ESPN The Classroom

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler talks about the impact of the US travel ban on the world of sports. He also discusses the proposed changes to youth football along with intern Michaela Landry. Intern Michael Wallace leads the rest of the crew in a Mad Lib of Michael Vick's retirement letter. And after a robust discussion of the Super Bowl, Dr. Strudler brazenly and bizarrely contemplates whether he is in fact the Messiah.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault talk with Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus about data and analytics in pro and college football. They also speak with Dr. Mark Nagel of the University of South Carolina about the ongoing scandal with Louisville basketball. They debated whether Olympians should be forced to surrender past medals for PEDs. And Dr. Strudler argued how his past experience as an Assistant Scoutmaster would make him a better contestant on Hunted than his co-host.

In this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault talk with former NBA exec Bobby Marks of Yahoo Sports about the selection process for the NBA All-Star Game. They also contemplate whether athletes should get second (and third) chances. They debate the value of sportsmanship. And Dr. Strudler considers whether he could follow in the great footsteps of Bruce Willis and explode himself with a nuclear bomb to save the world.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault discuss the Chargers moving to LA. They also debate the feasibility of a new professional football league for 18-21 year olds. They consider the expansion of the World Cup and try to write a semi-fictional James Bond film based on current politics. And along with all the interns, everyone debates the judgement of eating cannoli creme straight from a tub.

In this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler talks with baseball writer Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal about the changing landscape of Hall of Fame voting for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. He discusses the physical and emotional stress of big time college coaching with Brian Gearity of the University of Denver. Esoteric sports expert Jim Cotter debates what karaoke song would make Bonds and Clemens more appealing to HOF voters. And the interns give their opinion on Dr. Strudler's plan to wear his new "skinny" jeans at a children's birthday party.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault discuss the Group of Five's suggestion of starting their own college football playoff. They also look at the impact of Ronda Rousey's loss on the future of women's MMA. And along with interns Mike and Matt, everyone gives their New Year's resolutions, which for Dr. Strudler includes being even nicer to himself.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault discuss the ethics players skipping football bowl games. They also evaluate the most recent Marist Poll done with the Center for Sports Communication on the best accomplishment of the year in sports. Intern Mike Wallace evaluates whether it's better to have no moral compass (Dr. Strudler) or no ability to feel emotion (Geoff). And finally, Dr. Strudler confronts a hypothetical but agonizing decision on whether to hang out with wealthy people in a luxury box of a major sporting event or go to his son's birthday party.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault talk with Josh Greer of UT-Martin about the use of medical marijuana by NBA athletes and the effect that may have on the public. They also discuss potential new Olympic sports. And they talk about a visit by Marist Sports Communication students with former NBA commish David Stern that generated national news. All this, while arguing exactly who saved the show from ruin amidst technical challenges.

On this episode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault discuss the impact of tragedy on sports teams and their fans. They also contemplate the impact of Tiger Woods in his return to golf with Rob Boland of Ohio University. And along with other interns, everyone insults intern Michael Wallace for sleeping through his alarm and missing the first half of the show.

On this epidisode of The Classroom, Dr. Keith Strudler and Geoff Brault, along with student intern Michael Wallace broadcast live from the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences the day of the Iron Bowl. During the show, they are joined by Alabama's Andy Billings, director of their program in sports media and the Ronald Chair in Broadcasting, to discuss the most recent HBO/Real Sports Marist Poll examining the future of football and head trauma. Later on the program, Rogers-Spivey Faculty Fellow in
Information Systems, Statistics, and Management Science Jim Cochran came on the show to talk about ways that football programs could use statistics and analytics to play smarter football. Then all discussed where the Iron Bowl rivalry fit in the larger landscape of sports rivalries.