Pictured is Easley’s Joe Baker with his two Super Bowl rings from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Baker recently started a new job with his video expertise at Clemson University.
Courtesy photo
In sports, they say that when your playing days in sports are all done, all you have left are the memories.
So true!
But for die-hard Clemson University sports fans, they just hired a very talented person (Joe Baker) to help keep the memories alive for several years down the road. All of those great plays you see at a Clemson football or basketball game (or any of their other sports) – will now be captured for several years down the road for the local fans.
Baker brings a star-studded resume to Clemson with two Super Bowl rings of when he worked with the Kansas Chiefs.
So remember, when you are at that big Clemson football or basketball game (or any of their other sports), remember that
Q: Can you talk about what you’ll be doing for Clemson University?
BAKER: “Sure, I am the Director of Original Content for Clemson Athletics Creative Solutions. I am in charge of creating and cultivating our long form video and documentary content for Clemson Athletics. We are filming and creating series with different teams, such as Building Legends which follows our gymnastics team from their program’s creation through their first year and currently a Baseball documentary series to be released later this year. If interested in watching the shows, please check them out at Clemsonplus.com.”
Q: It sounds like you producing “The Franchise” really boosted your career. Can you elaborate on that and what it was like putting it together?
BAKER: “Absolutely it did. Any chance you get to be around the talent that is the staff of the Kansas City Chiefs it is going to be a boost for you. I was part of an incredible team that produced the Hard Knocks/Last Chance U type documentary surrounding the Chiefs teams and seasons the past 3 years called The Franchise. Like I said, it is a pretty special time to be with the Chiefs and it was an incredible place to grow my career because all eyes were on them. I learned a lot about producing epic content for a large amount of people and how to cope with the pressure of the whole world watching.
Q: You have two Super Bowl rings. What is that like and you did not play a single down of football in the NFL, but yet you played a key part?
BAKER: “I am incredibly lucky to have two super bowl rings. It is very special and I am very fortunate that the Chiefs organization gets rings not only for the players but for the staff themselves. Working in the NFL is a grueling and challenging thing even if you are not on the field so it is very nice that the team understands that and the ring is a great symbol of the fact that we helped the team achieve success even though we were not on the field running the plays.”
Q: Can you talk about one of those stories – when you were with the Chiefs – that you will always cherish?
BAKER: “I have so many memories and stories from my time with the chiefs that I will take with me forever. Working for that organization brought me so many things and took me so many places. Our “Franchise” team won an Emmy, I was able to travel to Germany, travel all over the country, work on the field for multiple Super Bowls, just so many experiences I will always have.
My favorite memory however was being on the field for the greatest NFL playoff game in history (in my opinion). The 2021 AFC Divisional game between the Chiefs and the Bills where the Chiefs drove the field with only 13 seconds left in the game to tie it, then win it in overtime. That game was absolutely incredible and the stadium was electric. Winning that game and seeing the pure joy was something I will take with me forever.”
Q: Who is a certain NFL player from the Chiefs that you got to know that really impressed you and was just a “good person” to always visit with (and why)?
BAKER: “My favorite player from the Chiefs that I know and is the most impressive person to me is All-Pro Cornerback Trent McDuffie. We were with him from the moment he arrived in Kansas City after the Draft and he has been the nicest and most accommodating player. I always judge our players on how they treat the staff outside of the coaching staff themselves and there isn’t a nicer guy than Trent. Anything we asked of him he would do, he welcomed us into his home on multiple occasions and not only that, is one of the best cornerbacks currently in the NFL.”
Q: It sounds like you played at a pretty high level of Lacrosse in college. Can you talk about any highlights from your career or any certain games/plays that you’ll always cherish?
BAKER: “I played at two top 25 universities in the country and I have always been proud of the time I had at both. My freshman year, I played at Loyola University of Maryland and the game I always remember was the first game I started. It was the rematch of the previous year’s national championship and number No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 2 in Maryland University. It was sold out and just to be a part of that game was a very cool experience for me.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
BAKER: “I don’t have anything really extra to add except I am really excited about the opportunity here at Clemson and myself and my family are really enjoying our time in the upstate so far!”
Reach Jeff Holt at 864-855-0355.