BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS EDITOR
After a year-long hiatus from Super Bowl coverage, St. Bonaventure’s student-run radio station, WSBU “The Buzz” returned this week to radio row. WSBU staff is in Los Angeles, the home of Super Bowl LVI, broadcasting three, hour-long shows from the Los Angeles Convention Center.
“It has been an incredible honor to be among the biggest names in sports media and to be recognized as a station worthy of covering an event of this magnitude,” said Tyler Smith, sports director for WSBU.
Five students left St. Bonaventure last Saturday for the flight to Los Angeles.
“Out of the five of us, I am the only one who covered Super Bowl LIV two years ago in Miami,” said Nicolas Rohloff, former sports director for WSBU.
Nathan Solomon was in high school the last time “The Buzz” made the trip to the Super Bowl.
“I am very happy we were able to work something out with the school [to go this year],” said Nathan Solomon, a sophomore sports media major.
“Having the opportunity to travel to the Super Bowl is one of the reasons why I chose St. Bonaventure,” said Solomon, sports director for WSBU.
The National Football League approved media credentials for WSBU last year for coverage of Super Bowl LV, however, due to COVID-19, the group did not travel.
“It was disappointing to not be able to cover the past Super Bowl because of the pandemic,” said Rohloff.
This is the fourth time in five years that a crew from St. Bonaventure’s campus radio station traveled to the big game.
Carter Raymond, a junior, is covering the Super Bowl through the Buzz for the first time.
“It was time for a new ‘generation’ to step up and hopefully continue that tradition,” said Carter Raymond, a finance major. “I think we have stepped up, and the tradition is in good hands moving forward.”
Broadcasters switch off throughout their three shows, taking turns walking through radio row, grabbing interviewees from the floor, and coordinating with celebrity agents.
“We are broadcasting three different radio shows (Directors’ Cut, Nightly Buzz, and Wild Card) every day. I’d say the roles are fluid. As the former director, I am helping lead the other four as I am the only one with prior experience,” Rohloff said.
The men are able to walk 15 minutes from their LA apartment to their work site.
“My favorite part has been just being a part of the media and having the ability to connect with many different people throughout the week,” said Tom Seipp, the station manager for WSBU.
Seipp, Smith, Rohloff, Solomon and Raymond will watch the Super Bowl action from St. Bonaventure’s campus. Regardless, they still offered their predictions for the big game.
Seipp is staying with the prediction that he made last year, preferring the Rams over the Bengals, 28-27. Smith says the Bengals will pull off a miracle, 27-24. Rohloff has the Bengals by a touchdown, 30-24. Solomon has stayed with the Rams the entire season, he still prefers them, 27-17. The newbie, Raymond, picks: Rams 27-17.
martonk18@bonaventure.edu
