Jackson Free Press

Andrea Patterson, marketing director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, knew she wanted to work in sports after she graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 2012. Fortunately, she also knew just where to start.

"I heard that Rick Cleveland had just taken over this position (executive director of the Hall of Fame) about two months before graduating so I took a trip from Oxford down to Jackson and said, 'Here is my resume. I want to be involved in sports. I love Mississippi sports. Can you help me? Can you recommend anything?'"

Cleveland offered Patterson an internship in June 2012, and by November 2013, Patterson was brought on full-time as marketing director.

While Patterson didn't play sports in high school, she was a dancer and cheerleader. Her love of sports comes from spending time watching Atlanta Braves games with her grandfather or watching the New Orleans Saints with her dad. She is even related to former University of Southern Mississippi baseball coach and hall of famer Corky Palmer, who is her mother's cousin.

All five employees in the Hall of Fame office wear many hats, doing whatever jobs need to be done. For instance, Patterson has helped with events and bringing up-to-date technology to the museum. Since coming to the Hall of Fame, Patterson, 24, has also taken over most of the social media duties on Facebook and Twitter.

"That has been a big part of my job and trying to bring in other generations that haven't be involved with the museum before." Patterson said. "We've typically had some very faithful contributors since the museum opened in 1996, and they have stayed with us since the first day. We are trying to get people from their 50s to their 20s in the door."

Patterson's goal is to keep those loyal supporters but to also start building that loyalty with more people. That starts with making Jackson more aware of the museum.

"The biggest phrase I hear, especially with people my age, 'Oh yeah, I went there on a field trip back in school but haven't been there since,' and I tell them, 'Well, you should come back," Patterson said. "You should see the changes we've made (and) the things we have done to bring in new technology."

That thought process led to one of the biggest project Patterson has undertaken while at the museum: The Cowboy Maloney Hall of Fame Bowl, a massive Madden Football tournament that pits video-gamers against each other on the digital gridiron.

"We have a great relationship with Cowboy Maloney's, Paterson said. "They have been a supporter of us since day one and one of our hall-of-famers is Con Maloney. So (while) thinking of some new ideas, we thought this would be a perfect partnership with them that will also bring in that younger generation that maybe hasn't been to the Hall since a field trip or doesn't live in the Jackson area. We hope this (tournament) is something they would travel for."

The tournament, which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 7, has up to 64 participants playing Madden Football for Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 on 12 different televisions around the museum. "So you could (be) in our locker room playing a game or maybe in the Olympic room and that gives a unique opportunity to be in the room and play the game, and when you're done playing, to hopefully check out the exhibits," Patterson said.

The championship game will be played upstairs on the 80-inch screen with stadium seating for people to watch. The winner of that game will walk away with a 60-inch LG TV from Cowboy Maloney's. However, the stakes are high: One loss means the player is knocked out of the tournament.

This event is open to the public with a discounted rate of $3 dollars to get into the museum. For people who want to play in the event, registration is $25, and players will get lunch from The Pizza Shack. Kona Ice will also sell snow cones, and the public can also purchase pizza. If there is a full field, the tournament will last from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There are a limited number spots available, although more competitors can join if players are willing to let the hall use their PS3 or PS4 during the tournament. Patterson is also looking for some celebrity players from local radio or TV.

Visit this link to sign up. For more information or if you want let the hall use your Playstation, call 601-982-8264. Visit the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum website for tournament rules.