When “LMU Day at the Rams” brought a Loyola Marymount crowd to SoFi stadium Dec. 3 for a matchup with the Cleveland Browns, the event marked more than just filling a block of seats. The gathering celebrated a strategic partnership between the university and a leading professional sports organization: LMU and the NFL franchise entered into a historic partnership that will make LMU the first-ever exclusive higher education partner of the storied L.A. team.
The benefits to LMU are significant. Students will have access to dedicated internships within the Rams organization, access to case studies as part of sports and entertainment courses, mentorship and networking opportunities, and in-class appearances by Rams executives. Students will have an opportunity to get an inside look at one of the most successful sports franchises in the nation.
The partnership, says President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., equips LMU students with everything they need to thrive in the global marketplace.
The LMU-Los Angeles Rams partnership is the NFL team’s first with a higher education institution and one that promises benefits for both organizations.
“As we merge the rigor of academia with that of the gridiron, we empower our students to grow, learn, and compete as champions,” Snyder says. “Joining forces with the Rams, a team and organization that exemplifies on-field prowess and off-field astuteness, solidifies our collective excellence.”
Moreover, the partnership is a two-way street, providing the Rams with the opportunity for players, coaches, and staff to continue their education at LMU, including providing dedicated scholarships for graduate and undergraduate education, and certificate and credential programs for members of the team’s organization. Areas that may potentially benefit from exploration or further collaboration include executive education, wealth management, real estate development, entrepreneurship, dance, sports communications studies, multimedia and art design, sports medicine, and athletic training initiatives.
“I am excited for LMU to partner with the Rams, an organization that similarly reflects LMU’s commitment to equality, equity, access, and opportunity,” says Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon.
This partnership reflects broader efforts by LMU to increase its presence regionally, nationally, and globally. “The university is ambitiously pursuing visibility initiatives to raise the value of an LMU degree and to ensure that our reputation is worthy of the extraordinary impact of our faculty and students nationally and globally,” says Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications, and External Relations John Kiralla. “As we activate LMU externally, our partnership with the Rams reflects our reimagining of how we ignite a brighter world.”
For Kevin Demoff, COO of the Rams, the collaboration represents an essential piece to building a solid foundation of community involvement for the Rams in Southern California, and LMU was the ideal partner.
“We are thrilled to welcome LMU to the Rams family and are proud to bring football back to campus,” says Demoff. “With our stadium a few miles from campus, our deep roots in Los Angeles, and our shared commitment to Southern California, this is a perfect partnership. We are looking forward to building together impactful programs that will benefit both members of the LMU community as well as our players, coaches, and staff.”
The partnership was kicked off on campus in September with a celebration on Alumni Mall. Snyder and Demoff were joined by Rams Chief Commercial Officer Jennifer Prince and several Rams staff who are LMU alumni. Photo stations also were set up featuring Rams mascot Rampage, LMU mascot Iggy the Lion, and the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders, as well as with the Rams championship trophies from the 1999 and 2021 seasons.
Kevin Demoff, COO of the Los Angeles Rams, discusses the organization’s commitment to the Los Angeles community and other issues in our interview with him, which appeared in the winter 2023 (Vol. 11, No. 2) edition of LMU Magazine.