Columbus State, WRBL partner to create new special program, ‘On the Prowl with CSU Athletics’

August 20, 2024

Columbus State University and WRBL News 3 are proud to announce a partnership to produce a 30-minute special weekly program spotlighting Cougar Athletics. 

The program, “On the Prowl with CSU Athletics,” will feature behind-the-scenes and in-depth feature stories about the university’s 13 NCAA Division II sports teams. The show will highlight student-athletes’ success on playing courts and fields, their academic excellence in the classroom and their service to the community.

“On the Prowl with CSU Athletics” will air on Sundays at midnight—30 minutes after the conclusion of News 3’s “Sunday Nightwatch.” The debut episode is set Sept. 8, and televised content will be archived on the station’s website.

“We’re honored that WRBL came to us to showcase Columbus State University Athletics,” said Interim Athletic Director Jay Sparks (pictured). “Our student-athletes and coaches are some of the university’s most devoted and well-rounded ambassadors. When they’re not representing us in their sport, they earn distinctions through their schoolwork and volunteerism.”

WRBL’s Jack Patterson and Tyler Redmond, a 2022 communication and media studies graduate, will host the show. It will feature stories produced by Columbus State Department of Communicationstudents as part of the special partnership. Each semester, students will conceptualize, develop and produce each week’s segment alongside department faculty and the station’s news professionals.

“For several years, our students have gained direct experience through WRBL-hosted internships and practicum experiences,” said Dr. Danna Gibson (pictured), chair of the Department of Communication. “This new facet of that partnership is allowing our students to gain sports reporting, television broadcasting and film-editing experience while developing a robust portfolio so they can thrive in the workforce and their chosen careers."

“This new collaboration, ‘On the Prowl with CSU Athletics,’ is an expansion of our partnership to provide our community a behind-the-scenes look at CSU student-athletes, coaches and staff members,” added Joe McGuire (pictured), vice president and general manager at WRBL News 3. “We are pleased this new project will allow communication students the opportunity to gain real-world experience that will benefit their education and future careers in the ever-changing media landscape.”

View episodes of "On the Prowl with CSU Athletics" on the WRBL-TV website.

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Media contacts:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, Columbus State University, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu 
Connor Hackling, News Director, WRBL News 3, 706.225.0720, chackling@wrbl.com