“It's almost time to hit the panic button in Tampa Bay,” says Wyatt Whalen ’27, sharing his broadcast story lead with his 23 classmates.
The Bryant undergrad goes on to explain that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ general manager signed Baker Mayfield to a $165 million deal — only for the quarterback to come out of the NFL season’s first two weeks with one touchdown and a home loss to the Cleveland Browns. On top of that, the organization shook up its coaching staff, but kept its head coach who, as Whalen sees it, has done nothing to prove that he deserves the spot. That’s why, Whalen emphasizes, it’s time to start asking the hard questions in Tampa Bay.
“Excellent,” says Professional in Residence Christian Fauria, once Whalen finishes.
Fauria is teaching Bryant’s “Sports Broadcasting and Analysis” course, which provides undergrads with the practical skills and industry knowledge needed to succeed within the sports media field. During the first few weeks, students are learning to organize their thoughts by creating, explaining, and defending their opinions.
In this particular moment, Fauria reminds undergrads that a broadcaster’s lead must be their most impactful opinion.
“It has to be something that is going to generate some sort of conversation or debate,” he says.
A dynamic and evolving industry
To gain an understanding of the sports broadcasting industry, undergrads study the evolution of sports, the genesis of sports broadcasting in America, and key drivers behind why people enjoy watching athletic competitions. Fauria notes that wrestling, roller derby, and boxing were among the most popular sports during broadcasting’s early years. As television and sports broadcasting evolved, however, football emerged as a dominant force in the nation’s viewing habits.
Today, with more opportunities than ever to watch sports, Fauria notes that Gen Z is leading companies’ programming development. For students preparing to enter this field, having a grasp on what audience members are gravitating toward is just as important as mastering what they say on air.
“Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with internet and social media as a central part of their life and, when it comes to how they are consuming content, social interaction and live TV are where this age group is watching,” he says.
While undergrads develop commentary techniques and refine their on-air presence over the course of the semester, they also learn from industry professionals. For instance, in September, CBS College Football Analyst Charles Davis joined the class virtually and shared insight on building a successful career in sports media, the future of the industry, and the importance of adapting and improvising.
As the course progresses, Fauria introduces students to media framing, the art of the interview, and controversy and conflict in sports.
Sports broadcasters in training
After the last few students have wrapped up their leads, Fauria discusses the difference between recap and analysis before assigning the homework for the week. Tonight, they’ll need to watch the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams match up and, from there, pick a point of view for their lead and analyze how and why their chosen team won or lost.
“We’re going to have to start conditioning you to get used to speaking longer,” he says, noting that undergrads’ recorded leads should land between 1:15 and 1:40 minutes long.
Consistent practice, Fauria emphasizes, will help students sharpen their structure and delivery. Once they master those fundamentals, they can begin adding their own flair.
Imparting a few more pieces of advice, Fauria shares that confidence is one of the most important aspects for undergrads to develop, and they need to be okay knowing that people will judge their opinion. Worrying too much about what an audience thinks can cause broadcasters to second-guess themselves and hold back from what would likely be their best work.
“We’re going to close that gap,” Fauria says, matter-of-factly.