Rick’s Blog Live
Lumpy DeWeese’s Summer in DC
UWF football standout traded fall camp for committee hearings, interning in Congressman Jimmy Patronis‘ office before heading back to Pensacola for his senior season.
Liam “Lumpy” DeWeese spent his summer somewhere most college football players never go: the halls of Congress. The UWF senior and Gulf Breeze High School product joined Rick’s Blog Live to talk about interning for U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, brushing shoulders with political heavyweights, and coming home to help lead the Argonauts into a new season.
Answering Phones, Watching History
DeWeese was one of three interns in Patronis’ office, splitting his days between constituent calls, Capitol tours and daily news clips. It was a fast adjustment from campus life.
“It’s kind of getting punched in the teeth with reality after a summer up in DC, which is not the real world.”
What surprised him most wasn’t the gridlock; it was the process behind it. DeWeese said he hadn’t grasped how much committee work, markups and negotiation happen before a bill ever reaches a vote, or how collegial members are once the cameras are off.
“All that goes into just getting something to the floor, let alone through Congress as a whole… and kind of how friendly everybody is outside of the public eye.”
Meeting Saban, Gingrich and Pelosi
The internship put DeWeese in rooms most Pensacolians only see on C-SPAN. He watched Nancy Pelosi deliver an intern lecture, crossed paths with Newt Gingrich, and sat in the gallery when Nick Saban testified before Congress on Name, Image and Likeness rules in college sports.
“You wouldn’t believe the way you have a committee panel of all the powerful senators, and the way Saban commanded the room.”
He also came away with a new appreciation for what a congressional office actually does day-to-day, helping constituents cut through federal red tape.
“Their office is there to help, and they’re happy to. That’s their main goal, is to take care of the district.”
Back Home, Back on the Field
DeWeese transferred to UWF after starting his college career on a full ride at Stetson, joining an Argonauts program that finished last season ranked in the top five nationally in Division II. UWF lost much of that roster to graduation and transfers up the ranks, but DeWeese says spring practice showed a squad ready to reload, backed by what he calls an “incredibly high level” coaching staff.
He’s set to graduate in May with a finance degree and hasn’t ruled out a return to Washington, whether on a campaign or back in a congressional office.
DeWeese’s advice for students:
- Apply for opportunities even if you don’t feel “qualified” for them
- Put yourself out there and meet as many people as possible
- For recruits: post film on Twitter, tag coaches directly, and lead with your grades, a 4.0 GPA gets a coach’s attention fast
DeWeese, a fixture on college football’s “all-nickname” lists, says representing Pensacola remains the point of it all.
“This town’s done a lot for me, and it’s raised me. I feel like I owe it to serve it in the best way I can.”
