Spring Break
The Daily OrangeESPN broadcaster Tirico gives insight into sports journalism
By Jesse Caputo
Posted: 9/11/08, 11:48 PM EST Section: News
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Relaxed and smiling, Tirico listened to his introduction by his professor from 20 years ago for COM 107: "Communications and Society" - a course taken by all entering freshman and first-year transfer students in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He frequently interrupted professor Lawrence Mason with jokes for the audience.
When Mason said Tirico was the first student to ever receive the Bob Costas Scholarship, Tirico chimed in, "(Costas) is older than me and much shorter too."
Tirico, a broadcast journalism graduate of 1988, announces the play-by-play for Monday Night Football and hosts "The Mike Tirico Show" on ESPN Radio. He has called NBA games, anchored Sports Center and served as a commentator for major golf tournaments.
Before opening up the floor to questions in his hour-long discussion in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse III, Tirico spoke for 15 minutes about making it in the broadcast journalism industry and the importance of being a member of the Syracuse community.
"Those of you who go on to be successful, make a promise to come back here and do the same thing," he said. "That, more than the buildings or the wonderful professors, is what keeps the tradition of Newhouse alive."
Tirico went on to show that, while hundreds of students arrive at the steps of the Newhouse school each year with hopes of becoming the next Costas, Marv Albert, Steve Koppel or a dozen other well-known broadcasters, few reach such levels of success.
He expressed how fortunate he felt join ESPN while the network was in its ground phase in 1992. Tirico got the opportunity to audition for an anchor job in Bristol, Conn., and has never looked back.
"A door is going to open once or twice in your life," Tirico said. "No matter how the door opens, it's up to you to walk through it and get to the other side."
After he made his final remarks, Tirico opened the floor to questions. He set no limits. He let students ask about any topic they wanted.
They tapped into Tirico's knowledge and experience to learn how he approached his profession and what he did to put himself in his current position.
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