CSVS Q&A: Rick Sykes, Professor, Central Michigan University and Chair, BEA Sports Division

In anticipation of the second-annual College Sports Video Summit, to be held June 8-9 in Atlanta, SVG has assembled a distinguished group of college sports-video experts to serve as the advisory board to help shape the event and ensure its relevance to the industry. Leading up to the two-day summit, SVG will check in with all the members of the board to discuss their involvement, what they hope the Summit will accomplish, and how CSVS can help the industry move forward. This week, Rick Sykes, professor at Central Michigan University and chair of the Broadcast Education Association’s Sports Division, discusses how CSVS fits the agenda for any professor of sports media.

Why are you involved with the College Sports Video Summit?

I became involved with the College Sports Video Summit for two reasons. First, it offered an opportunity to network with other educators with like interests, as well as a host of industry professionals and vendors.

The second reason is related to the first one. The information gained from my conversations with other attendees, as well as from the panel discussions, helps to keep me current on what is happening in the field. My value to my students is my ability to give them a true reflection of what is going on in the industry they are passionate about.

In terms of the Summit’s value to the industry, I think the Summit provides industry professionals the opportunity to connect with educators and discuss their views on what students need to be thinking about as they complete their education.

What do you hope the event will accomplish?

I hope this year’s event continues to build on last year’s success. I am hoping to see more attendees and more panel discussions about the issues that are important to all of us.

What can professors hope to get out of this event?

I think professors can build on relationships they may have started last year or develop new ones if this is their first time attending. I also think the Summit offers faculty a wealth of information on various aspects of college sports at a reasonable cost.

What are you most looking forward to at CSVS?

I am looking forward to the Best Practices in Web Video Production panel.

That panel will feature:

Gregg Harper, Executive VP of Operations, Wazoo Sports Network
Colin Osborne, Web/Multimedia Designer, Rutgers University Athletics
Scott Vik, Director of Sports Video, Washington State University