Temple Sports Student Media premiered its first-ever broadcast special this spring, bringing viewers inside the passion, tradition, and community spirit that define athletics across the Philadelphia region.
The hour-long program, produced entirely by Temple University students, featured in-depth storytelling and on-location reporting from more than a dozen schools and sporting events throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Anchored by Haley Smith and Tim McFarland, the special highlighted not only elite athletic competition, but also the personal stories, traditions, and community connections behind the games.
“This was an opportunity for our students to go beyond scores and highlights and really tell meaningful stories,” said the student production team during the opening of the broadcast. “Each location helped give us a different look into what sports mean to the Philadelphia community.”
The special featured a wide range of stories, including:
- La Salle College High School’s legendary “Silent Night” basketball tradition
- The historic basketball legacy at Roman Catholic High School
- One of Pennsylvania’s top female wrestlers balancing athletics and academics at Mariana Bracetti Academy
- Nationally ranked wrestling programs at Malvern Prep
- Elite basketball prospects competing in the internationally recognized Grind Session
- Community fundraising events including the Philadelphia Love Run and Coaches vs. Cancer Baseball Fest
- Historic milestones in Philadelphia public school basketball
- Nationally ranked squash and tennis programs along the Main Line
Students traveled throughout the region reporting, shooting, writing, editing, and producing the stories themselves, gaining valuable real-world sports journalism experience in the process.
The program also demonstrated the evolving vision of Temple Sports Student Media: blending high-level sports coverage with human-centered storytelling that highlights perseverance, leadership, teamwork, and the role athletics play in shaping communities.
Several stories focused on themes far larger than sports. One feature followed Frankford High School baseball coach Juan Namnun’s battle with male breast cancer and how his family transformed that experience into an annual Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser. Another spotlighted student-athletes balancing elite competition with academic excellence and personal growth.
The broadcast special also showcased the depth of sports culture throughout the Philadelphia area, from historic Catholic League basketball gyms to emerging girls wrestling programs and nationally respected prep school athletics.
Produced through Temple University’s student media ecosystem, the special reflects the experiential learning opportunities available to students pursuing careers in sports broadcasting, multimedia journalism, and live production.
The debut program marks an important milestone for Temple Sports Student Media as students continue expanding their coverage and storytelling throughout the region.
