With national championships and top 25 academic rankings, Clemson University is known for its excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the research lab. The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute seeks to marry these areas of excellence through the academic study of sport sciences.
The Institute supports research and scholarships as well as Legacy Professors named for Robert H. Brooks’ son and three colleagues who died in a 1993 plane crash. Through a collaboration with faculty fellows from sports disciplines across campus, the Institute offers an annual lecture series and other initiatives. The Institute’s four legacy programs include motorsports engineering, sports communication, sports management and sports marketing.
Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Endowed Scholarship
Endowed in memory of Robert H. Brooks’ late son, Mark Brooks ’91, this fund provides scholarships to undergraduate students who major in one of the legacy programs. Students are required to submit a 500-word essay demonstrating their accomplishments and career goals as related to sports science. The following students have received the Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Endowed Scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year:
Delaney O’Tuel
Sports Communication
“There’s something special about sports. The feeling it gives you cannot be matched. The environment, the people and the energy it brings aren’t found anywhere else. Being the youngest sibling, I was constantly dragged to random fields or gyms, but it never bothered me. I knew I wanted to be surrounded by sports for the rest of my life.
As I grew older, I began to see the jobs that work so hard behind the scenes to ensure the game goes on. I took advantage of any opportunity I had to gain experience in the sports industry. I refereed games, broadcasted different sports, sold tickets, ran the clock and organized equipment; I did anything I could to feel that energy. When college came around, I fell in love with sports marketing. The psychology behind marketing and learning how it works blew me away. In the last three years of learning more about marketing in classes and the sports world through various internships, I finally found where I wanted to be.
I am so thankful for being chosen as a recipient of the Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Endowed Scholarship and for the encouragement I receive from Clemson University and the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. Graduating college and starting a new chapter may be scary, but it is reassuring to know that so many great people are supporting me! Go tigers!”
Brian Smith
Sports Marketing
“Working in Sports Business was my career goal well before I went to college. Both my parents have been with pro franchises, and the industry slowly became a passion of mine. I’ve always been a fan just like everyone else, but it was always the little details that really enamored me. Entering my senior year at Clemson, I’ve held positions with the New York Giants, New York Yankees, SMAC Entertainment and spent two years as the head basketball manager of Fordham University, where I attended prior to transferring to Clemson.
Most recently, I was with the Giants this summer where I worked as a team operations intern. I was able to see firsthand the daily grind of an NFL training camp, the smallest of details that go into event presentation and the ins and outs of taking a team on the road. I was able to meet some incredible people who I’m lucky to have learned from.
I’m excited to be the recipient of the Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Endowed Scholarship, and proud to be recognized for the work I’ve done thus far. I look forward to a great senior year at Clemson and can’t wait to see what the sports business world has in store post-graduation!”
Margaret Neal
parks, recreation, and tourism management
“After working with the Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation Lab in the Summer of 2021, I found a passion in working in sports and making them accessible to people of all abilities. During my first summer working with the lab, I assisted with the introduction of an adaptive air rifle program and helped facilitate a camping weekend focused on water sports for the Rollin’ Tigers Junior Wheelchair Basketball team. After that experience I chose to take the adaptive sports class offered at Clemson to increase my competency in providing adaptive sport to individuals.
In January, I began working as one of the assistant event directors for the Palmetto Games, an adaptive multi-sport competition for individuals with disabilities run by the Adaptive Sports and Recreation Lab. During this time, I helped with marketing, volunteer recruitment and helped run the competition the weekend of the event. This experience gave me a glimpse into the adaptive sports world and helped me learn skills in program planning and implementation of sporting events.
I am honored to be recognized for my work and to be receiving the Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Endowed Scholarship this year. I am looking forward to finishing my time at Clemson and continuing to work with the Adaptive Sports and Recreation Lab to continue to make sports accessible to all.”
Michael Cloer
Mechanical engineering
“I have been living and breathing motorsports as much as possible since arriving at Clemson. I spend my time outside of classes working on projects for the Clemson Formula SAE team, where I have been a member and leader since my freshman year.
I recently participated in a research project with Chris Paredis, Ph.D., from the Automotive Engineering department, building and connecting models of vehicle subsystems from a motorsports design perspective. I interned with BorgWarner in a manufacturing role at their four-wheel drive transfer case plant in Seneca, SC. In 2021, I spent most of the year in California working in a design role for Tesla. I was on the team responsible for programming the stability and traction control systems for the motor controllers on the car. I got to write, test and re-write firmware in simulations, as well as validate firmware changes. The nature of stability control work means driving the cars to their limit, similar, in some respects, to motorsports.
My dream job is to be a design engineer on a Formula One (F1) team. I think I would be happy in any motorsports engineering role, whether it be in an American series, like NASCAR or IndyCar, or in a European series – but the end goal, for me, is Formula One. I am tentatively planning on attending graduate school in the United Kingdom in order to build the connections to land a role with an F1 team.”
Research Seed Grants
Each year, competitive seed grants are awarded to Clemson faculty and researchers to engage in multidisciplinary sports research. The following seed grants have been awarded for the 2022-2023 academic year:
Em V. Adams
assistant professor of parks, recreation, and tourism management
“Identifying Facilitators and Barriers to Ensuring Psychological Safety for Collegiate Athletes.”
Zhaoxu Meng
assistant professor of mechanical engineering
“Investigating Structure-Property Relationship of Rotator Cuff Tendon-Bone Enthesis.”
John DesJardins
professor of bioengineering
“Comparison of Head Impact Mechanics between Cadaveric Specimens and a Synthetic Hybrid III Model.”
About the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute
Thanks to the generosity of the late Robert H. Brooks, ’60, the Institute began in the 1990s with an emphasis on motorsports engineering, sports communication, sports management and sports marketing. The Institute defines, enhances and promotes the role of sports in academia and society. It provides experiential learning opportunities through academic programs, research, sports organizations and support for service and outreach programs. Through all of its activities, the Institute prepares people to perform at the highest levels within sports industries and provides an acute understanding of the significance of sport in modern society.
Clemson University undertakes this mission out of deep respect for Robert H. Brooks and as testimony to his love for Clemson University and his love for sports.
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