Students Bring Games to Life Through Sports Broadcasting
Photos by Abby Hunsinger
USCB Communication Studies student Ha’Kam Fickling-Rivers works as the color commentator, alongside Lowco Sports’ Justin Jarrett doing play-by-play, for the USCB vs. Flagler College women’s basketball game.
The cheers in the Bluffton Campus recreation center are thunderous as the USCB women’s basketball team drives down the court, but the Communication Studies students working the game never lose their intense focus.
In a dynamic initiative, students enrolled in USCB’s "Intro to Sports Broadcasting" course are applying their passion for communication to college athletics. Taught by Dr. Caroline Sawyer, this Communication Studies class turns the university's basketball games and other varsity sporting events into a real-world classroom. By producing game-day video packages for basketball, softball and baseball, the students gain hands-on experience that they can leverage to launch professional careers in media and related fields.
The students in this course, and other student workers on campus who dive into sports broadcasting, get a glimpse into the dynamic world of live event coverage. Students are responsible for filming and producing broadcasts of USCB’s NCAA Division II games, which are live-streamed on the Peach Belt Conference’s website. These live broadcasts provide a platform for fans, parents, and alumni who may be unable to attend the games in person.
The games later air on the Beaufort County Channel. The broadcasts enhance the university's outreach efforts, fostering a sense of community engagement and school spirit.
Tyrone Johnson, a junior Communication Studies major, stated, “My favorite part about production is learning new things and getting to work with other people who love sports. I’m a major sports fan and I’ve never been around so many other enthusiasts.”
Dr. Caroline Sawyer, associate professor of communication studies, oversees production as sophomore Communication Studies major Thayne Mina shoots the broadcast table during a USCB basketball game. Mina is enrolled in the university’s COMM B420 Sports Broadcasting class.
Using industry-standard equipment, the students learn camera operation, audio production, and video editing. From pre-game preparations to post-game analysis, they hone their on-air presentation skills, including commentary, play-by-play narration, and studio hosting.
“USCB’s move to Division II and the Peach Belt Conference has created a unique opportunity for our Communication Studies program to grow our wonderful partnership with USCB Athletics and the production of sports. It’s partnerships like these that create high-value experiential learning experiences,” said Dr. Sawyer. “Our students are doing a great job learning and working as a team to produce these games. They are super creative and motivated to deliver a quality broadcast to our USCB sports fans. It’s an exciting time to be at USCB!”
Sophomore Communication Studies major Reilly Chiasera runs camera 2, the high and tight shot, picking up the shooter and the official calls, while junior Communication Studies major Tyrone Johnson runs camera 1, the high and wide shot, shooting the main part of the game.
Students film on-court action, reactions from fans, interactions on the teams’ benches and more. During halftime, they conduct interviews with athletes, coaches, and sports personalities. They also learn to make graphics including scores, statistics, and even fun animations shown during commercial breaks. At each game, a student provides the music that gets the crowd involved, sustains interest during time outs and half time, and hypes up the team.
Senior Mason Williams said Dr. Sawyer’s sports broadcasting class has taught him how to adapt to the unpredictable nature of live sports.
“I’ve learned what goes on behind the scenes in the games you watch on TV and I have enjoyed it thoroughly,” he said. “I got to be part of a fast-paced sports environment and I learned how to work with a team.”
Sophomore Public Health major Olivia Ableman runs camera 4, shooting the action under the basket.
Sophomore Communication Studies major Thayne Mina runs camera 3, shooting the action under the basket.
