Athletics is a passion for more than just the student-athletes who perform on the field or court. Countless SAU graduates have made careers in sports media, and their impact is particularly notable close to home.
Matt Randazzo '01 and Steve Campbell '10 are part of the on-air sports team at WQAD-TV in Moline, Ill., while Steve Tappa '91 (at left in photo) and Chris Steele '09 cover sports for sister publications, The Daily Dispatch in Moline and Rock Island (Ill.) Argus.
On any given Friday night in the fall, the broadcasters and scribes are likely to encounter Bryan Bobb '90, Mike Ortiz '87 and Nick Bull '02 wielding cameras on the Quad Cities sidelines, Bobb for WHBF in Rock Island and Ortiz and Bull for KWQC in Davenport.
Another large group of St. Ambrose Communications Department graduates are involved in producing local sports telecasts for the MC22 cable television network, including Pete Ivanic '96, Tara Wellman '10, Sara Clifton '12 and Kyle Porter '13.
Until recently, the QC newspaper sports roster also included Tim Leibold '97 and Doug Green '07 (at right in photo) at the Quad-City Times, and Matt Veto '04 and Dan Tomlin '05, '10 MBA at the Dispatch-Argus.
Tappa said the large number of sports media graduates is owed to the numerous opportunities to broadcast, produce and/or write about athletics for SAUtv, KALA radio and the student newspaper, The Buzz.
"You don't have to wait to take a radio class to get on the radio," said Tappa. "You don't have to wait to take a TV class to get on television. Just put your hand up. Show up. They will put you to work."
News
Share This Story
