as expected, but with scrimmages coming up, he expects an increase. His sign out front, which probably speaks for most of the Concordia community, should attract some customers.

  
  

  It reads: “Welcome St. Louis Rams, Our 2nd Favorite Team.”

  
  

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   An enlargement of the picture shown above.  Lyd and Sam are roommates for this internship.

  
  

  
   

  • 12:49 pm
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