Didn’t go to Syracuse? Over 150 sports voices went to colleges elsewhere and did just fine too

 

It’s conventional knowledge. Syracuse University is the Harvard or Yale for future sports broadcasters. It’s tough to argue the point by any measure.

The list reads like a who’s who. From Bob Costas to Mike Tirico, Dick Stockton to Marv Albert and Sean McDonough to Dave Pasch, Syracuse’s Newhouse School has been a veritable spawning ground for sports announcers and the launch pad for so many household names.

Does it mean though that students who go elsewhere are doomed? I don’t think so.

How about these names nationally, Al Michaels, Joe Buck, Jim Nantz, Kevin Harlan and Tim Brando on the play-by-play side? Studio success? Think Scott Van Pelt, Greg Gumbel, Ernie Johnson, Jr. and James Brown. Want talkies?  How about Chris Russo, Colin Cowherd, Dan Patrick, Rich Eisen and Jim Rome? Last time I looked they’re all doing well, albeit without a Syracuse degree.

I put a quick list together starting with 150 broadcasters; successful names of those who were schooled elsewhere. If you want the SU names, see the linked piece we did earlier.

Syracuse dominates the sports broadcast landscape; From the who’s who today to the who’s who tomorrow

Since I cobbled together the initial non-SU list, I’ve heard from many announcers around the country and the number has swelled.

Broadcasters who attended colleges other than Syracuse:

Mel Allen, Yankees/NBC, Alabama

Rece Davis, ESPN, Alabama

Dan Hicks, NBC/Golf Chnl, Arizona

Al Michaels, NBC, Arizona State

Mark Champion, Detroit Pistons, Ball State

Bryant Gumbel, HBO, Bates

Joe Davis, Dodgers/Fox, Beloit

Roxy Bernstein, ESPN, Berkeley

Steve Somers, WFAN, Berkeley

Michele Tafoya, NBC, Berkeley

Mike Lupica, Various, Boston College

Jon Sciambi, ESPN, Boston College

Joe Tessitore, ESPN, Boston College

Lesley Visser, CBS, Boston College

Bob Wischusen, ESPN, Boston College

Grant Napear, Sacramento Kings, Bowling Green

Ralph Lawler, ex-Clippers, Bradley

Charley Steiner, Dodgers, Bradley

Chris Berman, ESPN, Brown

Eric Nadel, Texas Rangers, Brown

Dave Calabro, WTHR-TV/Indy Raceway, Butler

Kevin Calabro, Portland Blazers+, Butler

Chris Denari, Big Ten Network, Butler

Corey McPherrin, WBBM-TV Butler

John Minko, St. John’s U, Butler

Dick Enberg, ex-NBC/CBS, C. Michigan

Bob Rathbun, Atlanta Hawks, Catawba College

Sam Rosen, NY Rangers/Fox, CCNY (CUNY)

Curt Menefee, Fox, Coe College

Joe Castiglione, Boston Red Sox, Colgate*

Jon Miller, SF Giants, College of San Mateo

Chris Fowler, ESPN, Colorado

Gary Cohen, NY Mets, Columbia

Jim Gray, WW1, Colorado

Matt Schick, ESPN, Colorado

Jack Corrigan, Colorado Rockies, Cornell

Keith Olbermann, ESPN, Cornell

Dan Patrick, ex-ESPN, Dayton

Al McCoy, Suns, Drake

Bill Hillgrove,  Steelers/U Pitt, Duquesne

Colin Cowherd, Fox, E. Washington

Dave Wills, Tampa Rays, Elmhurst

Wayne Larrivee, GB Packers, Elmhurst

Tim Neverett, LA Dodgers, Emerson

Ernie Harwell, Detroit Tigers, Emory

Wes Durham, ESPN/Atl. Falcons, Elon

Chris Myers, Fox, FIU

Erin Andrews, Fox, Florida

Red Barber, Bklyn Dodgers/NY Yanks, Florida

Chuck Cooperstein, Dallas Mavericks, Florida

Gene Deckerhoff, Tampa Bay Bucs/Fl State, Florida

Laura Rutledge, ESPN, Florida

Pam Oliver, Fox, Florida A&M

Spencer Ross, ex-NY Jets/Yanks+, Florida State

Mike Breen, ESPN, Fordham

Chris Carrino, Brooklyn Nets, Fordham

Spero Dedes, CBS, Fordham

Michael Kay, NY Yankees, Fordham

Bob Papa, NY Giants, Fordham

Ryan Ruocco, ESPN, Fordham

Charlie Slowes, Wash Nats, Fordham

Vin Scully, ex-Dodgers+, Fordham

Mike Patrick, ex-ESPN, George Washington

Chip Caray, Atlanta Braves, Georgia

Olivia Harlan-Dekker, ESPN, Georgia

Ernie Johnson Jr, Turner, Georgia

Maria Taylor, ESPN, Georgia

James Brown, CBS, Harvard

Amanda Balionis, CBS, Hofstra

Jim Nantz, CBS, Houston

Bill Worrell, Houston Rockets, Houston

Gus Johnson, Fox, Howard

Jim Durham, ex-Bulls/ESPN, Illinois State

Denny Matthews, KC Rorals, Illinois Wesleyan

Joe Buck, Fox, Indiana

Dave Niehaus, ex-Seattle Mariners, Indiana

Milo Hamilton, ex-Astros+, Iowa

Harry Kalas, ex-Phillies+, Iowa

Jeff Joniak, Chicago Bears, Iowa State

Bruce Beck, WNBC TV, Ithaca

Drew Goodman, Colorado Rockies, Ithaca

Karl Ravech, ESPN, Ithaca

Eric Reid, Miami Heat, Ithaca

Kevin Harlan, CBS/Turner, Kansas

Brian Sieman, LA Clippers, Kansas

John Wiedeman, Chicago Blackhawks, Kansas

Craig Bolerjack, Utah Jazz, Kansas State

Steve Physioc, KC Royals, Kansas State

Steve Albert, ex-Nets+, Kent State

Tom Hammond, NBC, Kentucky

Beth Mowins, ESPN, Lafayette*

Greg Gumbel, CBS, Loras College

Tim Brando, Fox, Louisiana, Monroe

Brian Wheeler, ex-Portland Blazers, Loyola, Chicago

Gary Thorne, Balt Orioles, Maine

Mike Emrick, NBC, Manchester of Indiana

Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs, Marquette

Bonnie Bernstein, ex-CBS/ESPN, Maryland

Scott,Van Pelt, ESPN, Maryland

Jill Arrington, Various, Miami

Roy Frestone, ex-ESPN, Miami

Suzy Kolber, ESPN, Miami

Dan Le Batard, ESPN, Miami

Chuck Kaiton, ex-Carolina Hurricanes, Michigan

Eddie Doucette, ex-Bucks, Michigan State

Brad Nessler, CBS, Minnesota State

Ron Franklin, ex-ESPN, Mississippi

Kay Adams, NFL Network, Missouri

John Anderson, ESPN, Missouri

Skip Caray, ex-Braves+, Missouri

Brad Sham, Dallas Cowboys, Missouri

Joe Tait, ex-Cleve Cavaliers, Monmouth Clg, Ill

Kevin Kugler, WW1, Nebraska

Jack Edwards, Boston Bruins, New Hampshire

Marty Brennaman, ex-Reds, North Carolina

Woody Durham, ex-UNC F/B, North Carolina

Jim Lampley, ex-HBO+, North Carolina

Rich Eisen, NFL Network, Northwestern

Mike Greenberg, ESPN, Northwestern

Jim Karvellas, NY Knicks/Bullets, Northwestern

Josh Lewin, UCLA F/B, Northwestern

Brent Musburger, VSiN, Northwestern

Michael Wilbon, ESPN, Northwestern

George Blaha, Detroit Pistons, Notre Dame

Don Criqui, ex-CBS/NBC, Notre Dame

Bob Fitzgerald, GS Warriors, Notre Dame

J.B. Long, LA Rams, Notre Dame

John Michael, Clev Cavs, Notre Dame

Pete Pranica, Memphis Grizzlies, Notre Dame 

Ted Robinson, ex-NBC, Notre Dame

Tim Ryan, ex NBC/CBS, Notre Dame

Hannah Storm, NBC/ESPN, Notre Dame

Kenny Albert, Fox/NY Rangers, NYU

Marv Albert, Turner, NYU**

Steve Cangialosi, NJ Devils, NYU

Howard Cosell, ABC, NYU

Al Albert, Denver Nuggets+, Ohio U

Thom Brennaman, Fox/Reds, Ohio U

Chuck Swirsky, Chicago Bulls, Ohio U

Jack Buck, St.L Cards/CBS, Ohio State

Matt Lepay, U Wisconsin F/B, Ohio State

Ted Leitner, SD Padres+, Oklahoma

Andrea Kremer, NFL Network, Penn

Scott Graham, ex-Phils, Penn

Lisa Salters, ESPN, Penn State

Bob Prince, Pitt Pirates, Pitt

Kevin Ray, Phoenix Suns, Pittsburg St (Ks.)

Doug Logan, ex-Virginia/Syracuse, Purdue

Howie Rose, NY Mets, Queens (CUNY)

Chris Russo, SiriusXM, Rollins

Kathryn Tappen, NBC, Rutgers

Robin Roberts, ex-ESPN, S.E.Louisiana

Pat Hughes, Chicago Cubs, San Jose State

Ken Korach, Oakland A’s, Santa Barbara

Jim Rome, CBS, Santa Barbara

Bob Ley, ex-ESPN, Seton Hall

Suzyn Waldman, NY Yankees, Simmons

Charlie Jones, ex-NBC, Southern Cal

Matt Vasgersian, ESPN, Southern Cal

Jack Whitaker, ex-CBS/ABC, St. Joe’s

Mike Francesa, WFAN, St. John’s

Brian Anderson, Turner, St. Mary’s, Texas

Dave Flemming, ESPN/SF Giants, Stanford*

DeWayne Staats, Tampa Rays, Sthn Ill. Edwardsville

Tony Kornheiser, ESPN, SUNY, Binghamton

Linda Cohn, ESPN, SUNY, Oswego

Steve Levy, ESPN, SUNY Oswego

Merrill Reese, Phil Eagles, Temple

Paul Finebaum, ESPN, Tennessee

Lindsey Nelson, ex NBC/CBS, Mets, Tennessee

Vrene Lundquist, CBS, Texas Lutheran

John Rooke, Providence, Texas, Austin

Gil Santos, ex-NE Patriots+, U Mass, Dartmouth

Kenny Mayne, ESPN, UNLV

Holly Rowe, ESPN, Utah

Adam Amin, Fox, Valparaiso

Les Keiter, ex-NY Giants+, Washington

Keith Jackson, ex-ABC, Washington St.

Jerry Schemmel, ex-Rockies/Nuggets, Washburn

Dan Shulman, ESPN/Toronto Jays, Western Ontario

Stephen A. Smith, ESPN, Winston Salem

Andy Katz, Fox, Wisconsin

Kevin Burkhardt, Fox, Wm. Patterson

Curt Gowdy, ex-NBC/Red Sox+, Wyoming

Paul Keels, Ohio State, Xavier

 

*Joe Castiglione, Dave Flemming and Beth Mowins did graduate work at Syracuse’s Newhouse School.

**Marv Albert started at Syracuse and completed his college education at NYU