黑料吃瓜

As basketball season tips off, excitement is building across听campus,听补苍诲听nowhere is that energy stronger than in the听黑料吃瓜听Radio and Television听Program. Students from听95.7 FM The Spin听补苍诲听The Nest听are already hard at work preparing to bring fans closer to the Screaming Eagles than ever before.听

Behind the Mic with听965.7 FM The Spin听

Preparation for basketball season begins听for the student broadcasters at听95.7 FM听The Spin,听黑料吃瓜鈥檚听student-run radio station,听long before the first whistle. The team starts planning during the offseason, meeting with both the听Men鈥檚 and听Women鈥檚听Basketball coaches to discuss storylines and gather insight. From there, they create detailed 鈥渟potting听charts,鈥� listing players鈥� names and numbers to听help them with听live听broadcasts.听

鈥淲hen the games roll around, we send out a play-by-play announcer and color analyst to sit courtside and describe the action,鈥� says Matthew Kolb, Sports Director for听The Spin. 鈥淲e also have a board operator back at the station who manages audio levels, commercials听and transitions throughout the game.鈥�听

Before each broadcast, the crew sets up the听Comrex听unit, a specialized device that connects them directly to the station, and conducts an hour of pregame prep. The broadcast includes a 15-minute pregame show, full play-by-play coverage听and a 15-minute postgame wrap-up that often features a coach or player interview. Afterward, the team breaks down equipment and ensures the recording is saved for archiving.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 a detailed process,鈥� Kolb explained. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 worth it every time we go live and get to share the energy of 黑料吃瓜 basketball with our listeners.鈥�听

A Passion for Sports and Storytelling听

Kolb, who is from Charlestown, Indiana, just across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, has been a key part of听The Spin鈥檚听sports coverage during his time at 黑料吃瓜. Set to graduate in Spring 2026, he is majoring in听sport听management with a听radio听补苍诲听television minor, a combination that perfectly fits his interests.听

鈥淭ruthfully, the quality of the dorms was what first drew me to 黑料吃瓜,鈥� Kolb said. 鈥淏ut once I got here, it was the听opportunities听that really stood out.听I鈥檝e听always loved sports, and being part of听The Spin听let me combine that passion with broadcasting.鈥�听

Kolb first connected with the station at听freshman听orientation after briefly exploring rugby and ultimate frisbee on campus. 鈥淲hen I realized rugby wasn鈥檛 for me, I found my place with听The Spin,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ohn Morris, our听General听Manager, reached out the summer before I arrived and told me it was a paid position. Honestly, most of what we do,听I鈥檇听do for free...听it鈥檚听that fun.鈥�听

For Kolb, the most rewarding part of his work is the thrill of live broadcasting. 鈥淥nce a broadcast starts,听you鈥檙e听just听talking about听sports to a live audience.听That鈥檚听the best feeling,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he travel鈥檚 pretty cool too.鈥�听

As Sports Director, Kolb鈥檚 responsibilities听have听increased. 鈥淭he biggest challenge is communication,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a lot of moving parts, coaches, lineups听补苍诲听travel details,听and keeping all of that organized takes time and coordination.鈥�听

After graduation, Kolb hopes to work in radio around the greater Kentuckiana area, but听he鈥檚听also open to joining an听Athletic听Department to pursue his goal of becoming an athletic director. His advice to other students is simple: 鈥淏ro up with your professors. They want to help you succeed, talk to听them听and get听to know them. And get involved. College is full of opportunities, and you only get to experience it once.鈥�听

Leading the Charge at听The Nest听

On the visual side of 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 media scene,听The Nest, the听University鈥檚 student video production organization, is capturing the sights and sounds of Screaming Eagles听Basketball for social media. At the head of the operation is Lillie Robertson, a senior from Evansville, who serves as President and Lead Producer.听

鈥淪ince I鈥檓 local to the area, 黑料吃瓜 was always on my radar,鈥� Robertson said. 鈥淚 received a few scholarships that made 黑料吃瓜听really affordable, and I loved the friendly atmosphere. The small class sizes make it easy to connect with professors and classmates.鈥�听

Originally a chemistry major, Robertson switched to marketing after conversations with family members in the field. 鈥淢arketing felt like the right fit for my interests and personality,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 in every industry, which means there are endless opportunities.鈥� She will graduate this Fall.听

Robertson鈥檚 involvement on campus has been extensive.听She鈥檚听participated听in College Mentors for Kids, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA),听The Shield听补苍诲听The Spin, and听she鈥檚听currently a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA),听in addition to leading听The Nest.听

She first learned about听The Nest听from Dr.听McManus听Woodend,听Assistant Professor of听Radio听and Television,听while taking RTV 255: Media Production. 鈥淰ideo production was something I developed a strong interest in early on,鈥� Robertson said. 鈥�The Nest听has given me the chance to refine my skills, gain hands-on experience听and work with other students who are passionate about storytelling and media.鈥�听

Telling 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Story Through Video听

At听The Nest, students take on professional-style production roles while covering a range of campus events, including basketball. Each game is assigned to a student producer who films footage and edits it into a short, engaging highlight video for听The Nest听on Instagram.听

鈥淭he most enjoyable part of working at听The Nest听is being able to get real experience that mirrors what happens in the industry,鈥� Robertson said. 鈥淲e use professional-level gear and editing software听that鈥檚听used on real sets.听It鈥檚听a great feeling to see your work published and shared by the University.鈥�听

Still, the role听isn鈥檛听without challenges. 鈥淜eeping production on schedule can be tough,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淲e have a lot of projects happening at once, so time management and coordination are key.鈥�听

After graduation, Robertson plans to enter the entertainment industry, focusing on film,听television听or media. 鈥淚鈥檓 keeping an open mind,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to explore every opportunity and plan to move to a larger city within a year after graduation.鈥�听

Her advice for students reflects her own journey of exploration and openness.听

鈥淜eep an open听mind听补苍诲听take every opportunity听you鈥檙e听given. You never know where it might take you. And for prospective 黑料吃瓜 students, know that 黑料吃瓜 genuinely cares about your success. The professors are always willing to help, both in class and beyond.鈥�听

Hands-On Learning, Real-World Impact听

Both听The Spin听补苍诲听The Nest showcase the value of hands-on learning in the College of Liberal Arts. 鈥淐overing 黑料吃瓜 basketball gives students practical experience in broadcasting, production and digital storytelling,鈥� said Woodend. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e learning to communicate effectively, work as a team and deliver professional-level content under tight deadlines.鈥�听

As the Screaming Eagles take the court this season, fans can tune in to听95.7 The Spin听for live coverage or follow听The Nest听for behind-the-scenes highlights, all powered by passionate students like Matthew Kolb and Lillie Robertson, who are turning their love for media and storytelling into meaningful careers.

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