Newhouse alum Jon Frankel returns home to talk storytelling

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Jon Frankel ’86 has spent much of his career chasing stories far beyond the box score. The former HBO Sports correspondent returned to Syracuse to talk with students about storytelling, journalism and how the craft has evolved in a rapidly changing media landscape.

The conversation, hosted by the Newhouse Sports Media Center and moderated by Matt Park ’97, took place in the Ed Levine Room at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Frankel spent nearly two decades traveling the country for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, producing long-form segments that explored the human side of sports. While reflecting on how the industry has changed, he emphasized that the core of journalism has remained the same.

“It’s just listening — that’s all this is,” Frankel said. “If you’re curious, you can tell great stories. That’s why journalism has become so democratic.”

Frankel encouraged students to remain open to unexpected angles, describing his reporting process as “peeling back the onion,” layering research and context around a central human story.

Frankel walked students through the development of one of his Real Sports segments on high school football coach Kevin Kelley, who challenged conventional thinking by refusing to punt and instead relying on onside kick attempts. The piece examined psychology, statistics and decision-making in sports.

“As soon as I care about one person, then I can start peeling back the onion,” Frankel said. “Then I can start telling you more about the facts.”

Throughout the discussion, Frankel stressed that strong journalism depends on compelling storytelling, arguing that facts resonate most when anchored in human-centered narratives.

“If you don’t care, it’s like watching a show where you don’t like the characters,” Frankel said. “You don’t want to spend that much time with them.”

Frankel encouraged students to take initiative and pursue stories independently, noting that advances in technology have lowered traditional barriers to entry in the field.

“You don’t need a crew of five or seven anymore,” Frankel said. “If you have a story idea, go do it.”

Voice of the Orange, Matt Park ’97 Receives Marty Glickman Award

SYRACUSE, N.Y. –– The Newhouse Sports Media Center announced on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, that Matt Park ’97 is the tenth recipient of the Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media.

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications presented the Marty Glickman Award on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium (Room 140 Newhouse 3). Named for sportscasting pioneer and 1939 Syracuse University graduate Marty Glickman, the award recognizes individuals for their leadership in sports media.

The Voice of the Orange and adjunct professor, Matt Park, is the lead play-by-play announcer for Syracuse University Football and Basketball broadcasts on the Syracuse IMG Sports Network. Park joined the Syracuse ISP Sports Network in 2003 and hosted the Doug Marrone and Jim Boeheim Shows in July 2004. Previous Marty Glickman Award Winner of 2024, Dan Hoard ’85 passed the honor onto Matt Park ’97.

Hoard talked about Park’s journey as an intern with him and his undeniable dedication and love for the craft. During Park’s internship with Hoard, Park would go to games and fill out scoresheets and soak every ounce of material he could. Park is the example of what it means and takes to be successful in the sports media industry. To perfect and hone in on a passionate craft is what Park excels at.

Sports Media Center Director, Olivia Stomski says,” Matt Park embodies the legacy of Marty Glickman. He has not just taught here at Newhouse for 20 years, he has served as a mentor, a coach and an advocate for countless students over the years. His fingerprint is on nearly every sports broadcast we as fans watch from home.”

Park has been woven into the foundations of Syracuse University and sports. Celtics and ESPN Lacrosse play-by-play commentator and studio host, Drew Carter ’19 said, “ Matt, I speak for every student who’s come through here in the last decade when I say thank you for the standard you’ve set at Newhouse and the direct impact you’ve had on so many of us. You deserve this.”

While current and former students went on to poke fun at Professor Park’s feedback and necessary criticisms, the same sentiment held true throughout all the lives Park has made a mark on. The value of believing in and developing the next generation of sportscasters is just one mark in Parks legacy.

Hudson Ridley, the Sports Director of WAER said,” It may be hard to find someone who cares more for WAER than Matt Park.” Hudson believes that students across Newhouse learn most from what WAER and Professor Park has to offer to students and their development in sports media.

Ridley adds on,” Young broadcasters who are new to the process may take that feedback in a discouraging way. But what they fail to realize is that if Professor Park didn’t care, why would he say anything… If Professor Park didn’t care, then we would be off the air. So, on behalf of everyone at WAER I want to say thank you for that.”

Nicholas Waley touches on Matt Park’s impact on Syracuse University’s campus. “His dedication to his students has helped produce some of the best broadcasters of this generation. His office hours on Thursday afternoons are not just difficult to get but are the most valuable office hours on this campus. It’s where I learned the most, not just as an announcer, but as a professional in this industry.”

Park goes on to say,” Tonight’s attendance is an overwhelming demonstration of the pride of the Newhouse School. From these notable alums, all of whom are so busy as everybody knows this time of year football and basketball are both going on, so it’s hard to get here. We appreciate everybody in any way you can sharing your time and treasure. To see that an so many former students who have overcome my tutelage is very heartwarming.”

“None of this happens without the continued determination of our students. Your professionalism, maturity, eagerness to learn, and trustworthiness is how this whole thing works.” Professor Park touches on how proud he is of the level of professionalism and high standards that the students at the Newhouse School exemplify and how he is unable to take full credit for the passion that runs deep without the walls of the campus.

Legendary sportscasters, Costas, McDonough, Eagle and Albert came back to Syracuse to celebrate the newest member of the Glickman award winners. Park, the voice of the Orange, credits former winners in shaping the future of sports media and creating a path for him to follow. The Newhouse Sports Media Center thanks Matt Park for all that he does for Syracuse and Newhouse students.

Previous Marty Glickman Award Winners
Bob Costas ‘74
Bob Costas, a proud member of the Orange Family, was the inaugural Glickman Award winner in 2013! From calling games at WAER to becoming one of the most iconic voices in sports, Costas has covered 12 Olympics, 10 NBA Finals, 7 Super Bowls and 7 World Series. Earning 29 Emmys along the way.

Marv Albert ‘63
Marv Albert, the legendary “Voice of Basketball,” was honored with the Marty Glickman Award in 2014! Albert began as a ball boy for the New York Knicks, where he formed a relationship with the great Marty Glickman. Through Glickman’s mentorship, Albert paved the way to a Hall-of-Fame career across the biggest stages in sports. He’s called 12 NBA Finals, 8 Stanley Cup Finals, 8 Super Bowls, and 4 Olympic Games. Along the way, he’s earned ‘Yes!’ 9 Emmy Awards and solidified his status as one of the most influential and recognizable play-by-play announcers of all time.

Beth Mowins G’90
Beth Mowins was the 2015 Marty Glickman Award winner! Best known as the voice of the Women’s College World Series, Mowins has covered NCAA Championships with volleyball, softball, basketball and soccer! As a member on the crew of a Chicago Cubs game, Mowins made history as a part of the first all-female broadcasting crew ever. Mowins has paved the way for women in play-by-play roles across the industry.

Sean McDonough ‘84
Sean McDonough was the 2016 Marty Glickman Award winner! A true broadcasting legend, McDonough has been one of sports television’s most versatile and respected voices for decades. He’s called the ’92 and ’93 World Series, covered 3 Olympic Games, and led broadcasts for Monday Night Football, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the CFB Playoff.

Mike Tirico ‘88
Mike Tirico was the 2017 recipient of the Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media! A five-time Sports Emmy Award winner and member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Tirico has called some of the biggest moments in sports and now serves as the lead play-by-play voice for both Sunday Night Football and NBA on NBC.

Ian Eagle ‘90
Ian Eagle was the 2018 winner of the Marty Glickman Award! Since 8 years old, Eagle knew what he wanted to do and became one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting. Eagle has spent most of his career as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Nets with the YES network. Eagle is now also calling league games for NBA on Amazon Prime. The 2-time national sportscaster of the year and 4-time Emmy winner has exemplified excellence in the world of storytelling.

Sandy Montag ‘85
With a 40-year career spanning every corner of the sports media world, Sandy Montag has built a legacy rooted in storytelling, leadership, and innovation. As President of The Montag Group, he represents some of the most influential voices in sports, including Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, Jim Nantz, and Scott Van Pelt. Before launching his own company, Montag spent 30 years at IMG, where he began as an assistant to John Madden and went on to oversee client operations, shaping the careers of industry greats.

Dick Stockton ‘64
A legendary voice in sports broadcasting, Dick Stockton’s career has spanned over five decades and some of the most iconic moments in sports history. From calling Carlton Fisk’s unforgettable 1975 World Series home run to covering six Super Bowls, Stockton’s legacy is cemented across generations of fans. He’s been honored by both the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named among the Top 50 Network Sportscasters of All Time.

Dan Hoard ‘85
Dan Hoard is the 2024 Marty Glickman Award winner. From the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals to the University of Cincinnati, Dan Hoard has become one of the most respected names in sports broadcasting. A six-time Regional Emmy winner and four-time Ohio Sportscaster of the Year, Hoard’s storytelling and passion for the game have resonated with fans for decades. Having called three Super Bowls, his voice has captured some of football’s biggest moments.

Newhouse alumni share career advice at sports media panel

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Students filled the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, to hear from three Newhouse alumni who have built successful careers in sport media.

The event, co-sponsored by the Newhouse Office of Community, Culture and Engagement, the Sports Media Center and the Office of Student Success, offered students insight into the skills, adaptability and mindset needed to thrive in the fast-paced sports media industry.

The panel, moderated by Professor Olivia Stomski, featured Robert Ford, radio voice of the Houston Astros; Jenna Elique, sports multimedia journalist with Spectrum News 1 North Carolina; and Priyanka York, vice president of operations at Overtime Elite. Panelists discussed mentorship, persistence and strategies for building a career in a competitive field, including how to position oneself for success after graduation.

“There can be a tendency– not just when you’re 18, but when you’re in your 20s too– to think that where you are, that’s where you’re always going to be, or that nothing can change, but you still have a lot of time,” Ford said. “Your career is not defined by what you do as a freshman or sophomore.”

Elique echoed the importance of persistence.

“Keep going. It’s going to be hard… My first time on TV was a trainwreck,” she said. “This place makes you obsessed with what you do… You have to stick with it, because a lot of people won’t.”

Mentorship and community also emerged as key themes. Elique credited Stomski for her guidance and support. “Even when I doubted myself, she didn’t allow me to doubt myself,” she said.

Ford pointed to the Newhouse alumni network, often called the “Newhouse Mafia,” as a valuable resource.

“So many people want to help and grow this particular subset of people… That [community] is something to take advantage of,” he said.

During the audience Q&A, students asked about connecting with new communities as a transplant reporter. Elique described her first assignment in Midland, Texas, as a small-market challenge. She encouraged students to stick with their hobbies and immerse themselves in the community, which helps build relationships and uncover story ideas. She reminded them to keep an open mind.

York said standing out in digital media requires creativity and strategic engagement. She encouraged students to develop out-of-the-box ideas that connect with audiences authentically, noting that viral moments are fleeting but can amplify a story.

The panel concluded with students networking with the panelists and continuing the conversation about maximizing their time at Newhouse and preparing for success in the evolving world of sports media.

The Boys are back in Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  — James Colgan (’19) and PJ Clark (’21), both graduates of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications came back to Syracuse to share their stories about their times at Newhouse and how their experiences at Newhouse led them to their respected titles as a senior writer at GOLF Magazine and a podcast producer at Fried Egg Golf.

On October 17th at 1p.m., Junior Griffin Bloomstein spoke with two Newhouse alumni, Colgan (’19) and Clarke (’21) to discuss their paths through sports media. James Colgan and PJ Clark spoke to current Syracuse students about finding humor, humanity and connections in the golf world.

Colgan, a senior writer for GOLF Magazine, reflected on learning how to engage with professionals in the sports media industry. Often times having been the youngest journalist in the room by ten or fifteen years, Colgan talked about the struggle of having lack of mentors when growing within in industry. The importance of knowing how to navigate the industry isn’t the only feat, Colgan also touches on how important it is to find the humanity within stories. Colgan now makes it a mission to give back to young professionals stepping into the sports media industry to smooth out the difficult process.

Clark, who described himself as a lifelong golf fan, talked about the transition from being a beloved follower of golf to the sport becoming part of his storytelling ecosystem. Now contributing to podcasts for Fried Egg Golf, Clark claims his creative philosophy is to infuse humor into his work. One of Clark’s most memorable moments involved a video involving an inflatable colon.

The two alumni also touched on their experiences at some of golf’s most prestigious events. Colgan’s coverage of the Masters Tournament led to one of his most viral stories about the absence of peach ice cream sandwiches. The lighthearted piece showcased that even the smallest details of humanity can connect deeply with fans.

Beyond golf, both Colgan and Clark shared their values that guide their work. Colgan emphasized that,” Your reputation follows you.” Crediting the ‘Newhouse Mafia’ for the start of his reputational growth both professionally and personally.

Clark follows up saying, “You know it even when you don’t know it. That web of connections extends with everyone you know.” and Clark urged students to,” Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Though their paths differ, both alumni have found ways to blend their passion, humor, and authenticity into their storytelling. As the conversation closed both alumni reminded students that being a part of the sports media industry is about the people, perspectives, and authenticity individuals bring into it.

A Conversation with Joel Mandelbaum

SYRACUSE N.Y. — There’s no straight answer to reaching your goals.

Joel Mandelbaum, a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Digital Journalism in ’87, returns to Newhouse and talks to students about his trajectory in the sports industry and how he got started in the sports television.

Working in the industry for almost 4 decades now, Mandelbaum shared some of his unique stories and how he started in the industry and where he is now. He began his career earning $6.50/hr as a page at NBC Sports, delivering mail to producers and directors and answering phone calls in the offices. He refers to that as the start of his career stating, “getting that face time is really key in any career you do..scratch and claw for FaceTime because it matters.”

He spoke to his openness to take positions that did don’t always align with his end goal, because you never now what door it will open for you or where you’re going to go.

Mandelbaum started his career NBC where he had production assignments for Wimbledon, NFL Football games and the Summer Olympics. He’s also worked with TBS and TNT with both regular season and NHL playoff games. In 1991, he joined MSG Networks working as the director of studio broadcasts for both the New York Rangers Hockey and New York Knicks Basketball teams. In 2017, he took over as the director for MSG’s broadcast coverage for the New York Islanders and has been with them ever since.

Mandelbaum touched on a key aspect of a competitive sports industry; that there’s no cookie cutter route to the top. “In this field it doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to scratch and claw for every piece of experience you can get…” He goes on to say, “…hear everything people are trying to advise you on, and listen to what you think is important and take that with you.”

Mandelbaum shared a story of a conversation with his dad that resonated with him and said, “Never give up your dream.” He urged students to stay patient in this industry and give yourself time to get to where you want to be.

From Red-Eye to Red Hot: Buddy Boeheim Drains 7 threes in Boeheim’s Army TBT Return

Syracuse, N.Y. – Buddy Boeheim led Boeheim’s Army to a 97-71 win over the Herkimer Originals in their first appearance in The Basketball Tournament since 2023. After wrapping up an NBA Summer League game with the Indiana Pacers, Buddy caught a red-eye straight to Syracuse. Landing in Syracuse at about 9:30 a.m., it didn’t take long for Buddy to start cooking.

“Early on that bank three helped me get going a little, but I think I found my legs after that…the adrenaline got going,” said Boeheim. This set the tone early, with Buddy putting up 8 points in the first period alone and knocking down his first two three-pointers. Buddy ended the game with 24 points and drained 7 of his 9 threes.

Not having a single rep of practice with the team, Buddy credited the team’s quick build up of chemistry to the familiarity of former teammates.

“I didn’t get to practice at all with them, but playing with E [Elijah Hughes] for a while now it felt like old times…, and playing with Gilyard is easy, he makes it really easy, and then I’ve played with Noah Starkey and OKC this year in the G League.”

Hughes’ impact was also felt from tip-off to the final buzzer, hitting both the first shot and the final Elam Ending shot with his signature corner three. He finished the game with 21 points and went 5-8 from three.

With this win, Boeheim’s Army advances to the second round of the tournament, where they will be facing We Are D3 Monday night at 8 p.m.

How the Newhouse Network Brought Two Alumni Together on Hockey’s Biggest Stage 

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – Two Syracuse University alumni found themselves working side by side for the very first time inside an NHL arena during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Joel Mandelbaum, a 1987 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has directed broadcasts for more than three decades at MSG Network. During his time at MSG, he has directed broadcasts for the New York Knicks, Rangers, and currently the Islanders.

Throughout his career, Mandelbaum learned, “There’s no way to go from point A to point Z in television production. You just have to sail into the wind.” 

After ending the 2025 season with the Islanders, an opportunity presented itself to work for Turner Sports (TNT) during the NHL playoff season. 

The opportunity led to collaborating with Syracuse alumnus Carlos DeMolina. After graduating from the television, radio, and film program in 1988, DeMonlina went on to produce for many different companies like CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and TNT. He’s covered nearly every sport, from hockey to bull riding. Every job has led to his success during the last 15 years of freelance producing. 

“Every job I’ve had, I’ve picked up little things that shaped who I am as a producer,” DeMolina said. 

While producing a soccer match at Red Bull Arena, DeMolina struck up a conversation in the tape room with one of the crew members. As they introduced themselves, the last name Mandelbaum caught his attention. At that point, the two had never met.  

The two graduated from Syracuse University just a year apart. However, DeMolina and Mandelbaum hadn’t crossed paths professionally until this year’s playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leaf’s, covering Game 3 on Friday, May 9, and Game 4 on Sunday, May 11. 

“We talked for about an hour on the phone before the series. We were reminiscing about people we’d worked with, places we’d been,” Mandelbaum said. “There’s just something about running into someone from Newhouse.” 

For Mandelbaum and DeMolina, it laid the foundation for instant trust and shared expectations as they executed two tightly run productions. 

The bond between a director and producer is often compared to that of a quarterback and their coach in football. With both taking on their respective roles during the broadcast, DeMolina reflected on his experience with Mandelbaum and the whole crew. 

“You feel like a kid in a candy store,” DeMolina said. “It’s just a matter of, you know, kind of putting a puzzle together and, you know, everybody’s selling you things because they’re so good at what they do individually.” 

Crossing paths with fellow Syracuse alumni has been a common occurrence throughout both Mandelbaum and DeMolina’s careers, whether it’s in the control room, on the road, or at major sporting events. 

“You immediately have some type of a connection,” DeMolina said of meeting Syracuse grads in the business. “That’s always been very cool.” 

That connection extends beyond just casual encounters when it comes to meeting, mentoring, and supporting others with orange roots. 

Mandelbaum believes, “You owe it to the next generation to help.”  

DeMolina also gave simple advice, “It’s about the people.” 

In an industry built on relationships, the Newhouse bond runs deep. And in one short weekend, two alumni finally came together to collaborate, bringing their shared roots and years of experience full circle. 

Newhouse alum Kevin McNamara ’88 receives Hall of Fame call

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Longtime Providence Journal basketball writer and Newhouse alum, Kevin McNamara ’88, was one of seven reporters and columnists inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

McNamara is the second Rhode Islander and sixth New Englander inducted into the USBWA Hall of Fame, according to Rhode Island PBS. Bill Reynolds, who worked with McNamara at the Providence Journal, was inducted in 2020. The other inductees include Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, who is a charter member, Jerry Radding of the Springfield Union News (2004), Charlie Pierce of the Boston Herald and Esquire (2018), and Lesley Visser of the Boston Globe, CBS, and ESPN (2023).

McNamara is a three-time Rhode Island Sportswriter of the Year, a two-time winner in the USBWA Best Writing contest, and a multi-winner in the Associated Press/New England Competition. He also has hosted the “Kevin Mc Sports Hour” show on WPRO radio in Providence, Rhode Island. On Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you can listen to “The 401 Podcast with Kevin McNamara.” McNamara launched a website called KevinMcSports.com, where you can see his published work. He also served as a contributor for the Basketball Times.

He started at the Providence Journal in 1988. McNamara spent his first two years at the paper covering high school sports and the University of Rhode Island basketball. He picked up the Providence College Friars men’s basketball beat for the 1990-1991 season and covered them until he was let go by the paper in 2020.

McNamara is the longest-tenured beat reporter in Big East Conference history. He has covered 34 Big East Tournaments and multiple NCAA men’s basketball Final Fours. McNamara also covered the New England Patriots’ Super Bowls, the Red Sox World Series Championships, and the NHL and NBA Finals.

McNamara told Rhode Island PBS that one of his favorite basketball memories includes his first Final Four in 1992 as a working media member in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He sat behind Duke’s bench. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s squad won back-to-back National Championships. The Blue Devils had Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner, and they beat the Fab Five freshmen of the University of Michigan.

Another memory was the 1997 Elite Eight at the BJCC Coliseum in Birmingham, Alabama. The Providence Friars were one shot away from securing a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 1987. They lost in overtime to the eventual National Champions, the Arizona Wildcats.

Of interest to Syracuse Orange basketball fans, McNamara was a media member at the Syracuse–UConn 2009 Big East Tournament game. The Orange upset the Huskies in six overtimes at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 127-117.

McNamara received a call from USBWA president Stu Durando in January, who informed him about the news. The USBWA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 also includes John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post, Al Featherston of the Durham Herald-Sun, Associated Press writer Doug Feinberg, Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and Milton Kent, who is a former writer of the Baltimore Sun.

McNamara and several other inductees were honored in April on the day of the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball National Championship game in San Antonio, Texas, between Florida and Houston. The awards luncheon took place at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk.

Homecoming for a voice of generations: Bob Costas ’74 returns to Newhouse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Legendary sports broadcaster Bob Costas ’74 will return to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications on Wednesday, Apr. 16, to speak with students about his illustrious career in sports broadcasting and commentary.

Costas has hosted 12 Olympic Games, the Kentucky Derby, the U.S. Open Golf Championship, and HBO shows. He’s called games for the MLB, NFL, NBA, and college basketball and football.

The Newhouse Sports Media Center will host the event in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Room 140 of Newhouse 3.

Costas attended Newhouse and gained radio experience at WAER as a freshman. He also called minor league hockey games for the Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League.

Costas began his professional career with KMOX radio in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1974. While at KMOX, Costas covered games for the Spirits of St. Louis of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and called Missouri Tigers basketball. He also co-hosted KMOX’s Open Line call-in program. From 1976 to 1979, he broadcast NFL games on CBS. During the 1979-1980 NBA season, Costas provided play-by-play for Chicago Bulls broadcasts on WGN-TV.

NBC hired Costas in 1980. He did play-by-play for NBA, NFL, and MLB games on NBC. He also anchored NBC’s pre- and post-game shows for NFL broadcasts, MLB All-Star Games, and numerous World Series.

Costas spent four decades with NBC. He was the Summer Olympics primetime host from 1992 to 2016 and the Winter Olympics primetime host from 2002 to 2014. Costas also hosted the NHL Winter Classic, the U.S. Open, Thursday Night Football, the NFL on NBC, and Thoroughbred Racing for NBC.

Costas has won many awards throughout his career. He is a 29-time Emmy Award winner. Costas is the only person in television history to win Emmys for sports, news, and entertainment. He is an eight-time National Sports Media Association National Sportscaster of the Year and a four-time American Sportscasters Association Sportscaster of the Year. Costas also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

In 1999, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented Costas with the Curt Gowdy Media Award. In 2017, the National Baseball Hall of Fame honored Costas with the Ford C. Frick Award. He was named a Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.

Syracuse University has recognized Costas with three awards. In 2001, Costas won the George Arents Award for excellence in sports broadcasting. He received the Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media in 2013 and was inducted into the WAER Hall of Fame in 2015.

Costas has been behind the mic for numerous unforgettable games in sports history. One of Costas’ most memorable broadcasts was in 1984 when he called the Saturday baseball Game of the Week for NBC. The game became known as “The Sandberg Game.” Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg hit home runs in the 9th and 10th innings against St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bruce Sutter to tie the game.

Costas contributed to the Ken Burns PBS miniseries Baseball in 1994 and called game six of the 1995 World Series when the Atlanta Braves won their first championship since moving to Atlanta in 1966. He also called Derek Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium for MLB Network in 2014.

Costas called Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson’s final game with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. Jordan hit the game-winner to give the Bulls an 87-86 lead with 5.2 seconds remaining in game six of the NBA Finals. Costas was also the pregame and postgame host for NBC for the 1994 NBA Finals between the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks, which included the O.J. Simpson car chase in Los Angeles that interrupted game five. Costas broadcast game seven of the 2000 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trailblazers. Fans remember Kobe Bryant throwing an alley-oop pass to Shaquille O’Neal to give the Lakers a six-point lead with under a minute to play in regulation.

In the mid-1980s, he established the Robert Costas Scholarship at the Newhouse School, and sports broadcaster Mike Tirico was the first recipient in 1987.

Senior producer for NEP Group Mackenzie Pearce ‘21 talks with Newhouse students about her journey

Syracuse, NY – Mackenzie Pearce calls it the Girls’ Room. Pearce, the producer of NWSL on ION’s Saturday Night Soccer doubleheader wants her weekly production meetings with a coach or a player to feel like safe spaces. 

“Those are the types of things that you want people to be really comfortable,” Pearce said. “Showing that you put in the work, and show that you did the research on them, they start to open up more. And I think that is really how you get to it, is putting in the research ahead of time.”

Pearce spoke with Newhouse students on Thursday evening in a session moderated by Professor Olivia Stomski, the director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center.

Pearce was one of the initial three students working for Newhouse’s ACC Network. She was a freshman with two seniors working under the direction of Professor Stomski.

“I was literally ready to transfer after my first semester,” Pearce said. “I found my own family and I think also it’s really special because you get to, I think it makes you a better person.”

Pearce started her career as a broadcast associate for MLB Network. She then got a job as a studio producer for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pearce and her dad bonded over Steelers games as she was growing up, so the job was particularly meaningful to her. 

Working for NEP producing NWSL games has been the perfect fit for her. She sees herself as a human-centered producer. Women’s soccer gives her the opportunity to tell stories that haven’t been told before, because there are less eyes on the sport. 

Pearce sees being a woman in sports, particularly being a woman covering women’s sports, as an advantage.

“You understand what people want and not how to tokenize women in this sport and how to treat them as their own athletes,” Pearce said. “A lot of them have partners that play in other major leagues in this country and abroad. So I just think that giving them their flowers and not tying them to other people’s accomplishments is a really big part of it.”

Pearce still values the connections she made at Newhouse. Her classmates from Newhouse have a group chat to give each other advice and encouragement. 

“Everyone’s opinion is valued and you can, you know, get your foot in the door pretty fast and, you know, learn from people who’ve already done it,” Pearce said. “I think it’s a really special thing that we have here.”

Syracuse Program Equips Athletes for Global Lacrosse

By: Jillian Schumacher

Lacrosse at Syracuse University is a long-standing tradition dating back to 1916.

Since then, the Orange have won 15 national championship titles and have made 39 tournament appearances.

That tradition has led various players to become professional athletes, and many compete in World Lacrosse field and box championships.

Twenty-five percent of this year’s Haudenosaunee team in the World Lacrosse Box Championships are either former or current players for the Syracuse Orange.

Syracuse’s Jeremy Thompson, Randy Staats, Cody Jamieson, Warren Hill, Trey Deere, and Brendan Bomberry are all competing for the Haudenosaunee box lacrosse team.

The World Lacrosse Box Championship has been held in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2024.

In those first five meetings, the Haudenosaunee team earned a spot to compete in the gold medal game.

Trey Deere, a Syracuse lacrosse sophomore on the Haudenosaunee team, says Syracuse has prepared him to play with professional athletes in games like these.

“This is a great testament to what we do at Syracuse and how we handle ourselves, and it just gets us ready,” Deere said.

Since being in Utica, Deere says he has learned a lot from other players on his team and is excited to translate what he has learned here to his spring season at Syracuse.

“Playing against the best, playing with the best, you know, it all translates over, and I hopefully take that, I look to take that to the spring,” Deere said.

His team will compete in the bronze medal game against England after falling short by one goal to Team USA in the semifinals.

Sixteen of the Haudenosaunee goals leading up to this bronze medal match have come from Staats, Deere, and Jamieson.

“Anytime I can represent my people on a world stage is amazing, and there’s really no words to describe that feeling,” Deere said.

Guest Speaker Series: Tim Schlittner

September 20th, the Newhouse Sports Media Center was joined by Tim Schlittner, a director for the National Football League’s (NFL) Communications Department and Syracuse Alumni (’03). Kay Racine, a graduate student studying BDJ, was our host for the day.

To open the conversation, Schlittner discussed his thoughts on Syracuse and snippets from his time here. He recalls the draw he had to the university almost instantly, a feeling that was only further emphasized the very first time he laid eyes on the Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless).

As he walked through campus this afternoon he thought to himself, “I could do this again, now. This is great. My time at Syracuse was so great.”

One of his favorite memories from his time at the university was attending every football and basketball game. Prior to working at the NFL, he considered sports to be his “unpaid passion” in life, and to this day, it is a central element of who he is as a person.

He credits much of his personal growth and success to the influence of John Nicholson, whom he had as a professor while at Newhouse. Nicholson was the founder and director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center until his retirement in 2017, and his legacy within Newhouse and the university as a whole cannot be understated. Schlittner recounts the time he spent in Nicholson’s office hours every Friday and continuously expressed the gratitude he has for the professor emeritus.

When Schlittner first arrived at Newhouse he was pursuing a degree in BDJ but quickly realized writing was his strongest skill. After a semester taking a television class, he recalls Professor Michael Cremedas saying, “Tim, you went from rough to damn decent.”

“That’s why I’m now in PR,” Tim said.

However, getting to where he is now was no easy feat. He recalls a period in his career when he felt lost and in need of guidance. A friend close to him advised him to write down his three dream jobs, to which he listed the NFL, the NBA, and Whitehouse speechwriter. He told the students, “I made that list of dream jobs… the next morning, I open my email and there is a listing for Director of Communications at the NFL”.

As a leader in the industry, Schlittner had some incredible insights to offer the students in attendance. He emphasized the importance of learning to take a pause and the value of embracing chill. Looking into the crowd of students he noted, “what’s going to make you stand out is not the stuff on paper”, and told them to embrace the things they were passionate about and to specialize in those things.

Throughout his conversation with the students, one theme was the most clear, and it came from one of his first messages to the group: “I let go of who I thought I needed to be and leaned into who I was”. Overall, he highlighted the importance of honoring the truest version of yourself and using what makes you unique to create a life you love to live.

Ford Shares Baseball Journey With Newhouse Students

SYRACUSE, N.Y- Robert Ford made time to answer questions from current Newhouse students Friday afternoon during his weekend trip back to Central New York. Ford has risen through the ranks in professional baseball as a play-by-play broadcaster since he graduated from Newhouse in 2001. The two-time World Series Champion is entering his 12th season as the radio voice of the Houston Astros and gave students insight into his career journey.

Ford grew up subway stops away from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx but gravitated towards the Mets and Darryl Strawberry during their rise in the mid-80s. Even though baseball was his favorite sport, Ford admitted playing wasn’t working for him on the diamond at Bronx High School of Science. 

“I had a teacher in my sophomore year of high school who told me that I should write for the student paper. I decided well, they have a sports section, and I like sports. So, I wrote for this school paper at my high school covering the sports teams, and that got me interested in journalism,” Ford said.  

When Ford started his college search, he remembered his father mentioning years prior how Syracuse is known for sports broadcasters after seeing Bob Costas on TV. After four years at SU with Newhouse Sports Media Center Director Olivia Stomski, Ford got his first job with the Yakima Bears in the Northwest League. A grueling schedule of 76 games in 80 days for the Arizona Diamondbacks Class A-Short Season affiliate resulted in an opportunity in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

Ford spent two seasons with the Kalamazoo Kings, an independent organization in the Frontier League. He transitioned back into affiliated baseball with the nearby Double-A Binghamton Mets at the start of the 2005 season. The reasoning for the opening in Binghamton was due to “Voice of the Orange” Matt Park accepting his current position at Syracuse.

Four years later, Ford’s program director from Kalamazoo offered him a job at an all-sports radio station in Kansas City. 610 AM KCSP recently bought the rights for Kansas City Royals broadcasts, and Ford became their new pregame and postgame host. Still eager to return to the booth, Ford jumped at every chance he could to do freelance play-by-play gigs in the region. He also did mock play-by-play at Royals games when he wasn’t doing his normal duties. 

“I would watch games in Kansas City and think about how I would be talking about certain situations in a game. I would call games into a recorder a few games every year to always have updated demo material. That’s what I sent to the Astros when they had their opening,” Ford said.  

In 2013, Ford got his big break as an MLB play-by-play broadcaster with the Houston Astros off two innings of a Kansas City Royals game that he called into a recorder. Even though his new prominent position was uncharted territory, Ford felt ready for the challenge. 

“That transition to Houston was fantastic. Not only was it a big league play-by-play job, but I really missed doing baseball play-by-play. I enjoyed my time in Kansas City, and it made me better as a broadcaster to do something different because I’d never done sports radio. Kansas City also helped in the sense that I already knew about how it worked being around a major league team, and that’s what the Royals helped me with was just understanding the ins and outs of the job,” Ford said. 

Houston had their third consecutive 100-loss season in Ford’s first with the organization, but the Astros were building one of the best young cores in baseball. As the ‘Stros improved to 70-92 in 2014, Ford learned even more in the beginning stages of his tenure. 

“I realized that you can’t read everything. You come from the minor leagues where you’re struggling to find any sort of kernel of information. Then you go to major leagues where you’re drinking out of a firehose, and I think that was one of the first things I had to learn is you can’t read everything. It’s impossible,” Ford said. 

With Major League Baseball continuing to evolve, Ford has had to adapt to the times in recent years. New rule changes and an influx of advanced analytics create a shift in his preparation in comparison to when he started with the Astros. However, when it comes to Ford’s process of compiling information, that won’t change any time soon.  

“I have a page on every single player on every single team in Microsoft OneNote. I also have information on each team and a bunch of other stuff. I’m reading something at lunch, or if I’m reading something today that I think is interesting about a certain player, I’ll cut and paste that into OneNote, and so it’ll be there on that player’s page,” Ford said.  

Ford likes to think that broadcasting is similar to continuing your education by continuously studying and searching for information. He’s built a solid connection with his fellow MLB broadcasters who love to help one another in any way possible. Before the pandemic, information was kept much closer to the chest until remote broadcasts. Collectively, they realized it would be more beneficial to remain in close contact to create a more collaborative environment. 

“We really are like a fraternity. Like a brotherhood. I’ve actually had this conversation with a couple of other broadcasters about how it wasn’t always like this. It used to be way more cutthroat and competitive, and not that it’s not competitive now, but I think there’s more of an appreciation for what everybody else brings to the table,” Ford said. 

Be sure to listen to Ford all season long with the Houston Astros during the 2024 season. Follow @Raford03 on X to see what college basketball games he is calling on ESPN during the offseason.  

Also, be on the lookout for other alumni guest speakers throughout the academic year by following the Newhouse Sports Media Center on social media.

Pasch Fits in Newhouse Visit Prior to Syracuse Football Broadcast

SYRACUSE, N.Y- Dave Pasch came back to visit his alma mater Wednesday night before his first Syracuse Football broadcast inside the JMA Wireless Dome since 2001. The 1994 Newhouse grad found out earlier this week that his weekly play-by-play assignment with ESPN would be for the Orange against Clemson on Saturday. Pasch has done other Cuse games on the road over the years, but knows it’ll be a special feeling returning to the “Loud House.”

“I’ve done some Syracuse Basketball games since I started at ESPN, but not as many football. They’ve all been on the road, and funny enough I actually did a Cuse game against Clemson back in 2016… Saturday will be pretty cool for me,” Pasch said.

On top of his college football duties, Pasch also calls NBA and college basketball games for ESPN. While somehow balancing those other duties, he also is the longtime radio voice of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

The Madison, Wisconsin native has come a long way from his humble beginnings at Newhouse. During his undergrad, Pasch wrote for The Daily Orange newspaper and made regular appearances on WAER to gain on-air radio reps. Following graduation, Pasch decided to take his first job in Morgantown, West Virginia because of a “pipeline” of WAER kids going to that market. Even though he was only there for 10 months, Pasch proclaimed it to be the most important job he’s ever had (maybe meeting his wife Hallie there also had a role in that feeling).

“During my time in Morgantown, it was important for me to get out of my Syracuse bubble where I was comfortable. My mindset was I needed to be willing to do anything and everything for that first job. I covered city council meetings and did high school play-by-play gigs for $25 a game. I even went up to Pittsburgh to run the Pirates scoreboard in the press box,” Pasch said.

Pasch moved to Detroit in 1995 for his first job in a large market when sports talk radio was all the rave in the industry. Two years later, Pasch landed in Chicago and spent the majority of his time covering Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during their “Last Dance” season. When a coveted job opened up to return to Syracuse, it was just too good for Pasch to pass up.

“In 1999 when the radio job opened up here, I knew that if I got the chance I would come back. Getting the job as a 26-year-old and having to fill the shoes of a legendary figure like Doug Logan was a little daunting. Early on some of my broadcast partners were alums like Mike Tricio, Marv Albert, and Bob Costas because I had to earn the trust of my bosses being so young,” Pasch said.

On top of his duties with the Orange Football and Men’s Basketball teams, Pasch also did preseason TV broadcasts for the Buffalo Bills in 2001. Former General Manager John Bulter and Executive Russ Brandon formulated a plan that Pasch would slide into the full-time radio spot after a few seasons. That all changed during the Spring of 2002 when the NFL had three teams with radio jobs open. Pasch was offered the job with the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s been with the organization ever since.

“It was a difficult decision leaving my job at Syracuse because I really loved it and knowing that I could’ve stayed and also been with the Bills. I just couldn’t wait only longer when I had an opportunity like that on the table,” Pasch said.

Pasch has been full-time with ESPN since 2003 after doing regional Big East basketball games to get his foot in the door. Since then, he’s risen the ranks of the Worldwide Leader and worked alongside some of the most notable analysts in the business. Some of his partners have included Bill Walton, Hubie Brown, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Jay Bilas, and Doris Burke. Pasch believes the main reason he’s able to have a great rapport with everyone he works with is by building genuine relationships with them.

“It may not win you an award, but it matters so much to put your analyst in the best place to succeed. You have to get to know them on a personal level, not just during those few hours together in the booth. I know when I’m doing a game with Bill [Walton] he will want the game to be more focused on storytelling, instead of with Hubie [Brown] there’s more emphasis on numbers and stats,” Pasch said.

It took time for Pasch to get accustomed to his hectic lifestyle. Most weeks for a Saturday game he travels into the cities on Thursday and immediately leaves to go wherever the Cardinals are playing. His traditional plans went by the wayside this week because of Hubie Brown’s 90th birthday celebration on Tuesday, giving him time to come to Newhouse. Pasch related this dynamic to a golf swing that living this way is just second nature at this point.

“It just took a little bit to get used to it, getting into that mode of I’m doing a TV game today, but radio tomorrow. Like this week I’ll call the Syracuse game and immediately go to the airport to fly to San Francisco because that’s where the Cardinals are playing Sunday. I think it’s much more common now for play-by-play guys to have more than one job in comparison to when I first started doing this. It’s just something that takes time,” Pasch said.

Make sure to listen to Pasch’s first broadcast back with Syracuse Football on ABC Saturday at Noon. Follow @DavePasch on X, to see where his next broadcast is for ESPN. Also, be on the lookout for other alumni guest speakers throughout the academic year by following the Newhouse Sports Media Center on social media.

Skalla & Traczuk Return Home to Newhouse

SYRACUSE, N.Y- Biko Skalla and Ivan Traczuk made a pit stop Wednesday evening to talk with current Newhouse students before the Savannah Bananas game on Thursday in Syracuse as part of their “2023 World Tour.” It was the first time since graduating in 2018 that either of them were on campus, as the duo spoke about their rise to finding their niche with the Bananas organization. 

“Rather than telling people that I graduated from Syracuse University, I tell them that I graduated from Newhouse because that’s how much pride I have in this place. I got emotional when I was walking the halls and remembering my struggles during my time here. From staying here till 3 a.m. for a news package edit or making a podcast for the first time and having no idea what I was doing,” Traczuk said. 

The two hit it off in the fall of 2017 even though Skalla was a Broadcast & Digital Journalism major and Traczuk was in Television, Radio & Film as a graduate student. They were a package deal in their first jobs out of college at MLB Network as broadcast associates, producing content around the clock. 

Even though Skalla and Traczuk were baseball enthusiasts, they felt unfulfilled and aspired to have more creativity in the sports media landscape. Traczuk decided to leave MLB Network and strived to connect his love of sports and comedy by moving out to Hollywood. Shortly after earning an Emmy for his role as an Associate Producer at MLB Network, Skalla took a position with the Savannah Bananas as a “Broadcast Entertainer” in 2020.

“My dream was always to get in an MLB Broadcast booth, but I know that I’d never have the same amount of fun that I have now with the Bananas. We really embrace that we are an entertainment company above anything else related to the baseball played on the field,” Skalla said.      

If you’ve never heard of the Savannah Bananas, they’re not your typical baseball team. Owner Jesse Cole set out to create “The Greatest Show in Sports,” after purchasing the franchise back in 2016. Formerly the Bananas were a member of the Coastal Plains League, a wooden bat league for collegiate players across the country to take part in during the summer. That was until Cole had an idea to break away from the mold and play by their own set of rules called “Banana Ball” that would speed up the game and put the fans first. 

Owner Jesse Cole decided instead of staying in Savannah they could bring excitement and entertainment to a wider audience by traveling to cities across the country. Following the first-ever “Banana Ball World Tour” in 2022, Cole expanded the tour to 33 different cities for 87 total games. The tour wraps up in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 16th, following their game at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse. 

As the Bananas continued to gain traction on social media, Skalla invited Traczuk down to Savannah to see what all the hype was about in “Bananaland.” After being skeptical at first, Traczuk visited his college buddy and accepted an offer at the beginning of 2022 to become the Banana’s Director of Creative Content. 

“It was honestly terrifying moving to Savannah and back to the East Coast. I thought at the time that I was giving up my dream of working in Los Angeles. But if something is scaring you, it’s worth doing,” Traczuk said. 

In the first three months that Traczuk was with the organization, their TikTok following went from 845,000 to 3 million followers. The Banana’s creative team started to do “over-the-top meetings,” brainstorming what crazy ideas they could come up with next. Fans across the country craved content of the player’s choreographed dances by putting their own twist on the most current social media trends. 

Skalla and Traczuk learned the importance of listening to the fans to hear what they wanted to see the players do. Thinking outside of the box has always come naturally to the Newhouse products, but the opportunity to be authentically themselves is something that they don’t take for granted. 

“My first ever media credential was for a Syracuse Mets game towards the end of summer boot camp. Instead of doing a game recap like my other classmates, I gravitated towards doing my assignment on the mascot. I’ve always wanted to do the story that wasn’t going to be on the 6 p.m. SportsCenter, but instead show the viewer why this mattered,” Trackzuk said. 

“I think my job is probably 98 percent similar to other professional broadcasters. I just have more emphasis on making the fans feel a part of the action from home. My style is unique because I took everything that I learned here at Newhouse, while also having my personality shine through with my excitement or by saying funny phrases,” Skalla said. 

Make sure to follow the Savannah Bananas on social media to see what tricks they have up their sleeve during their game in Syracuse. Also, be on the lookout for other alumni guest speakers throughout the academic year by following the Newhouse Sports Media Center on social media.

Konner Kicks Off 2023-24 Newhouse SMC Guest Speakers

Michael Konner was the first Newhouse alumni guest speaker for the 2023-24 school year on Friday afternoon to speak with current students about his experience in the television industry. The 1995 SU graduate is currently the Senior Coordinating Producer for NFL Media, compiling over 20 years of experience in sports media production and operations. 

Konner was a producer for Fox Sports from 1998-2005 and then went on to have vital roles in the launches of both the NFL and MLB Networks. The seven-time Emmy Award winner began his career in the entertainment industry as an assignment editor for the shows “Access Hollywood” and “A Current Affair.”

As a Newhouse student, Konner was involved with WJPZ radio, wrote for The Daily Orange newspaper, and interned at local CBS affiliate WTVH. Konner reminisced about his time at Syracuse and emphasized the importance of taking full advantage of everything that Newhouse students have at their disposal. 

“I wish that I could be in your seat right now with how much I’ve learned over the years, but that’s what makes it so cool to come back here is to share that knowledge with all of you. Make sure to enjoy the journey along the way because you’re going to blink and be up here like I am in 28 years talking to students thinking how fast it went,” Konner said. 

Konner encouraged students to get involved with organizations on campus and experience multiple different internships in the market. He treated his internship entering his senior year with “A Current Affair” like he was a full-time employee. That mindset paid off as Konner was offered a job during spring break that would be waiting for him after he graduated. 

“The toughest job you’re going to get is your first one. If you treat an internship as that first job, then the bosses won’t be able to envision their newsroom without you,” Konner said.  

Even though Konner landed his first job in entertainment television, he knew that he wanted to transfer to a career in sports media. After spending over two years at “Access Hollywood,” one of his coworkers put him in contact with FOX Sports, who just purchased the NFL’s media rights from CBS in 1998. Konner moved back to the East Coast to oversee operations in their New York City division. 

In 2003 he received a call about joining the start of NFL Network as a News Producer. After a few years, he became Manager of Remote and Studio Operations. Over the next five years, Konner traveled 28 weeks per year to coordinate events like Thursday Night Football, the NFL Draft, and the Super Bowl. For a change of pace from the hectic lifestyle at NFL Network, he decided to take a position with the newly created MLB Network where Konner spent the next eight years as a Coordinating Producer. 

When the opportunity presented itself to return to NFL Network in 2017 as the Senior Coordinating Producer, it was just too good to pass up. Konner’s current role oversees how the network covers the NFL offseason from Super Bowl week to the end of training camp. 

“My experiences are a different road map than everyone else’s, and the same will be for you. If you have a passion in the industry whether it’s being on air or producing, just go for it and make your own path,” Konner said. 

Konner shared what network executives, like himself are looking for in new hires and offered other meaningful pieces of advice. The main takeaway was to be accountable and a nice person that others want to be around. 

“I say it to the people at NFL Network all the time that you are in control of two things every single day, your work ethic and your attitude. That alone will help you stand out from your peers,” Konner said. 

Be on the lookout for other alumni guest speakers throughout the academic year by following the Newhouse Sports Media Center on social media. 

“Run Your Own Race”

Whistles blow, cleats click, chinstraps buckle and mouth pieces go in around this time throughout the country. With less than a month away, Syracuse Football is back and ready for a strong season yet again. 

For Syracuse University Newhouse BDJ Master’s alum Carl Jones, this time of year brings back a unique moment he will never forget from his time on the Syracuse Football team. 

“That was the first time in my life I looked down the field and the vibrations off of the field, because the sound was so great and so strong, I couldn’t see the kickoff returner,” Jones said. 

In September of 2018, the undefeated Syracuse football team traveled to Death Valley to face a young freshman quarterback in his first first career start for Clemson. The man who is now the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise leader, Trevor Lawrence.  

“I legit couldn’t see 70 yards in front of me, that’s how strong the vibrations were.” 

Though with the intensity high and energy pumping to this day, the Orange came up short 27-23. Just three years into his student-athlete career, how did Syracuse University Football become the destination for Carl Jones?

Jones was a late recruit. He didn’t receive his first division one offer until December of his senior season. It was Coach Babers departure from Bowling Green University and arrival at Syracuse, when Jones received interest from the Orange. He later visited and accepted the offer to play football for Syracuse University.  

“To be able to play on that stage, ESPN weekly in a Dome… that intrigued me, and I wanted to be a part of it,” Jones said. “I fell in love with the campus, the people, and a strong academic institution in which my Mom enjoyed most.” 

Upon Jones’ undergraduate career at Syracuse, journalism became his calling as he joined the Broadcast and Digital Journalism Master’s program in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Growing up without the intention of becoming a journalist, Jones gravitated toward sports.

“I was that kid six, seven years old, reading newspapers looking at box scores, how did Lebron do?,” Jones said. “I would get to school early arguing in the lunchroom, Lebron or Kobe. Brady or Manning. I wanted to be Stuart Scott, Stephen A. Smith, but I didn’t know what that looked like.”

Jones said it became a pipe dream. Another passion of his was criminal justice which was the route he took in undergrad. He didn’t know the power of the Newhouse school until his sophomore year when he took notice of the media coverage throughout his football season.

Since his education and knowledge of sports, Jones has become a lead sports reporter for the News 8 Sports Team in Rochester since September 2021, covering national teams such as the Buffalo Bills. 

Jones’ is currently striving for greatness working for an even bigger network in sports such as ESPN or NFL Network continuing the goal-oriented process that he has fostered from his parents. Waking up everyday, pushing toward that goal because Jones can’t see it turning out any other way. 

Jones believes running your own race is pivotal in excelling at the next level, especially for the next generation of Master’s students who come through the Newhouse doors.  

“In my master’s year and first year in the industry, I kept comparing myself to those who may have had five, six, seven years of journalism classes and taken internships which was discouraging,” Jones said. “I didn’t know what a VOSOT was or a PKG. I felt as if this wasn’t the career path for me.” 

Jones said, if you get around enough people who have faith in you, like Professor Stomski and Professor Park, you will run your fastest looking straight ahead, focusing on what you can control.

“The Best is Yet To Come”

Monday night, February 24th, 2020. Before the COVID-19 pandemic was in sight, the Colgate Women’s Lacrosse team traveled from Hamilton, New York to the Syracuse University Carrier Dome to face the number four ranked Orange Women’s Lacrosse team. 

The undefeated Colgate Raiders were excited for the test, according to senior goalie and team captain Samantha Croston. “When I found out we were playing Syracuse, I was hyped up,” said Croston. “I was excited to play harder competition than what we were used to.”

The dominant attack of the Orange were as advertised. Megan Carney, Sam Swart, and Emily Hawryschuk were too talented to handle as each scored hat tricks in the convincing 21-4 win over Colgate. Little did Raider goalie Samantha Croston know, this would not be her last time in the Carrier Dome.

Fast forward four months, Croston began her journey at Syracuse University in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications earning her Master’s Degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. A former division one student athlete handed her helmet and lacrosse stick in for a microphone and camera to document local news and sports stories in Central New York. 

Currently a Professional Multimedia Journalist for CNY Central, Croston is also a sports broadcaster for ESPN+ and ACC Network studio shows as an analyst for women’s lacrosse. It’s a career she takes deep pride in as it was something she didn’t expect.

“I didn’t even know I wanted to be a broadcaster until I applied,” Croston said. With the help of perspective, empathy and love, Croston says she has embraced the role. “People don’t tell you how many tough parts there are about the job, but I am continuing to do what I love,” Croston said.

The chase and pursuit of something greater than yourself, similar to coming together as one like the lacrosse team at Colgate, yet this time in the studio for all of Central New York to see.  

Croston says, continuing to create and establish relationships are what make the world go round which allow the industry to appreciate each other even more. “If you can understand other people, you can understand life,” Croston said.

“The best is yet to come,” montra keeps Croston’s mindset pushing forward following the motto in how she lives her life. Maintaining the positive attitude through long days, continuing the pursuit of her intuition telling her a profession in broadcasting and digital journalism will be successful. 

To the next generation of Master’s Students, Croston says it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do. “You need to be willing to sit in the uncomfortable of figuring that out,” Croston said. “Whether that’s redefining yourself from an athlete to a broadcaster, focus on you and be okay sitting in the uncomfortable of figuring out who you want to be.”

“Newhouse Definitely Prepared Us”

Several Newhouse Master’s students upon finishing their Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate program have been accepted to take their talents to local news stations across the country to report on NFL training camp for their respective city. 

Of the ten that were selected, one was a division one student-athlete. Excelling on the field and in the classroom for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, Sydney Staples arrived on the campus of Syracuse University in July of 2022 to embark on her S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications journey. 

As a four year-letter winner for the Lehigh University Women’s soccer team, Staples decided to pursue her soccer career from a different lens.

It was difficult when the season rolled around to not be doing a preseason especially being at a different school than her undergrad, Staples said. “I’ll always think what if, but I also know I’m very happy. I’m very happy that I fully committed myself to the academic side of things.” 

Being a student-athlete taught Staples how to juggle and take on an incredible schedule, she said. From live reporting for NCC News to calling division one men’s and women’s soccer games for ACC network, Staples has grown throughout her one year on the hill to where she is now.   

Currently covering the Green Bay Packers for WFRV Local 5 News, serving Green Bay, Fox Valley, Lake Shore, and the Northwoods, Wisconsin, Staples has noticed many similarities from Newhouse to the professional setting. 

“Newhouse definitely prepared us,” Staples said. “Everything that Professor Axe taught us, yup, I can definitely notice a difference now between a good question and a not so great question.” It’s Staples’ connection with the athlete in how she can relate to the type of interview the media conducts, specifically at camp.

Staples says, at Syracuse the sports information director picked two to three people, brought them to the podium post practice or postgame for interviews. In Green Bay, media scrums include microphones from other outlets pressed against each other with camera lights pointed toward the interviewee, ready to ask and answer questions from both sides. 

Seeing the sweat on athletes’ faces from practice just before, Staples can remind herself it’s more than football. “I can relate to asking questions knowing that there are so much more than that to x’s and o’s,” Staples said. “I love going to the practices, interacting with players and I like the grind. Working with professional athletes has been amazing.”

Having the experience thus far of covering NFL football has made Staples appreciate the sport even more. She said it’s been really cool to get out of her comfort zone and cover a different sport.

For the future, Staples says being around soccer on the media side of the ball is a goal of hers. “If there is one thing I know about whatever job I take moving forward and for life, I want to be involved in soccer as much as possible,” Staples said.

Whether that is continuing to call games at the collegiate level, or pursuing an opportunity with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Staples said she would love to be around the sport for years to come. 

“Enjoy Every Minute”

Less than three weeks after classes came to a close for the 2023 Newhouse Master’s Broadcast and Digital Journalism Graduate students, one student began his career as a professional.

Karl Winter, the multimedia journalist, is the NBC 26 Neighborhood reporter covering Titletown and the Green Bay suburbs of De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon and Bellevue, Wisconsin. Raised in a household that prided itself on kindness, integrity and having parents as role models in the way they interacted with others, has left a mark on Winter, he said. Without hesitation, the traits he has mastered from Newhouse have carried over into his day to day work.

As a student-athlete at Pepperdine University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism before attending Syracuse to pursue his Master’s degree, Winter continues to bring an energy and spirit that remains to be an edge of competitiveness as a reporter. Winter says being flexible and curious, working around others in thinking ahead is important at the next level.   

“We’ve got some good competition in the size market that I’m in,” Winter said. “Watching what they do drives us to be better and make sure we present something unique to the audience that makes them want to watch us over our competitors.”

The drive comes by no surprise for the former Orange Track and Field star who headlined Syracuse University Athletics this past year for becoming the eighth man in program history to break four minutes in the mile. Winter crossed the line at 3:59.25 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. An incredible accomplishment that keeps Winter’s feet moving, running as much as possible without competing collegiately.

“To now be done is abrupt, but thankfully, I have found good places to run here,” Winter said. “I have reached out to some people to try and find training partners, being somewhat consistent. I have been able to get out the door and run either every morning or in the afternoon.”

Winter has kept up with the mileage in case he wants to race. He may not be in the same shape of training if he were competing at the division one level, but has maintained a strong foundation of fitness working through the next stages of his running career. 

However with Winter’s innate background on both sides of the track and news studio, his skill set has the potential to be used for a different type of talent. 

“One opportunity that I do have is calling the WCC Cross Country Championships in California in October,” Winter said. “I have called a lot of sports in my broadcast career but running is not one of them. To be able to call my own sport at my alma mater (Pepperdine University) where the WCC Championships are this year, would be fun and hopefully that opportunity comes through.”   

Winter broadcasted multiple Syracuse University athletic events and hosted ACC Network studio shows throughout his time at Newhouse. “Talking about journalism and sports, both of those things are things where you need to be able to talk to people, to interact with people to understand people to be empathetic and I tried to do that when I was on a team and now in the industry,” Winter said. 

“The opportunities that you are given, the people you have the privilege to meet and the professors you have the privilege to learn from, it’s invaluable what you are able to do in one year,” Winter said. “While it seems like a challenge at times, as it is a challenging program especially as a student athlete, it builds character and it molds you into a great journalist and great person if you are willing to get out of it what you put in. Looking back now at a year at Newhouse, I wish I could do it all over again.”