08/11 – Jenn Sterger, a southern girl with flair, is taking her act to New York. In an effort to improve their gameday experience, the New York Jets have hired Sterger as the club’s gameday host.
“It will be fun. It’s going to be sassy,” Jenn told me recently of her new role. “I plan on fully embracing my new role as a New Yorker.”
In her new position, she will interview celebrities and will host a pregame “Keys to the Game” segment and the club’s pregame components up until player introductions. She’ll also play a role during TV timeouts and at halftime.
“I thought it was a great project. I think it’s really cool that you guys are trying to integrate a new kind of media into your gameday experience,” she said. “It’s going to be fun and more interactive for fans. If it gets them in the seats earlier and out of the freezing parking lots a couple of beers earlier maybe, so be it. I promise I’ll put on as good a show as I possibly can.”
Less than three years ago — Sept. 15, 2005, to be exact — an unknown ABC cameraman panned in Jenn’s direction and play-by-play man Brent Musburger offered a famous line:
“Fifteen hundred red-blooded Americans just decided to apply to Florida State.”
And right there, Jenn Sterger met the nation. Turns out she was more than just a pretty face, though — this Seminole majored in criminology and psychology. She was interested in law but FSU didn’t offer a prelaw major.
So if Brent doesn’t spot JS, where is she now?
“I’d probably be in law school actually trying to take Drew Rosenhaus’ job," she said of the South Florida superagent. "That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a sports agent. First I wanted to be an attorney, and then I decided I didn’t want to argue with people for a living. Then I was like maybe if I was doing it for sports and it was something I was passionate about, I’d feel differently.”
A few months back, E! Entertainment ran a program titled "20 Hottest Women of the Web." Jenn ranked No. 19 on the list. She’s turned into quite the entrepreneur the past couple of years.
“I did a weekly advice column for CNN/SI and then I started doing their road trips. I was one of their pioneers in their Web video,” she explained. “It was really cool. Going to visit different campuses was like going to college without the homework.
“I’m working on several projects now and a buddy of mine who’s in the industry was like, 'I really would like to have you in my movie.’ So I’ve actually shot one movie already [a scary flick, “The Tenant”] and then I’m getting ready to go out there to shoot another one in the next week or two. I’m also going to shoot another special for E.”
But Jenn is a genuine football fan who has attended multiple Jets home games in the past few years. She grew up in Tampa and remembers going to Buccaneers games with her father when the Bucs weren’t experiencing all that much success.
“I was a Buccaneers fan when they were the 'creamsicles,' ” she says with a playful laugh. “The Big Sombrero [otherwise known as Tampa Stadium] — that was a tin can of a stadium.”
This Saturday, Jenn makes her off-Broadway debut at the Meadowlands. She’ll make the short drive over to take the microphone on what will be an exciting night as Brett Favre makes his first Jets home appearance.
“I’m actually staying in Hoboken in New Jersey and I love my place,” she said. “I have the best view ever. You wake up to the Empire State Building and you’re just like ‘Good morning.’ ”
Some might be interested in what outfit JS is going to wear, but I have no idea. It should come as no surprise that she’s got something creative up her sleeve.
“Strictly customized,” she says with that trademark smile. “They gave me some really cool stuff to wear from the team store and whatnot, but I’ll fix it the way I like it.”
I tell her that in years past we’ve had some late-arriving crowds. We’ve got a great fanbase, but they’re big tailgaters, traffic can be brutal, plus they’re building a beautiful New Jets Stadium so there’s construction everywhere.
“It’s not just the Jets. Trust me,” she says of the arrivals. “Hell, if they can find parking, they’re happy. It’s New York in general, it’s not just Jets fans. I hope people take the time to check out the new entertainment that they bring in.”
Jenn’s pumped for Jets football. The sassy southerner makes the jump to the pros this weekend.
“I’m trying to become a little less southern, a little less gentle and a little more Jersey, I guess you could say. I’ll try my best,” she said. “People up here always tell me I’m too nice, so hopefully Jets fans can make me a little stronger.
“Plus I look great in the green.”
