Newhouse Syracuse University winners recognized at the BEA Awards
The 2026 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Awards recognized 426 students and 48 faculty members for entries across categories including audio, documentary, film and video, interactive media and emerging technologies, news, scriptwriting and sports.
The BEA hosts an annual convention featuring more than 250 sessions on media pedagogy, networking events, hands-on technology workshops, research, creative scholarship and the Festival of Media Arts. The convention is co-located with NAB Show each April in Las Vegas.
Syracuse University students Griffin Bloomstein and Nathaniel Cunningham took first place in the Video News Program category for their Syracuse Women’s Soccer vs. Cornell Pregame Show.
“The work we’re able to do at Newhouse with our ACC Network Studio Shows is unlike anything else across the country,” Bloomstein said, “It was awesome to talk with other college students and professors and hear how they try to create shows but can’t match our production quality.”
Nathaniel Cunningham shares his thoughts on the convention environment and energy.
“The energy there was incredible with the amount of people from all parts of the country. It didn’t matter if it was students or faculty, for three days it felt like a bunch of people who were all doing the same thing — coming together to talk about broadcast and our love for it. For me the award is really an acknowledgement of the hard work that goes into making TV. It’s awesome to know that the process is working and that anyone who comes to Newhouse has the ability to make work that gets recognized at the national level. I think it’s just a testament to what Newhouse is so good at and that is getting us ready for the industry” says Cunningham.
Bloomstein also spoke to the significance of the award for his team.
“Getting this award means a lot to me, but more importantly, it’s a real testament to the work that our whole production crew, leadership team and on-air talent put into every studio show,” Bloomstein shared, “Nothing could be done without all of their hard work and dedication, along with that of Professor Stomski. This pushes us to strive for more recognition on a national level. Newhouse has been the best communications school for decades, and it’s time for the rest of the country to be reminded of that.”
Jordan Kligerman, assistant professor of television, radio and film at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, won the Long Form Sports Video category alongside Austin Beehner, Mike Lang and Richard Wiesmann for their project “Authentic ACC: Syracuse Spring Football.”
Professor Kligerman shared his thought process on creating the project.
“Teaching sports documentary is the best thing for me as a filmmaker because there comes a point in ones career when you’re doing things without really thinking about why you are doing them.” Kligerman says,” I think I have gotten into my own style of storytelling, but I leaned on the same things I teach students in sports documentary. I think about ‘Who are my characters? What are my locations? What is the overarching story arc of this project? What are the hidden story arcs in each segment or scene?’ I really wanted to make this a film of scenes, not interviews with B-roll.”
Collectively, from students to faculty, Newhouse provides opportunities for every individual to practice and apply their communication and storytelling skills. The Newhouse Sports Media Center proudly acknowledges the dedication and passion of the individuals that make Newhouse remarkable.
Running for more — A Conversation with Kathrine Switzer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Kathrine Switzer made her mark as the first woman to officially run in the Boston Marathon. What dates back to 1967 still impacts the landscape of women in sports today.
From writing the news to becoming the topic, Syracuse University alumna Kathrine Switzer joined Syracuse University students to reflect on her journey as a woman navigating sports spaces that were never built to include her.
This event celebrated girls and women in sports, bringing Switzer’s story back to where she first learned what it meant to show up in spaces that didn’t yet include women.
Switzer came to Syracuse University as a Junior with the hopes of learning sports journalism. She was drawn to writing early on as she wrote for her high school and college newspapers. Despite knowing the battle, Kathrine Switzer approached her education in the highest regard.
“I knew if I was going to get a job, I’d need an A+ degree,” she said.
When she got to campus, she was struck by what was missing. There were dozens of men’s sports and no opportunities for women. Still, she wanted to run, and running alone wasn’t enough.
Switzer sought out the track coach and asked if she could train with the men’s team. She couldn’t officially join due to NCAA regulations, but she was allowed to practice. It wasn’t equality, but it was access, and she took it. Even after overhearing doubts about whether she would actually show up, Switzer did exactly that.
“You’ve got two things to do in life,” she said. “You either show up or you go away.”
She showed up.
Through training, Switzer met Arnie, a longtime runner and mailman at Syracuse University. He became her partner on long runs, turning those miles into conversations, and those conversations into the idea of the Boston Marathon.
When she said she wanted to run it, she was told, “You have to prove it to me.”
Rather than backing down, Switzer trained until she could run the full marathon distance in practice. When she reached 26 miles, she wasn’t ready to stop. She kept going, pushing past expectations placed on women in sport.
“Women have secret power and stamina,” Switzer said, pointing to her abilities that are often overlooked or downplayed by society.
Entering the Boston Marathon was never meant to be symbolic. “I just wanted to run this,” she said. Signing the entry form as K.V. Switzer—a name she had long used in sports writing—was routine. Officials didn’t think anything of it. But, once they realized a woman was in the race, her presence was challenged. In that moment, the run became about more than finishing.
“That’s when it became about proving that I count,” she said.
As the race unfolded, Switzer said she began to understand that the resistance she faced wasn’t personal. It reflected a system that had never made space for women to participate. Instead of letting that moment end at the finish line, she focused on what came next learning how to work within the system to change it and keeping women and running in the public conversation so the moment wouldn’t fade.
Her influence stretched far beyond one race. Switzer became instrumental in the push to include the women’s marathon in the Olympic Games in 1984, a turning point that reshaped how women’s athletic ability was viewed.
“The marathon is a distance people everywhere understand,” she said.
Now, that message continues to fuel her. What began as one woman refusing to settle has become a way to reach women who are still being told, in different ways, that they don’t belong. It lives on through 261 Fearless, named after the bib Switzer wore during the Boston Marathon.
Over time, the number has come to symbolize being fearless in the face of adversity. Through running, the organization works to empower women and create access where it once didn’t exist.
At the core, Switzer’s story began even earlier. Long before Boston. Long before history. It began with her father, who shaped how she approached both sport and life.
“Preparedness prevents intimidation,” he told her.
She ran knowing she was ready, with no doubt she could finish. He taught her that the game is on the field, not the sidelines. That life is about participation, not spectating. He approached parenthood with his own technique that Kathrine hopes others incorporate — to keep pushing lessons, even when you don’t know which ones will stick.
In the end, Switzer’s story is about more than running. It is about women pushing into spaces they were never meant to occupy and not settling for less than they deserve.
As of February 8th, 2026 — Kathrine Switzer’s bib number will always hang in the rafters of the JMA Wireless Dome. To remind everyone that women are always going to have a space in sports.
Sports media student, Maggie Robinson, does it all: reviving Cooking with ‘Cuse and buried interests
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Maggie Robinson, a Broadcast Digital Journalism graduate student at Newhouse, revived ‘Cooking with ‘Cuse,’ a food show that was on hiatus before Robinson and Cypris Wilkinson got their hands in the mix.
For Robinson, sports has never just been a game, but a foundation. As a multi-sport athlete and Division I competitor in soccer, she learned early what it meant to fully commit to something demanding. That same discipline has followed her off the field, shaping how she approaches all of her passions.
“Yeah, I think I love my sports projects that I’m doing here. But I think something I’ve tried to lean into more is all the different aspects of my personality and interests,” said Robinson,” Like food was such a big part of my life and I kind of forgot about that so it’s given me the opportunity to get a lot of air time and learn how to prepare a show.”
Robinson’s background in broadcast production showed her the power of storytelling but also revealed something deeper. She doesn’t want to just capture moments, she wants to connect people to them.
That desire to connect people together naturally carried into her passion for food. Long before culinary storytelling, food was woven into her life; “Maggie’s Munchies,” was a health-focused food Instagram account that Robinson created, born out of her athlete lifestyle.
In both sports and food, Robinson saw the same core truth: these are shared experiences. A meal, similar to a game, brings people from wildly different backgrounds together around something joyful, human, and universal.
“Go to the club fair. Talk to people in different programs. I think getting outside the sports bubble is super beneficial. It just makes you more well-rounded as a person and gain many other skills that can be applicable.” urged Robinson to students.
Now, Robinson’s work lives at the intersection of these two worlds. Whether she is helping elevate a sports broadcast or hosting a food-focused series, her approach is the same — find the authentic story and give that to the audience with care.
Robinson advises students to lean into their other interests, “Something I’ve also learned through this and am really glad to have gotten is that I can be passionate about more than one thing. When I think about telling a story about an athlete, their whole thing isn’t just being an athlete. That’s like the least important thing about them honestly. It’s about who are you as a human being.”
‘Miami Mika’ Records First Hat-Trick in NHL Winter Classic History in Inaugural Outdoor Matchup in Miami.
MIAMI — The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers matched up at loanDepot Park, home to the MLB’s Miami Marlins, in front of a sold-out crowd at the NHL’s southernmost outdoor hockey game in the 17th Winter Classic on January 2nd.
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers hosted the Rangers for a crucial game 36 miles south of their usual home in Sunrise, Florida, in the second warmest game in NHL history. Both teams currently sit outside of the playoff bubble in a tightly contested Eastern Conference, increasing the stakes for this preliminary outdoor matchup in Miami.
Both teams opted for all white outfits in their entrances in the ballpark, paying homage to the popular 80’s TV series “Miami Vice”, with the hometown Panthers arriving in sports cars.
The pregame theatrics continued with popular Latin artist ‘Luis Fonsi’ performing in Spanish as both teams hit the ice, singing ‘Despacito’ as the Panthers entered. Artificial snow fell as the teams came out and a massive American flag filled up the ice during the national anthem.
It was all Ranger fans making noise when the final whistle blew at loanDepot Park as they cheered on their Blueshirts to a 5-1 win.
Both teams adjusted to the new ice surface with the roof open for the first time in the stadium. The Panthers were in the offensive zone for the beginning of the first period, drawing two penalties. The Rangers killed both penalties and were awarded a power play with over five minutes left in the first period.
Alexis Lafreniere skated down the left wing and threaded the needle to Mika Zibanejad, who buried the feed past Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky for a first period Rangers lead.
Over a minute later, as the first period was winding down, Artemi Panarin threw a shot on goal from the blueline, which found its way to the back of the net to make it 2-0 after the first 20 minutes.
Pop artist ‘Role Model’ performed two songs during the first intermission including hit song, “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”, which saw star Panthers players Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov holding up the Stanley Cup in a surprise entrance.
The Rangers came into the second period on a power play that carried over from the end of the first. Just 58 seconds into the period and as the man advantage expired, Vincent Trocheck brought the puck up the neutral zone and lost an edge but still managed to send a pass to Lafreniere who found Zibanejad on a two on one to make it 3-0.
The Rangers carried that lead into the third period with goalie Igor Shesterkin making key saves to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard. Early in the third, Sam Reinhart buried a rebound past Shesterkin on the power play to make it a two-goal game 3-1. With less than ten minutes left, the Rangers were awarded a power play of their own.
The man-advantage was dominant for New York, with Artemi Panarin scoring his second of the game to make it a 4-1 game. The Panthers pulled their goalie in the final two minutes, but Zibanejad scored the empty net goal for his third goal of the game.
Zibanejad’s hat-trick was the first in Winter Classic history. Along with two assists on the night, Zibanejad’s five-point game was also the first in a Winter Classic.
“It’s been pretty uneasy for us this year, but it was nice for us to get, not just for our teammates and family, but our fans too”, said Zibanejad after the game.
Zibanejad was awarded the “Cocoa Cup” as the game’s MVP for his five-point performance and the Rangers improved to 3-0-0 in Winter Classics and 6-0-0 in outdoor contests.
“For the players and families, it’s an opportunity to create lifelong memories…we’ll talk about these events 20 years from now”, said Ranger’s Head Coach Mike Sullivan.
“I think for us to have an opportunity to share it with those people [family and friends], events like this, is a great way for us to say thank you for everything they do and have done for us over the years to allow us the opportunity to participate in these events”.
Both teams will look to use this event to gain momentum for the rest of the season in a highly competitive Eastern Conference playoff race and the NHL will use it as proof it can play outdoor hockey anywhere.
*Newhouse student Benjamin Lefkowitz aided with the creation of this article*
Hockey in the Sunshine State: Inside the 2026 Winter Classic
Have you ever heard of outdoor ice hockey being played in Miami? The answer to that question is probably no, and the idea sounds unrealistic to most people before this weekend. But that is exactly what the NHL delivered to its fans on January 2nd in a unique matchup featuring the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Newhouse students Benjamin Lefkowitz and Brian Piendel were sent down to Miami to cover the event and met up with Newhouse alumni and hockey royalty during the sold-out hockey event.
The event started the day before with practice, family skate and media availability for both teams. The teams saw the conditions of the ice and took in the unique surrounding environment for the first time.
“For most of the league it’s not every year that you get an opportunity to go through something like this, so you’ve got to take it all in”, said Panthers forward Sam Reinhart about the event.
During the Panther’s practice, we connected with Liam McHugh (G’04), studio host for the NHL on TNT, and asked him about the last impact Newhouse has had on his career.
With the Winter Classic in full swing, Olympics teams were also being announced for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 next month. Rangers Head Coach, Mike Sullivan, will be the United States Head Coach for the winter games and was asked about players included and snubbed from the team throughout the week.
Two Rangers players, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, were named to the U.S. Team by Sullivan while the teams were in Miami.
Sullivan referred to both of his players as “glue guys” for Team USA’s roster and said that “both guys have the ability to impact the game on both sides of the puck.”
As puck drop loomed closer, we connected with Adelyn Biedenbach (G’13), VP of Communications and Broadcasting for the Florida Panthers, and asked about her experience at Newhouse.
Bill Zito, General Manager of the Florida Panthers and Assistant General Manager of the U.S. Olympic Team, showcased his “Panthers on the Prowl” initiative, a fundraiser benefitting the American Cancer Society in front of the media.
The panther statues are bought, decorated and put around Miami by celebrities and organizations in hopes of raising $1 million for cancer research under Zito’s supervision.
“We look at this event with enthusiasm; this is just the beginning. What else can we do? What other fun, fantastic, wonderful days can we have under our mission as the Florida Panthers?” said Zito about the Winter Classic.
The NHL hosted a “Fan Fest” in a park outside of loanDepot that featured live music, games and fun for the visiting hockey fans before the game. During this event, we caught up with Chris Jastrzembski (G’18), Studio Researcher at TNT and recent Newhouse alum.
After our interview with Chris, both teams entered the ballpark in all white outfits, paying homage to the popular 80’s TV show ‘Miami Vice’. The Panthers elevated their entrance by showing up in sports cars, playing up to the vibe of Miami, and showing off in front of their home fans.
Before the puck dropped, Jonny Lazarus, Content Creator for B/R Open Ice and host for DailyFaceoff.com, shared his perspective on the weekend with us.
The festivities continued off the ice with a performance by ‘Luis Fonsi’ as the teams walked out of the dugout and ‘Role Model’ during the first intermission.
The Rangers had no problem handling the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers with a 5-1 victory on the road. The traveling Rangers fans took over the ballpark post-game with nothing but “let’s go Rangers” being heard throughout the surrounding area.
Despite the lopsided score, the experience was significant for both teams and the NHL as a whole, proving that outdoor hockey can be played anywhere.
“I would have never thought that I would play in a Winter Classic in Miami…Everything leading up to this game has been awesome and very unique and an experience we’re all going to remember for the rest of our lives”, said Panthers forward Anton Lundell.
The 2026 Winter Classic will go down in hockey history as a great experiment for NHL, and it was a fantastic event for the Newhouse School.
*All videos and full takeover are available on Instagram @newhousesportssu in an archived story labeled “Winter Classic”. *
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 Graduate Students Report Live From the 2024 NFL Draft
It was a weekend to remember for four Newhouse School graduate students who travelled to Detroit, Michigan, to capture the excitement of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Carson Crestohl (PRL), Paul McCoy (TRF), Emily Coffey (BDJ) and Patrick Smith (BDJ) made up the quartet, becoming the inaugural Newhouse group to cover an NFL draft.
The students spent three days covering the highest-attended NFL draft on record – producing packages, conducting interviews and creating content for the Newhouse Sports social media pages.
Fan Fair
An estimated 275,000 fans packed into Detroit’s Campus Martius Park to take in night one, shattering the previous record of 200,000. The park was once again at capacity for the draft’s second day. By the time Mr. Irrelevant had been selected on Saturday evening, over 700,000 fans had passed through the Draft hub.
The cohort interviewed dozens of fans of all allegiances, inquiring about their team’s draft needs and quizzing the NFL faithful on all manners of football trivia.
The dominant color within the crowd was the Lions’ Honolulu Blue, and Patrick Smith fit right in speaking with fellow fans in his home state. “With the draft in Detroit, it was extraordinary to see the fan base I am a part of all come together in one spot. Speaking with so many of them was a great opportunity to blend passion with my work,” said Smith.
Meaningful Social Responsibility
The four Newhouse students were in attendance for the USA Wheelchair Football League’s Veterans All-Star Game on Friday. The league is funded jointly between NFL Salute to Service and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
As footballs flew through the air and wheelchairs collided, Emily Coffey was buzzing around, interviewing various key actors.
Among those she spoke with were Bob Woodruff himself, as well as Anna Isaacson, SVP of Community Relations for the NFL and the woman behind the league’s ‘Inspire Change’ social justice campaign. She also spoke with a player from each team.
“A big takeaway from me was that the NFL actually goes into communities, asks them what would make the greatest impact and then provide what’s missing. Meeting and interviewing Bob [Woodruff] showed me that those who accomplish great things in journalism can also choose to give back. He was extremely humble and down to earth,” she said.
The Newhouse Name
Representing the Orange at an event like the NFL Draft gave the students their first dose of Newhouse recognition from those within the sports media world.
When encountering the group clad in Syracuse gear, members of the press would smile, shake their heads, and acknowledge the students’ membership in the “Mafia.” On a handful of occasions, fellow graduates would make a point to introduce themselves, reminiscing about their own college experiences and inquiring about the students’ goals in the industry.
In seeing four individuals from “Newhouse Sports” on the credential list, Tim Schlittner (‘03) made contact, and plans were hatched to meet for lunch. As the NFL’s Director of Communications, Schlittner had ample insights to share with the group about a career in sports. He happily agreed to stay in touch and will undoubtedly be a valuable resource for career guidance and professional connections going forward.
A Memorable Feature
About halfway through round one, Paul McCoy spotted a delegation from his hometown Washington Commanders sitting a table away. He quickly recognized team legends Santana Moss and Brian Mitchell, now serving the team in a media capacity.
McCoy was already creating a package on the Commanders draft, including interviews with fellow fans and sound bites from newly-drafted Quarterback Jayden Daniels’ press conference. Why not interview Moss and Mitchell for the feature?
As round three dragged deep into Friday night, McCoy approached the Commanders media team and received approval. Washington held the last pick of night two, and once the pick was made Moss, followed by Mitchell, strolled over to the Syracuse table.
After speaking with each for five or so minutes, McCoy grabbed a quick picture with the franchise greats, and thanked them for their time. It is a memory he’ll always cherish, no matter where his career path takes him.
“Despite it being close to midnight, both Santana [Moss] and Brian [Mitchell] were both super willing to do interviews and provided lengthy, thoughtful responses. For two legendary players to do that for a random student at that time of night, after such a long day, spoke volumes to me,” McCoy said of the experience.
Merely two weeks out from graduation, the weekend in Detroit allowed each of the graduate students to conclude their Newhouse careers on a high note. A special thank you goes out to Olivia Stomski, Director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center for making the experience possible.
Lovro Kos Wins Gold Despite Lake Placid’s Unpredictable Weather
In the heart of Lake Placid, the ski jumping Olympics unfolded; an event impacted by unpredictable weather. The athletes found themselves at the mercy of unseasonably warm breezes and winds that hinted at slow-coming spring. For two out of the event’s three days, the wind transformed the competition into a battle not just of skill, but of adaptation.
Among the competitors, Killian Piere of Switzerland said he’s seen bigger hills but the weather might be the biggest concern “The conditions are a bit tricky so you need to be lucky, but you also need a strong jump to go far,” said Piere.
Lovro Kos emerged not merely as a participant, but as a master of the skies. His journey to winning two medals was a testament to the unbeatable spirit of an athlete who knows that winning is about dealing with surprises. The weather, though adverse, made the athletes’ competition more challenging. It was a scenario where a good jump was not solely a matter of technique and power, but also of the ability to persevere through the wind. Kos, speaking after his victory, reflected on the obstacles posed by the weather conditions.
“It was tough, but if you do good jumps then even the wind can’t tear you down,” Kos said.
Kos won the first place gold in the individual competition and the second place silver in the final matchup. Leaving Lake Placid with a victory was a moment of pride for Kos. The hill, with its breathtaking beauty, was more than just a venue; it was a testament to the enduring skill of ski jumping. For Kos, the victory was not just about the medal, but about the affirmation that his season-long dedication to training paid off.
“It’s really something else to win on such a beautiful hill in Lake Placid,” Kos said, “It’s really nice to see that the stuff we’ve been doing all season is working.”
In the end, the ski jumping Olympics showcased the battle between athletes and the weather, proving that with determination and skill, people can overcome nature’s challenges and achieve great things.
Lovro Kos, taking home his gold and silver medals became not just a champion, but a symbol of perseverance.
Savannah Bananas “Magical” Night in Syracuse
Syracuse, N.Y.– The Savannah Bananas made an appearance in Syracuse Thursday night on their 2023 Banana Ball World Tour in front of a sold-out crowd. Even though the Bananas lost to the Party Animals 4-3, the atmosphere inside the stadium of over 10,000 fans was a once-and-a-lifetime experience.
The Savannah Bananas are not your typical baseball team and have taken the social media world by storm. 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. For Cole, it still doesn’t feel real the amount of growth the Bananas have had from their humble beginnings to going on an 87-game, 33-city tour across the country.
“Ya know it’s just wild. To see our waitlist grow to over a million for tickets to see our show is something that my wife and I never could’ve thought of seven years ago when we were sleeping on an air mattress about to sell our house. I’m just proud, and I think these players are proud to be a part of it too,” Cole said.
Thousands of fans flooded NBT Bank Stadium for a chance to get the best seats in the house close to the action when the gates opened. Catcher Bill Leroy has played on the Bananas since his college days at the University of North Georgia, yet it never gets old witnessing the joy the fans have each game.
“Man, it’s been crazy. I never would’ve thought that the Bananas would be this massive sensation traveling across the country after being a small-town college summer league just six years ago. I’m blessed to be part of something that breaks down the barriers with fan interaction to create one big Banana family,” Leroy said.
Third baseman Jackson Olson is a TikTok sensation with over 1.5 million followers and is playing his first full season with the Bananas. After playing five seasons in college, Olson wanted to keep the dream alive playing the game that he loves, but didn’t expect this level of support as a fan favorite.
“There are literally no words that can even explain it. It’s been a magical experience and now that we only have two games left it’s sad, but we’ve been playing all year. Every city that we’ve gone to the fans have brought the energy, and it’s just so much fun,” Olson said.
Once fans got to their seats, they rarely even sat down in them. Cole preaches keeping the viewers engaged throughout the entire game and emphasizes that they do different routines in each city they visit. For the Syracuse crowd, they saw Dakota “Stilts” Albritton go up to bat, new choreographed in-game dance routines by both teams and two fans caught foul balls in the crowd that were registered as outs.
The Bananas took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning, but the Party Animals stormed back to take the lead in the eighth inning. Due to Banana Ball rules, whichever team scores more runs in each inning scores a point. There is also a two-hour time limit for games and when that timer expires, regardless of what inning it’s in.
In that final inning of play, all runs count as a point, which is how the Party Animals took the lead in the top of the eighth inning after scoring two runs. This new brand of baseball has been popular with fans because of its quick nature and corks that differ from traditional baseball. Cole believes that Banana Ball has the potential to be the future of the sport.
“We are trying to build the game of Banana Ball, and we believe in it. You see fans catching foul balls, games happening in less than two hours, and over 500 trick plays happening over this tour. We are going to build it to more than just two teams and build something that’s hopefully all over the world with the game we love,” Cole said.
The season series between the Bananas and Party Animals is tied up at 43 wins apiece. It all comes down to the final game of the tour on Saturday at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. To stay up-to-date with all Savannah Banana content, make sure to follow them on all your favorite social media platforms.
“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.”
First Ever ACC Student Media Seminar Was Success
In its inaugural year, the ACC Student Media Seminar was a hit. College journalists representing schools from all over the conference country were in attendance, eager to network and learn from professionals in the field.
“You’ve hit the lottery,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. The first four words of the event commanded the entire room. Winning the lottery feels like—well I am not sure what it feels like—but it must come close to this event.
When given the opportunity to network with some of the finest sports broadcasters and journalists in the country, Phillips is right, it is almost like winning a million dollars. At first, you do not know what to do with it. Buy a house, a car, vacation, a lifetime supply of skittles; but then you realize it is important to invest and think about the future. That is what Phillips meant when he said the word lottery. He wants students to invest in their future by networking and learning from successful, industry professionals.
Phillips jumped right to important lessons he has learned during his career. His main points: do not wait for the perfect job, work hard, constantly network, make sure you look the part and let everyone know that what he does is not work because “if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life,” Phillips said.
ESPN and ACC’s Kelsey Riggs headlined the first panel of speakers that spoke to roughly 40 students. The longtime host and sideline reporter was joined by the Voice of the Syracuse Orange, Matt Park, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at UNC, Steve Kirschner and Andy Fledderjohann, the Assistant Commissioner of Communications for the ACC.
These four, mediated by Virginia Tech broadcaster and former Syracuse grad Bill Roth (’87), told stories that captivated everyone the entire room. Kirschner’s most important point of view concerned us…the students. He talked about wanting to fight for that spot on the floor in the Final Four because many times, Kirschner says the NCAA will give a credential to a local newspaper when they ask for a second set on the floor and the students will be forced to sit “up in the rafters.” Much of this has to do with an important point of view he has about college media outlets.
“I do not particularly like the term ‘student journalist,’” Kirschner said. “I do not like to identify them when in a press conference or press box or press room, whatever it may be, who is a student journalist and who is not. I think you are either a competent journalist who should be in the room or you are not.”
This is a strong message of support to the students who work just as hard as the professional ones. Kirschner wants to curb the belittling of college media outlets and has made it very apparent that the journalism produced by much of the student landscape is just as good as the rest.
Kelsey Riggs is an advocate for doing what you love. For her, that means seeing people and working on gamedays with the people you connect with.
“It is really about the people,” Riggs said. “I love the moments and the big stories and the highlights and getting to share that, but I think it is the connections that I have with my co-workers. The connections that you make with the coaches, with the teams and the athletes over all the years really stand out and are special. To Steve’s point, if you have done things the right way you have worked hard and you have made good connections, then that goes a long way.”
Riggs, and the others on the first panel, encouraged the students not to wait to make those connections, but to start with the people in the room.
Plenty of the panelists talked about preparation and not just for the height, weight, and hometown, but for the obscure stats, compelling stories and unexpected—but expected—situations that may arise.
Highlighted by Red Sox radio and ESPN broadcaster, Dave O’Brien, the second panel was just as compelling as the first. ACC/ESPN broadcaster, Jordan Cornette, sat between the longtime play-by-player and ESPN Producer and the Director of Newhouse Sports Media Center, Olivia Stomski with Richmond Times Dispatch writer, David Teel, who has just reached his 40th year covering the ACC Tournament.
One of the biggest topics on in the second half was diversity in media. Olivia, a woman, and Jordan, a black male, have worked tirelessly to become as successful as they are today. But it did not come without obstacles. The two spoke of some of the best ways to overcome struggles and become successful as minorities in the industry. Diversity matters and diversity comes in more than just color but in gender.
“I love that it was a few young women that stood up and spoke first,” Cornette said. “Understanding that you do not wait in line in this thing, and you are representing a seat at the table just like the white man, the black man, the black woman next to you. Everybody is equal in this business, and we are all speaking and representing.”
“People telling you no should not be the worst thing in the world,” Stomski said. “Some of us use those no’s as motivation to work harder and some of us getting a no think ‘I am not cut out for this.’ It is how we all or going to use that no.”
Olivia said the best way to make sure you do not get a ‘no’ is to learn everything possible. This way it makes it difficult for your boss or producer to say no. Be as versatile and knowledgeable as possible.
While listening to Dave O’Brien talk about his years of stories in the world of media, David Teel may have been the most emotion-sparking speaker in the entire seminar. While all of us can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our jobs, it is important to stop and take a moment to appreciate what you love to do. He wants people to make sure to always put passion into your work.
“We have all, I think, hit on a theme here of how fortunate we are to be in this business because it is what we always wanted to do,” Teel said. “I am like Jordan, there are no calices (on my hands) here either, this is not manual labor this is a labor of love. That is going to show in your work because you love what you are doing, there is a passion there.”
With year number one in the books, myself and plenty of others who were at the ACC Student Media Seminar will hopefully look back and remember how special an event this was. It is pretty incredible to think about how two hours can change your life. The conference is making productive and positive strides to connect with the future of media and that is as genius as it comes. But it is not only for the benefit of the ACC. The students in attendance will have the ability to use the foundations created at the seminar and spin their webs larger and larger throughout their careers.
Super Bowl Week Rolls On!
Super Bowl and World Series Run Puts Philadelphia in Elite Company
Super Bowl LVII will be played in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, but the two cities with the most skin in the game are Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Philadelphia has had quite the last few months. The Phillies made the World Series, and in the same season, the Eagles find themselves playing in the big game.
How many times has this happened before? Newhouse Sports Media Center reporter Cameron Ezeir found out every other year the feat was achieved.
In Super Bowl V in 1971, the Baltimore Colts were victorious the same year the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series. Fourteen years later in 1984, the Baltimore Colts became the Indianapolis Colts.
Super Bowl XIV in 1980 saw the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys. Completing the double championship for the Steel City, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the 1979 World Series. For the Steelers, Super Bowl XIV was its fourth championship in the last six years, and for the NFL, it was only the second ever Super Bowl to eclipse more than 100,000 fans in attendance.
Just one year later, the Eagles and Phillies made their respective championship games. In Super Bowl XV, the Eagles lost to the Oakland Raiders, but the Phillies did win the World Series.
Fast forward to 1986 and “New York, New York” chants ensued as the New York Giants and Mets both made their title games. The Giants beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI and the Mets beat the Boston Red Sox in the World Series to cap off an impressive New York stretch.
Skip ahead fourteen years and the Super Bowl found its way to Florida. In Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, the Giants were downed by the Baltimore Ravens in Tampa. On the diamond, a memorable Subway Series World Series between the crosstown Yankees and Mets took place, with the Yankees winning it all in 2000.
Perhaps feeling left out seeing other Northeast cities achieve the feat, Massachusetts decided to join the party with help from Tom Brady and David Ortiz. Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 resulted in a three point win for the New England Patriots, and the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. The championships were Brady’s third and Big Papi’s first.
Two more city success stories happened in the 2010s. 2012 was the Golden Gate year, where the San Francisco 49ers lost the Harbaugh bowl to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVIII, but the San Francisco Giants conquered the baseball mountaintop, sweeping the Detroit Tigers.
In 2018, another New England Boston championship tandem had America debating where in the country “Titletown” really is. The Patriots capped off a championship season defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in early 2019, and the 2018 World Series saw the Red Sox defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers. A two for one special with the City of Angels losing twice.
That leaves us with Super Bowl LVII this year. The Phillies already lost the 2022 World Series to the Houston Astros, but the Eagles will see if they can achieve some redemption when they take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Frank Clark’s Journey to Becoming an Elite Pass Rusher
Kansas City Chiefs star defensive end Frank Clark is one of the best pass rushers in the National Football League, but many people don’t know he started his career in a two-point stance.
Clark started off playing safety in high school, and then his coach, Ted Ginn Sr., told him to put his hand in the dirt and start playing defensive end.
After high school, Clark went to the University of Michigan, added 60 pounds while not losing any of his speed and proceeded to dominate college football.
“I grew up like an Ed Reed fan, Sean Taylor, you know what I mean,” Clark said. “In my mind, I’m not playing no d-line. I wasn’t big enough either. I was only like 200 pounds coming out of high school, so I ain’t have like true d-line dreams, you know what I’m saying.”
Clark said plenty of mentors helped mold him into the player he is today.
“Trusting my training; man I had some great trainers,” Clark said. “Coach Aaron Wellman at the time at the University of Michigan. He was a hell of a trainer.”
“I just stuck with his program,” Clark said. “I had to trust him. I was playing Big Ten Football. At the end of the day, when you’re playing Big Ten Football, you can’t play Big Ten Football at 225 as a defensive end. You have to play Big Ten Football with a little bit of weight in your behind.”
After a long run of dominance and terror in the Big Ten, Clark was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent a couple of years in Seattle, but things didn’t necessarily work out, so he was traded to Kansas City and Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Clark was an immediate impact for the organization.
“Frank is one of those competitive guys even in practice,” Spagnuolo said. “He’ll challenge guys. I think he made our offensive line better because he would practice and challenge people. He continues to do that.”
Spagnuolo said he had heard Clark wanted to play in the defensive backfield.
“He tells me that all the time,” Spagnuolo said. “He wants to go back there and play safety now, probably.”
Clark is no stranger to the big games and the big moments. In Super Bowl LIV in Miami in 2020, “The Shark” had the game-clinching sack against the San Francisco 49ers to seal the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the Chiefs.
Now, Clark has another chance to do the same thing three years later at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix. He’s already got two and a half sacks this postseason, so there’s a good chance he could make another impact in the big game this weekend.
Super Bowl Opening Night Returns with a Bang
Super Bowl Opening Night offers an incredible opportunity for fans and media members to see the players and coaches of both participating teams under one roof.
For Super Bowl LVII, Super Bowl Opening Night presented by Fast Twitch was held at the Footprint Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury.
Our entire Newhouse Sports Media Center Super Bowl team attended the event, and Newhouse Sports Media Center reporter Johnny Gadamowitz had three memorable interviews with three Philadelphia Eagles Players.
Gadamowitz spoke with defensive tackle Linval Joseph about his bench press numbers, tight end Dallas Goedert about the meaning behind his name, and punter Brett Kern about his go to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que order.
To check out some of the sights and sounds from the night, watch the video at the top of the page.
Newhouse Sports Media Center Conducts Exclusive Interview with Kevin Burkhardt
FOX Sports lead NFL voice Kevin Burkhardt is calling his first ever Super Bowl this weekend between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the conclusion of the FOX Sports Media Day, Burkhardt took a few minutes to speak with Newhouse Sports Media Center reporter Johnny Gadamowitz.
Burkhardt said the moment he found out he was going to be on the call for a Super Bowl was nothing short of magic.
“It was wow, really me, that type of emotion,” Burkhardt said. “It was as you’d imagine, joy. I was a bit taken aback. We all get into this industry hoping to get lucky and be a part of some of the biggest events, and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a lot of great events.”
“So when that call comes, it’s so hard to comprehend how special it is,” Burkhardt said. “I’m starting to comprehend it now because you’re here this week and all the fanfare that goes around this game is pretty cool. So I’m just trying to sleep. I’m so excited.”
In the past twenty years, only three individuals have called the national telecast of the Super Bowl, those being Jim Nantz, Al Michaels and Joe Buck. Burkhardt said he realizes the magnitude of the opportunity.
“It’s a true honor to be on that list,” Burkhardt said. “There’s been eleven play-by-play guys who have called the Super Bowl. It’s something that not many people in the world have had an opportunity to do, so I don’t take that lightly.”
“I can’t wait; I’m gonna to try to sleep Saturday night, but I’m just gonna enjoy it and really just have fun with it,” Burkhardt said. “It’s the only way I know how to do it.”
Reflecting back on his SNY days, Burkhardt said he learned a ton about himself as a field reporter for the New York Mets.
“First of all, I love all those guys,” Burkhardt said. “They were all helpful in mentoring me as a relatively new TV guy at the time.”
Burkhardt said he also learned he doesn’t have to be flawless on every call.
“I think it’s just live TV,” Burkhardt said. “It’s on your feet. I think sometimes people expect it to be perfect. You’re coming out of school; you’re looking for your first job; you’re gonna make mistakes. And everyone is gonna make mistakes.”
“The reality is you just don’t compound [mistakes],” Burkhardt said. “You move forward, you learn from those mistakes, and when you’re on the air for three hours straight, I guarantee you something is gonna slip out that I didn’t love or maybe I say something that wasn’t totally correct. You can’t let it eat you.”
Burkhardt said his SNY days ultimately prepared him for the unpredictability of the job.
“With those guys, what I learned is first of all, anything goes, because literally anything goes,” Burkhardt said. “And then it’s just being on your feet and being able to adapt. Being flexible on the air I think is so big. Just be you. Be loose. Have fun. Just pretend that camera is not even there. If you can do that, I think it’s a big part of what I took away from those guys.”
To see the full interview between Burkhardt and Gadamowitz, watch the video at the top of the page.
Super Bowl LVII Week
The Newhouse Sports Media Center student crew is in Arizona, the site of Super Bowl LVII, to cover all of the action around the game. All of the content can be on our YouTube Channel or Twitter and Instagram Find some great work here as well:
NFL Combine Drills Among Many Attractions at Super Bowl LVII Experience
Super Bowl week brings NFL fans from around the country into one city to celebrate America’s largest sporting spectacle.
This February, fans of all 32 teams have flocked to Phoenix, Arizona to catch a glimpse of the players, the pageantry and the media frenzy.
In an effort to create lifelong memories for fans, the NFL typically puts on a Super Bowl Experience.
This year, one of the two Super Bowl LVII Experiences Presented by Lowes’ is located at the Phoenix Convention Center. Boasting an enormous number of exhibits, interactive games and photo opportunities, the Super Bowl Experience allows fans to dream big and put themselves in the shoes of NFL players.
Some of the interactive games that caught the attention of our Newhouse Sports Media Center reporters were the drills aspiring NFL players participate in at the NFL Combine.
Turning everything into a competition, Newhouse Sports Media Center reporters John Eads and Nick Zelaya challenged each other to a bench press, vertical jump and 40-yard dash contest to see how they measured compared to the NFL’s all-time combine greats.
The NFL Combine bench press record was set by East Kentucky Defensive Tackle Justin Ernest, who put up a jaw-dropping 51 reps at the 1999 NFL Combine.
Showcasing insane hops, North Carolina Safety Gerald Sensabaugh set the combine vertical jump record by leaping 46 inches in 2005.
And just a few years ago at the 2017 NFL Combine, John Ross put the league on notice with a 4.22 40-yard dash, the quickest in combine history.
To see if Eads or Zelaya recorded any measurables close to these combine records, watch the video at the top of the page.
Super Bowl LVII Presents Unique Coaching Matchup
In many ways, the story of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles began all the way back in 2013.
That year, the Eagles let go of their coach, Andy Reid, after a 4-12 season. From there, the Chiefs scooped Reid up, and that meant Reid wanted to start his staff from the ground up, which included getting rid of the then 31-year-old wide receivers coach, Nick Sirianni.
Fast forward ten years later, and the two now meet for all the marbles in the Super Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona.
Although it was never quite a master and apprentice relationship, since their time at Arrowhead never overlapped, Sirianni said he is fully ready to make a name for himself just like Reid has already done.
“I just feel like Sirianni on offense has done a really good job of putting his players in a position to succeed,” NBC Sports Analyst Matthew Berry said. “Using them to their best skill set. He’s like, we’ve got a great offensive line, we’ve got multiple running backs, so let’s figure out ways to run creatively.”
ESPN Play-by-Play Commentator Mike Couzens said both coaches are beamingly confident.
“[They’re] guys who are sure of who they are as coaches and they’re not trying to put on a front or be this or be that,” Couzens said.
Super Bowl LVII now presents an opportunity for Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to do something Reid never did, which is bring a championship home to the City of Brotherly Love.
The only thing standing in his way is the man trying to become just the fourteenth coach ever to win multiple Super Bowls, Andy Reid.
Does Phoenix Know the History of the Super Bowl in Arizona?
SuperBowl LVII marks the fourth time the big game will be played in Arizona.The Grand Canyon State hosted its first Super Bowl way back in 1996. In Super Bowl XXX, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.
In 2006, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the current home of the Arizona Cardinals, opened, and it did not take long for the venue to host its first Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLII in 2008 saw the New York Giants hand the New England Patriots their first and only loss of the season, thanks in part to an unforgettable catch from former Syracuse Football wide receiver David Tyree.
And in another memorable game, Super Bowl XLIX, Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line to secure some New England Patriots redemption in Arizona’s third Super Bowl.
Newhouse Sports Media Center reporter John Eads hit the streets of Downtown Phoenix to find out how well the capital city city knows the history of the Super Bowl in Arizona.
To see how the participants of our quiz fared, watch the video at the top of the page.
Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee Welcomes Football to the Desert
Both teams landed in the desert on Sunday afternoon, and the fun has already started. The Super Bowl Experience, thousands of media members at the Phoenix Convention Center and plenty of attractions across the city are in place to make this Arizona’s most memorable Super Bowl yet.
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee said they are really excited with the work they have put in to make this their best game so far.
“There’s been a lot of investment in our hospitality community, in our infrastructure, our public infrastructure, our roads, the airports, everything along those lines,” Arizona Cardinals Owner and President Michael Bidwill said. “In State Farm Stadium, over $200 million. We’ve been getting ready for this day and this week for a long, long time. So I couldn’t get more excited.”
“The game gets bigger and bigger each year,” Bidwill said. “It’s gonna be a lot bigger than it was in 2015. And so we’ve got a lot of new partners involved and it couldn’t be more exciting.”
Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee Executive Board Chair Larry Fitzgerald said going from playing in a Super Bowl to organizing a Super Bowl has changed his perspective.
“I remember vividly back to my time on the plane,” Fitzgerald said. “The bus is there. Takes you to the hotel. Your hotel room keys are available. You come down and eat. The food is prepared.”
“But now being in this position over the last year has been transformational for me because I got a chance to see how the sausage is made, how everyone is able to enjoy such an unbelievable game and the work that goes on behind the scenes.”