SL Exclusive: The Jarrod Jones Story
By Rick Johnston & Emma Smith | Ball State Sports Link
MUNCIE, Ind. – As the Ball State men’s basketball team enters its final regular season game tonight (March 4) at Western Michigan, there is much uncertainty as to how the season and the team’s positioning for the postseason conference tournament will end.
The uncertainty on the court however, pales in comparison to the doubt which surrounded Jarrod Jones just three years ago.
Entering his senior season at Michigan City High School, the 6-foot-9 forward was heavily recruited by many Big Ten and Atlantic 10 schools.
His future seemed primed to quickly become a major player on the college basketball landscape. Indiana, Purdue, Dayton and Xavier were all schools interested in Jones.
However, during an unofficial visit to Notre Dame and before a national amateur showcase, Jones broke his left leg going for a rebound in a pick-up game. The future changed in a split second.
“I knew the showcase was a big opportunity to play in front of all the coaches in the country,” Jones says. “I was concerned about how my recruitment would go from there.”
Following the injury, some schools backed off on recruiting the all-state candidate, but Ball State head coach Billy Taylor and associate head coach Bob Simmons were just starting to rebuild the Cardinals’ program in Muncie. The duo knew Jones could be the impact player they needed.
“The first day of the recruiting period that year, I told Jarrod I wanted to come and visit,” says BSU associate head coach Bob Simmons. “I remember jumping up and down in the hallway when Jarrod said he was coming to Ball State.”
“The opportunity here at Ball State might not have been there at some of the other schools,” Jones adds. “Ball State was there and interested from day one.”
Jones, the 2008-09 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, is leading this year’s team in scoring (12.4) and rebounding (7.6). The two-time MAC Player of the Week also owns a team-leading seven double-doubles.
Ball State will secure its postseason-seeding fate with a March 4 contest at Western Michigan. The Cardinals could finish the season as the two, four, five, six, seven or eight seed in the 2010 MAC Tournament which begins Sunday.
About Ball State Sports Link:
Ball State Sports Link is an immersive learning experience. The program allows students to write, shoot, produce and host a variety of sports programs.
The program is the first in the nation where students are totally immersed in sports and electronic media. For more information about Sports Link, visit www.bsusportslink.com or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballstatesportslink.
Sports Link Attends ESPN Films Premiere
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The students of Ball State Sports Link continued their immersive learning experience Feb. 26 by attending the world premiere of “Winning Time: Reggie Miller and The New York Knicks” at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
All 16 students -- who have already produced seven sports programs of their own this semester -- observed the “red carpet” arrivals before watching the film from a private suite inside Conseco. The film makes its national debut on ESPN at 9 p.m. March 14.
An unprecedented documentary series featuring 30 films from some of today’s finest storytellers. Each filmmaker will bring their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.
The movie, by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores, features the dramatic seven-game 1995 playoff series between Reggie's Pacers and the Knicks. The series was front page news in the NYC tabloids, a war of words between the glib Miller and Knick fanatic Spike Lee, included appearances on Letterman, pronouncements by Giuliani, fistfights between teammates, near riots by Indiana fans, chokes, overtimes, finger rolls and bitterness not only between Hall of Fame coaches, Pat Riley and Larry Brown, but between the two most precious basketball cultures in America - Indiana and New York.
Klores’ “Crazy Love” captured the 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary. A few months later he completed “Black Magic,” a four-hour, two-part epic which aired commercial-free on ESPN to high ratings and tremendous critical success. The film went on to win the Peabody Award and the 2008 Diversity Award for Best Documentary Feature Non-Theatrical Release.
See the ESPN 30 for 30 site.
ESPN's John Anderson Visits With SL
MUNCIE, Ind. – The connection between Ball State Sports Link and the ESPN family of networks continued to be strengthened Tuesday afternoon as ESPN’s John Anderson visited with students in Ball State Sports Link. The award-winning personality talked with students for nearly 70-minutes via a conference call from Bristol.
“The fact that you are in this program (Sports Link) and getting this experience puts you ahead of a lot of the other people also trying to get jobs,” Anderson said.
Anderson joined ESPN in June 1999 and now anchors SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship sports news program. He works the 11 p.m. one-hour edition. SportsCenter earned Emmy Awards in 2004 and 2005 in the daily studio show category.
Among many topics Anderson covered during the call, he stressed the importance of writing to the profession.
“The more and better I write, the less I have to talk,” Anderson said. “Writing distinguishes you from others. Learn to write well, because the more you do, the more you find your voice. Just because you don’t see the words on paper or on a screen, they are just as important.”
Anderson came to ESPN from KPHO-TV in Phoenix, Ariz. where he was a weekend sports anchor from 1996 to 1999. Prior to KPHO, Anderson was a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor at KOTV in Tulsa, Okla. (1990 to 1996). He was also a sports photographer and reporter at Tulsa’s KTUL-TV from 1988 to 1990.
Anderson graduated from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in 1987. He was a four-year member of the men’s track team, competing in high jump, and captained the squad his senior season. Upon graduation, he began his broadcasting career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.
Anderson, a native of Green Bay, Wis., won the Outstanding Sports Feature Reporting Award, presented by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, in 1994 and 1995; in 1997, he received the Associated Press Television Award in Arizona for outstanding performance in broadcast journalism. In 2003, he co-wrote a book with golfer Chi Chi Rodriquez, Chi Chi’s Golf Games You Gotta Play, which teaches players how to play better golf and have fun while playing.
Anderson joins ESPN colleagues Linda Cohn, Andy Katz, Major Howe and Jay Walker as contributors to Ball State Sports Link in 2009-10.
Live Men's Basketball; Hall of Fame Ceremony By SL
MUNCIE, Ind. – After having already produced two television shows in the first three weeks of the semester, Ball State Sports Link’s coverage increases with two productions this week.
The students of Sports Link will provide exclusive television coverage of Thursday’s Ball State men’s basketball game with Bowling Green. The Cardinals, winners of three straight games and five of their last six, host the Falcons in a pivotal Mid-American Conference contest at 7 p.m.
Seniors Rick Johnston and Eric Peat will have the call, while junior Matt Houston is the game producer.
Following Thursday’s live remote, Ball State Sports Link will produce a special Athletics Hall of Fame show Friday from the BSU Alumni Center. The Hall of Fame special will feature an interview with President Jo Ann M. Gora, along with the five inductees and their acceptance speeches from the evening’s ceremony.
The 2009-10 induction class is Larry Bigbie (Baseball 1996-99), Jamie Broce (Men's Golf 1994-98), LaTasha Jenkins (Women's Track and Field 1995-99), Sally Northcroft (Field Hockey 1996-2000) and Mindy Stanley (Women's Volleyball 1993-97).
Senior Peter Carr will host and produce the show, while juniors Matt Houston and Alex Kartman will serve as assistant producers.
Both student productions will be available online at www.ballstatesports.com, aired on Cardinal Vision 57 and offered to Comcast Digital Video-On-Demand available throughout the state.
About Ball State Sports Link:
During the semester, students will produce a broad range of media from live remote productions, live-to-tape events, television programs for WIPB-TV and Cardinal Vision (campus), student-athlete features and web casts. Other facets of the immersion program include radio, newspapers, podcasts and the use of mobile technology and interactivity via the web.
To maintain a focus on cross-platform promotion, students repackage the feature stories they create for local use at Ball State and send them to local news stations and outlets in the hometown of the featured player—on any platform the station may require.
In addition, Ball State Sports Link welcomes First Merchants Bank as a corporate sponsor this semester. First Merchants is the presenting sponsor of Ball State Sports “Link-ed IN”, a twice weekly webcast on BSU Athletics.
CINTAS, WMDH Radio and Ball State Athletics also provide support to the students in Sports Link.
What is Ball State Sports Link? Let our students explain:
http://vimeo.com/8617607
Become a Fan on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ballstatesportslink
Visit our Official Site:
www.bsusportslink.com
Ball State Sports Link Expands For Spring Semester
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State Sports Link, an immersive learning experience under the direction of Chris Taylor, has expanded to 15 students for the Spring 2010 semester. The 15 students, who were each interviewed, were selected from an applicant pool of over 25 interested students in the immersion project.
The spring semester student staff includes Nathan Bush, Derick Brattain, Melissa Darby, Ryan Camden, Matt Houston, Rick Johnston, Alex Kartman, Greg Liebbe, Eric Peat, James Rider, Emma Smith, Mike Stevens, Steven Towle, Ben Wagner and Nick Yeoman.
The tentative spring production schedule has also expanded to feature 13 programs, in addition to the weekly webcasts, audio reports and student-athlete feature packages. The 2010 productions begin Jan. 14 with the first “Off the Bench: The Kelly Packard Show” which will air on WIPB-TV. The live remotes begin Feb. 4 with BSU men’s basketball vs. Bowling Green.
Last semester, the Sports Link students combined for over 5,000 hours of sports media production and over 9,500 video views on ballstatesports.com. The students produced 37 packages on student-athletes, produced 30 webcasts and five live remotes with the University’s remote production truck. Student-produced content was aired in four media markets in the state of Indiana (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Terre Haute) as well as on national platforms such as ESPN, ESPN U and FOX Sports.
For more information, visit BSU Sports Link or become a fan on Facebook by searching Ball State Sports Link.
November Program Report
Download the Nov. 11, 2009 Report PDF
BECOME A FAN, FOLLOW, FRIEND: Ball State Sports Link can be found on many popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and You Tube . . . www.bsusportlink.com, is the official web site and source for program information . . . The SL Facebook page has 638 fans (as of Nov. 10), while the official site is averaging 21 visitors per day, spending an average of five minutes on the site and attracting visitors from 15 states.
OVER 7,000 VIEWS: In a Nov. 10 report provided by Ball State Athletics, student-produced videos on The Official Web Site of Ball State Athletics (www.ballstatesports.com) have been viewed over 7,000 times . . . Among the leading video views are the “11 in 11” men’s basketball player profiles, women’s cross country profile of Ali Bishel, a softball fall preview and the women’s volleyball live broadcast.
INTERESTING NOTE ON THE VIEWS: In the seven months prior to Sports Link providing content to the athletics site (Jan. 1-July 31, 2009), the site registered just over 6,800 video views . . . In the three months Sports Link has providing video content, the video views have reached over 7,000.
BALL STATE SPORTS LINK-ED IN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS: Sports Link is producing a first-of-its-kind webcast directly to ballstatesports.com every Tuesday and Thursday . . . The webcasts feature up-to-date athletics news, highlights, interviews and scores twice a week . . . Each student in Sports Link serves as a producer and talent multiple times throughout the semester.
AND ON THE RADIO: In addition to the weekly webcasts, students in Ball State Sports Link are also producing a weekly audio report . . . The audio report airs Wednesdays during “The Morning Brew” on WMDH radio . . . WMDH is a 50,000-watt FM station, reaching 18 counties . . . The audio report also airs on WCRD 91.3 FM.
SPORTS LINK AND ESPN: The partnership between Ball State Sports Link and the ESPN family of networks continues to grow in 2009 . . . Four guests from ESPN -- Linda Cohn, Andy Katz, Jay Walker and Major Howe -- have all visited with students . . . In addition, seniors Mike Stevens (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral H.S.), Mark Elstro (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.), Derick Brattain (New Haven, Ind./New Haven H.S.) and Alex Kartman (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead H.S.) have all represented Sports Link and worked on ESPN productions.
ESPN U AND THE STUDENTS: Ball State Sports Link has produced six separate packages for ESPN U telecasts, including the network’s weekly show called Campus Connection . . . Student-produced content has aired on national game broadcasts on two occasions this semester.
TAKE NOTE - SPORTS LINK IS THE FIRST: Ball State Sports Link is the first program in the state of Indiana to develop an exclusive partnership to provide student-produced content to WXIN FOX 59 and IndySportsNation.com.
SPECIAL THANKS: Students in Ball State Sports Link continue to work side-by-side with BSSN producer and Teleplex professional Bill Bryant for all live productions . . . Bryant and his staff provide training on the remote truck and production
assistance at remotes.
MORE FIRSTS: In addition to Indianapolis, Ball State Sports Link is also providing student-produced content to media outlets in Fort Wayne, South Bend and Terre Haute . . . All stations are giving credit to students at Ball State . . . The student-produced sports content is available in the two largest Ball State Alumni concentrations in the state (Indianapolis and Fort Wayne).
ANDY KATZ ON THE PITINO SCANDAL & PRESIDENT OBAMA: ESPN’s Andy Katz visited with students in Sports Link Nov. 5 . . . Among the many topics discussed was how Katz, who is friends with Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, reported on the coach’s recent scandal . . . ESPN’s senior basketball writer discussed ethical issues with a story like this as well as credibility issues . . . Katz also shared with students his visit with President Obama at the White House during the 2009 NCAA Basketball Championship.
THE STEVE McNAIR TRAGEDY: Nashville’s FOX 17 Sports Director Paul Jones visited with students during the Oct. 27 class session . . . The major topic of discussion was “when sports become news” and how he and his station covered the Steve McNair tragedy last summer . . . Jones shared his experiences of how all departments were forced into reporting on this national story and how he went from a sports reporter to a crime scene investigator.
BASKETBALL FAN JAM: Ball State Sports Link provided live coverage of the 2009 Basketball Fan Jam from Worthen Arena Oct. 29 . . . The 30-minute program, hosted by seniors Nick Yeoman (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.) and Ryan Camden (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.), also aired on WIPB-TV . . . The show introduced the men’s and women’s players from each team and previewed the upcoming seasons.
MAJOR EXPOSURE ON INSIDE INDIANA BUSINESS: Ball State Sports Link was featured on the Oct. 4 edition of Inside Indiana Business . . . IIB has developed a network of the state’s leading television, radio and print mediums to deliver the business news . . . As a result, the program can be watched, heard and read in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois (including Chicagoland), Ohio and Kentucky.
MEDIA TRAINING SESSION: Ball State Sports Link assisted with the media training for nearly 150 BSU student athletes with Ball State Alum, New York Times best-selling author and Sports Illustrated writer Don Yaeger in August.
Live Events Announced For Fall '09
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Sports Link, an immersive learning production, has announced is Fall 2009 broadcast schedule, including two programs to air on WIPB-TV in Muncie.
In addition, Ball State Sports Link is the first university in Indiana to provide sports-related content to both of the state’s major media markets -- Indianapolis (IndySportsNation.com and WXIN Fox 59) and Fort Wayne (Indiana News Center, ABC 21 and NBC 33).
The student-produced live productions begin Oct. 23 with Ball State women’s volleyball vs. Bowling Green, while Ball State Sports Link will produce the first-ever men’s and women’s basketball preview show to air on WIPB-TV a week later.
The special basketball show will air Oct. 29 from “Fan Jam” at Worthen Arena and preview the 2009-10 basketball seasons with coaches Billy Taylor, Kelly Packard and student-athletes from each team.
Ball State Sports Link will also produce live coverage of Ball State women’s basketball vs. Western Kentucky (Nov. 16), a football special show live from Scheumann Stadium which will also air on WIPB-TV (Nov. 18) and BSU swimming and diving’s dual meet with Eastern Illinois (Dec. 4).
The student productions will also be offered through Comcast Digital Video On Demand and available throughout the state. All productions will also air on Cardinal Vision (campus) and streamed live to www.ballstatesports.com.
During the semester, students will produce a broad range of media from live remote productions, live-to-tape events, television programs for WIPB-TV and Cardinal Vision (campus), student-athlete features and web casts. Other facets of the immersion program include radio, newspapers, podcasts and the use of mobile technology and interactivity via the web.
To maintain a focus on cross-platform promotion, students repackage the feature stories they create for local use at Ball State and send them to local news stations and outlets in the hometown of the featured player—on any platform the station may require.
Sports Link was developed as a pilot program in 2008, broadcasting 11 live sports events for television using the university's live truck, producing eight television shows and 73 feature packages on Ball State student-athletes.
In addition to the live events and student-athlete packages, Ball State Sports Link is also is producing a first-of-its kind sportscast directly to the university’s official athletics web site – ballstatesports.com. Ball State Sports “Link-ed In” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays online and features complete game highlights, interviews and features on every team.
The Ball State Sports Link Audio Report is also produced weekly by students and provided to radio stations, including WMDH 102.5 FM as part of “The Morning Brew”. WMDH allows the student’s work to air on a 50,000-watt signal reaching 18 counties.
BSU Preparing Students To Work In Sports Media
By Marc Ransford | University Marketing & Communications
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Emerging media technologies have radically changed sports broadcasting and Chris Taylor wants to make Ball State Sports Link the premier destination for college students aspiring to work in the rapidly evolving sports broadcast industry.
The former director of athletic communications and marketing for Ball State has taken over the program designed to produce sports-related content for the university's multiple platforms such as radio, television, and the Internet as well as a variety of mobile communications formats. The school’s transition to digital athletics media guides and the related-video content is also included.
"There are universities broadcasting student-produced television news programs, but there aren't many that have developed sports media initiatives that focus on preparing students in an immersive learning atmosphere how to develop content for emerging media technologies," Taylor says. "We all know ESPN's Sports Center, but there are many other ways to provide information to fans, such as the podcast, vodcasts, interactive Web sites as well as cell phones and other hand-held devices."
To maintain a focus on cross-platform promotion, students repackage the feature stories they create for local use at Ball State and send them to local news stations and outlets in the hometown of the featured player—on any platform the station may require. In addition to announcing, reporting, producing and learning how to use various cameras, students also are immersed in live game broadcasts by operating the university's production truck.
Sports Link was developed as a pilot program in 2008, broadcasting 11 live sports events for television using the university's live truck, producing eight television shows and 73 feature packages on Ball State student-athletes.
In addition to the live events and student-athlete packages, Ball State Sports Link is also is producing a first-of-its kind sportscast directly to the university’s official athletics web site, www.ballstatesports.com. Ball State Sports “Link-ed In” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays online and features complete game highlights, interviews and features on every team.
The Ball State Sports Link Audio Report is also produced weekly by students and provided to radio stations, including WMDH 102.5 FM as part of “The Morning Brew”. WMDH allows the student’s work to air on a 50,000-watt signal reaching 18 counties.
Special guests to the class assisting students in the Fall semester 2009 include:
- Brenda Frese (Maryland Women’s Basketball Coach)
- Billy Taylor (Ball State Men’s Basketball Coach),
- Andy Katz (ESPN)
- Jason Whitlock (Kansas City Star, FOX Sports)
- Chris Denari (Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever)
- Vince Welch (ESPN, ABC)
- Jay Walker (ESPN, BET, NFL Network)
- Major Howe (ESPN Producer)
- Jeremiah Johnson (FOX 59 Indianapolis),
- Anthony Calhoun (WISH TV Indianapolis)
- Paul Jones (FOX 17 Nashville)
- Tim Frank (NBA Vice President of Basketball Communications)
- Nate Flannery (Web Stream Productions)
- Bill Bryant (Ball State Sports Network)
- Additional local, regional and national sports professionals are expected to be announced soon for Spring 2010
What They Are Saying:
"The main thing I like about it is that it’s a real experience because we find the stories and create shows from scratch. Sports Link also teaches us versatility. In today's media, news outlets want to do more with less, which means as an on-air talent I need to be able to shoot video, edit, and produce. Sports Link gives me an opportunity to do all of those things."
-- Brandon Clemens, BSU Student, Sports Link 2008
"With Sports Link, the students are in an elite category to prepare for a real-life job in this career if that's what they choose to do. This program that's been created is amazing."
– Brenda Frese, Maryland Women’s Basketball Coach
"The immersion aspect and giving people real experience is the only thing that matters.”
– Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star & FOX Sports
"Ball State Sports Link is becoming one of the premier programs in the nation. We see interns and new hires in the business all the time, and none are as prepared as those from Ball State. The sports media world is changing daily and Sports Link is giving students a tremendous opportunity and advantage."
– Jeremiah Johnson, FOX 59
“This is real experience on a commercial station and all of us at WMDH are thrilled with the product. Ball State Sports Link is not only providing a terrific educational experience for the students, but is also providing a large-listening audience with valuable programming. We get comments daily from our listeners who enjoy the BSU sports update on our station.”
-- Todd Merickel, WMDH Radio, General Manager
Learn More Online:
- Learn more about Sports Link through this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPhvi4bKxlY
- Read about students working for Sports Link:
http://cms.bsu.edu/Features/Global/ImmersiveLearning/Sportslink.aspx
- Go to Sports Link page on Facebook:
http://cms.bsu.edu/Features/Global/ImmersiveLearning/Sportslink.aspx
- Go to the organization's web site:
www.bsusportslink.com
SL Feature: Ali Bishel Returns To Cross Country
By Ryan Camden | Ball State Sports Link
MUNCIE, Ind. -- With one dominating performance to open the season, Ball State cross country runner Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) is back to make her mark on the Mid American Conference.
Bishel, a redshirt junior, was an All-MAC runner in 2007 before missing all of 2008 with an injury. She injured herself during track’s indoor season in 2007.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Bishel said prior to the team’s season-opening meet. “I think I am in better shape than the season in 2007.”
Bishel finished second at the 2007 MAC Championships and placed 53rd out of 253 competitors at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
At the first cross country meet of the 2009 season, Bishel controlled the race from the start. She finished first with a time of 17:30, nearly two minutes faster than the next runner.
After regional competition throughout September and October, Bishel and the Cardinals will look to capture its second MAC Championship in program history Oct. 31 in Athens, Ohio.
For more visit Ball State Athletics or Ball State Sports Link.
SL Adds Media Partner; Johnson Visits Campus
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State Alum and FOX 59 Sports Reporter Jeremiah Johnson visited with Sports Link students on campus Sept. 8. Ball State Sports Link also officially announced a partnership with Indysportsnation.com and FOX 59 to use student-produced content for their site and broadcasts.
The partnership -- the first among schools in the state with the Indianapolis station -- is yet another avenue to deliver BSU Sports news across many platforms.
"Ball State Sports Link is becoming one of the premier programs in the nation and I am proud to be an alum of this department," Johnson said. "We see interns and new hires in the business all the time, and none are as prepared as those from Ball State. The sports media world is changing daily and Sports Link is giving students a tremendous opportunity and advantage."
Sports Link Reports Debut; Partnership Continues
MUNCIE, Ind. - - For the second year in a row, Ball State Sports Link will work directly with Ball State Athletics in an immersive learning experience that will bring fans up-to-date video and audio features, as well as several live sports broadcasts, for the 2009-10 BSU Athletics season.
The project officially launches today with Ball State Sports "Link-ed In" which is a first of its kind weekly video sports report that will appear exclusively on ballstatesports.com. The report is slated to run every Tuesday and Thursday starting next week, and will feature highlights from the previous week, as well as interview and recaps of BSU athletic events.
Ball State Sports "Link-ed In" will also produce an audio report that will be played on WMDH Radio - a 50,000 watt reaching 18 counties. The major cities in the WMDH listening area include Muncie, Anderson, New Castle, Richmond, Portland, Marion and even Indianapolis.
As part of the Ball State Sports Link immersive learning experience, eight to 10 students from the College of Communication, Information and Media will be fully immersed in sports and electronic media. The program, which is the first of its kind in the nation, allows students to write, shoot, produce and host a variety of sports programs that will be featured on ballstatesports.com.
In addition to Ball State Sports "Link-ed In", students will produce a broad range of media from live remote productions, live-to-tape events, television programs for WIPB-TV and Cardinal Vision (campus), student-athlete features and web casts. Other facets of the immersion program include radio, newspapers, podcasts and the use of mobile technology and interactivity via the web.
Maryland's Brenda Frese Visits With Sports Link
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Brenda Frese, who is entering her eighth year as the women's basketball coach at the University of Maryland, was the first "friend" of Ball State Sports Link for the 2009-10 year.
Frese visited with Ball State Sports Link students by phone Thursday afternoon for over 30 minutes, sharing her experience and answering questions.
"With Sports Link, you are in an elite category to prepare yourself for a real-life job in this career if that's what you all choose to do," Frese said. "This program that's been created is amazing."
Reviving a once-prominent women's basketball program back to the national stage, her high work rate and positive attitude has resulted in seven-straight top-15 recruiting classes and a National Championship in 2006.
Frese has balanced that strong work ethic with a fun and family-friendly environment, also becoming a wife and a mother of twin boys, giving birth to them in the midst of one of the most successful seasons in the program's history. With the birth of her twins in February of 2008, she becomes one of only six coaches to win a national championship and be a parent.
Frese has guided Maryland to a National Championship in 2006, six winning seasons, five-straight 20-win seasons, three 30-win campaigns and six-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Listen to a recap of Frese's exclusive conversation with Sports Link students.
Sports Link Begins, Immediately Teams With ESPN U
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The 2009-10 season for Ball State Sports Link, an immersive learning production, officially kicked off its year Tues., Aug. 25 with its first staff meeting of the season.
A total of 10 students -- all from the College of Communication, Information and Media -- will be totally immersed in sports production this semester. The students, mostly TCOM majors, have achieved junior or senior class status.
Also announced Aug. 25, Sports Link students will be assisting with ESPN U coverage of Ball State Football's season opener vs. North Texas (Sept. 3). The game will be aired nationally at 7:30 p.m.
Students will be producing a BSU "Top 10" list for the national broadcast and select students will assist with the live production. The game's producer for ESPN U will also visit with the class.
Complete information will be added to this site soon.
