Members of the Butler community are achieving extraordinary things, both on and off campus. From first-years to alumni to administrators and back, each Bulldog has a story to tell. Read on to discover the next of our Bulldogs of Butler through a Q&A style interview.
Entering Week 1 of the NFL season, 2024 Butler graduate Veronica Smith watched from the sidelines of Lucas Oil Stadium as the Indianapolis Colts held their opening match against the Baltimore Ravens — Smith’s first game as a full-time member of the team’s social media staff.
Smith went from a sports media major at Butler to becoming an intern with the Colts in January 2025, eventually earning a full-time position as a Social Media Coordinator this year on Sept. 1. Her promotion was announced in a video with Colts tight end Tyler Warren that quickly went viral across social media.
The Butler Collegian spoke with Smith to discuss her viral promotion, her journey from Butler to the NFL and the experiences that helped shape her career.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: In your viral promotion video, Warren walked up to you and handed you a card announcing your promotion from a social media intern to a full-time employee. What did you think he was handing you, and what was the significance of him giving it to you?
VERONICA SMITH: With Tyler, it was an ongoing video trend we did with him where we gave him a get-out-of-social-media card. He had used one already, but I noticed one at my desk was missing. I thought one of our staff members had given him an extra. So when he handed it to me, I was like, “Oh, I knew it. I knew somebody gave you the card.” And he was like, “No, make sure you read it.” When I read it and it said full-time promotion, I was completely shocked. Never in a million years could I have imagined Tyler Warren handing me a card that told me that I was getting promoted to full time. It was a special moment.
TBC: The video quickly spread beyond the Colts’ fan base. When did you realize the moment had gone viral, and what has surprised you about the public response?
VS: I had no clue how viral it was gonna go. When it got posted, I had like a bunch of people start texting me. Then — just knowing the Colts engagement numbers — I was like, “Wow, this video is actually on trend to do pretty well.” Throughout the evening, it started getting picked up by House of Highlights and Barstool Sports. When I saw espnW posted it, I think that was where I was like, “Wait, this is like actually going really viral.” Then they collabed with ESPN and ESPN NFL. The next morning, when I was on my way to work and I was walking to my car, I checked my phone and our marketing director texted me and was like, “Hey, my mom just said you were on the ‘Today’ show,” and I was like, “What, really?”
The reaction was sweet to see, the positive comments and so many congratulations. I think it just connected with people, and especially anyone who’s been an intern and knows how this moment feels. I think it was a cool way to humanize the sports world again. That’s what people love about sports, all those human moments.
TBC: Looking back, what made you go into sports and media in the first place?
VS: I grew up playing sports. I played soccer, softball, volleyball and lacrosse. I also grew up watching the NFL. Since elementary school, I was the person that was so dialed into a game, sitting, watching and knowing the players and their stories. My ultimate goal was always to work in the NFL. I thought maybe I wanted to go the broadcasting route or be a sideline reporter. Then, the more classes I took at Butler, I started doing a lot more editing and social media. I realized I liked storytelling behind the camera aspect.
TBC: At Butler, you were involved with The Butler Collegian as a multimedia reporter and were a digital media intern for Butler Sports Live. What parts of your experience at Butler have carried over most into your work with the Colts?
VS: One thing is having interview experience. Yes, my job is social media, so it’s not as formal, but there’s still so many interviewing skills that go into it. Being personable, being able to read body language, asking questions and coming up with questions. Another thing is editing. I used Adobe Premiere in my classes and at the Collegian, and that editing experience has helped with what I do now.
TBC: Now, as Social Media Coordinator, what are some of your daily responsibilities?
VS: I edit our helmet-off content, which is where you get to know the players’ personalities off the field. I do the mini microphone questions, and I am the primary editor for those. Then, me and my boss tag team the daily social posting, as well as planning. You don’t realize how far in advance things are planned. We are continuously planning future events, campaign shoots and games. There is also the day-to-day monitoring of social media, staying up to date with trends and implementing those into our editing.
Then, during the games, I’m on the sidelines the whole time. I’m basically filming every single play, and if I get the shot, it gets posted. Today at our first game I got quite a few, like [running back] Jonathan Taylor literally ran a touchdown right to my camera.
TBC: What are some of your favorite Colts social media projects that you have been a part of?
VS: I got to be on set for our Nike x NFL Rivalries campaign. It was filmed at a construction site downtown over the summer, so it was cool getting to see the behind the scenes of that, working with such a big corporation like Nike and seeing our players at the shoot.
I also think our media days are so awesome. We have around five different stations that the players go through, and it’s cool to be on set that day and film fun activities and questions with them.
TBC: You’re speaking with me right after the Colts’ first home game of the 2026 season. What was different about experiencing a home opener as a full-time member of the organization?
VS: Every time you walk into Lucas Oil on a game day, you go through security and they have to tag your bag. The lady at the bag tag gave me a special one that said “congratulations” because she saw the video. That started the game day off on a special note.
I remember right before going on the field, I had a moment where I was like, “Oh my gosh, this is my first full-time game.” I had chills. A lot of the stadium staff were also congratulating me, so it was nice getting all the support.
TBC: Do you have any advice for students hoping to follow a similar path as you?
VS: One of my biggest pieces of advice is to find ways to make connections. Even if you’re simply volunteering at an event, you never know who you’re gonna stumble across. Just always be present when you show up and be talking to people around you.
When I was in college and post grad, I did so many Zoom calls and coffee dates, picking people’s brains, asking them questions and getting to know more about their roles. Now that I’m two years post-grad and in a role, I try to give back in the same way for students who might have questions.