Super Bowl XLVIII is one Josh Lenz will remember for life.
Lenz, an Iowa State University senior in horticulture, was selected to participate as an intern in Toro's Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program. The Ames native packed his winter clothes and arrived in New Jersey on the Monday before the game.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It was the first outdoor, cold weather Super Bowl, so things were much different than in the past,” Lenz says. “I met professionals in the industry and learned much from this once in a lifetime experience.”
When he arrived, Lenz helped prepare the Super Bowl and NFL logos inside heated tents. He says they had an inch of snow early that week, which he helped clear off the field.
Lenz works for Tim Van Loo, who manages the Jack Trice playing field at Iowa State. Lenz says that experience helped him win the Super Bowl internship.
Lenz is the second Iowa State student to participate in the internship program. Kevin Hansen, a horticulture graduate assistant, interned with last year’s Super Bowl's turf crew.