{"id":768,"date":"2025-09-15T12:02:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/?p=768"},"modified":"2025-09-15T12:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:04:00","slug":"ccoms-circle-city-sports-intersection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/2025\/09\/15\/ccoms-circle-city-sports-intersection\/","title":{"rendered":"CCOM\u2019s Circle City Sports Intersection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Indianapolis is known in some circles as \u201cSportstown, USA.\u201d Butler and CCOM have taken to the spirit of this nickname and here are just a few recent examples on how they are intertwined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"284\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-1024x284.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-1024x284.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-768x213.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-1536x427.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-604x168.png 604w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500-850x236.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/WTST_1800x500.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Welcome to Sports Town! visiting the Indiana Fever in August. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New Student Experience<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the last several years, during orientation and before classes start for the Fall term, Dr. Lee Farquhar and Prof. Nick White have provided a carefully curated experience for students who want to learn about the rich sports ethos of Indianapolis. Dubbed, \u201cWelcome to Sports Town!\u201d students visit the NCAA offices, LIDS offices, kiss the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, get VIP tours of Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and more. What a way to start your Butler career!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"284\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-1024x284.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-1024x284.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-768x213.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-1536x427.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-604x168.png 604w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500-850x236.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/CCOM_NFL_1800x500.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>From left: Kelly Hallinan, Ethan Polak, Lexi Schell, and Grace Harahan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CCOM and the NFL<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Five students representing every department in CCOM recently worked in or in association with the NFL and its teams (if we missed anyone, PLEASE let us know!):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Kelly Hallinan &#8217;21 (Sports Media)<\/strong> covered the Green Bay Packers opening wins over the Detroit Lions in week 1 and the Washington Commanders in week 2 at Lambeau Field for NBC 26 in Green Bay as sports anchor\/reporter.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ethan Polak &#8217;24 (Sports Media; Strategic Communication)<\/strong> worked his first regular season game, vs. the San Francisco 49ers, at Lumen Field as a communications intern with the Seattle Seahawks as part of a full-time internship for the 2025-26 season.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grace Harahan &#8217;25 (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences)<\/strong> started her rookie season as 2025 Ben-Gal cheerleader when the Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Jacksonville Jaguars with a game-winning touchdown with only :18 seconds remaining at Paycor Stadium for their home opener on Sunday.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lexi Schell &#8216; 23 (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) <\/strong>started her third season as an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, doing her part to activate the fans in Lucas Oil Stadium during the 33-8 season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins and a walk-off 29-28 win in week 2 versus the Denver Broncos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Michael Terzakis \u201924 (Sports Media)<\/strong> is now getting paid to watch NFL games. In his seasonal role with the League Office in New York, Michael is a Game Statistics Support Assistant in Information Technology. He uses the NFL GSIS and NFL Vision software to ensure statistical accuracy per NFL league rules, coordinating with in-stadium crews to deliver reliable data to partners and media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ESPN+ <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to the new Big East media deal, our Butler Sports Live student crews are able to showcase their talents on ESPN+. Under the tutelage of Prof. Nick White, also GM of BSL, students are scheduled to produce more than a dozen Butler athletics events for the media outlet. These include men\u2019s and women\u2019s soccer and women\u2019s basketball and is a great experience and resume boosting opportunity for these talented Sports Media students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-1024x455.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-1024x455.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-768x341.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-1536x683.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-604x268.png 604w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800-850x378.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/Indy_1800x800.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Indianapolis, Sports, and Entertainment. Another stop on the Welcome to Sports Town! experience.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MS in Sports Management<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This Fall, CCOM launched its latest graduate program, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/communication\/masters-in-sports-management\/\">MS in Sports Management<\/a>. The program has charged out of the starting gate, with 26 students in the inaugural cohort, and an estimated 40+ students expected to join the program this academic year. It\u2019s a terrific experience&nbsp; in terms of courses and the opportunities it provides to connect with professionals in the industry from Indy and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Butler Institute for Sports and Entertainment <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Butler\u2019s latest cross-college enterprise, the <a href=\"https:\/\/stories.butler.edu\/butler-university-launching-institute-for-sports-entertainment-to-support-indys-growing-sports-ecosystem\/\">Butler Institute for Sports and Entertainment (BISE)<\/a>, launched this summer. It already has provided 20 students the experience working at the LIV Golf tournament in nearby Hamilton County, where more than 60,000 people attended, setting a new attendance record for the league&#8217;s U.S. events. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/indianapolis\/2025\/08\/26\/butler-sports-entertainment\">Read more about BISE\u2019s impact in this AXIOS article<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More recently, just last week more than 20 current students, faculty, and staff teamed up to&nbsp;volunteer at the first ever <a href=\"https:\/\/tedsports-indianapolis.ted.com\/\">TEDSports Indianapolis<\/a> event. With almost 100 students already indicating interest in working with BISE on future events, this Institute is a model for campus-community connection with local sports teams and entertainment venues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianasportscorp.org\/\">Indiana Sports Corp<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/downtownindy.org\/\">Downtown Indy, Inc.<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitindy.com\/\">Visit Indy<\/a>, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-1024x455.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-1024x455.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-768x341.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-1536x683.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-604x268.png 604w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932-850x378.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2025\/09\/20250911_190932.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>From left: Owen Priscott, Linda Rheinstein, TEDSports speaker and Founder &amp; CEO of the Space Games Federation, Kaitlyn Buckley, and Max Haley.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what does sports buy Butler and CCOM\u2026\u2026the answer is it \u201cBISE\u201d us and our students special opportunities and one-of-a-kind experiences from production of live games to large scale events to the thrill of victory. Go Dawgs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"179\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-1024x179.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-1024x179.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-300x53.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-768x134.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-1536x269.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-604x106.png 604w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350-850x149.png 850w, https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/files\/2023\/07\/JMV_2BlogsignatureLEFT_wTitle_2000x350.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indianapolis is known in some circles as \u201cSportstown, USA.\u201d Butler and CCOM have taken to the spirit of this nickname and here are just a few recent examples on how they are intertwined. New Student Experience&nbsp; For the last several years, during orientation and before classes start for the Fall term, Dr. Lee Farquhar&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/2025\/09\/15\/ccoms-circle-city-sports-intersection\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9198208,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,3,9,15,16],"tags":[151,152,157,154,155,153,158,156],"class_list":["post-768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-butler-ccom-alumni","category-butler-ccom-students","category-butler-ccom-dean","category-butler-ccom-speech-language-hearingsciences","category-butler-ccom-sports-media","category-butler-ccom-strategic-communication-advertising-publicrelations","tag-bise","tag-butler-institute-for-sports-and-entertainment","tag-espn","tag-indiana-fever","tag-indianapolis-motor-speedway","tag-liv-golf","tag-nfl","tag-tedsports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9198208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=768"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":776,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768\/revisions\/776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/butlerccom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}