The senior from small-town Pennsylvania has had a huge impact on the Spartans' B1G Student U programIn the live-sports-video industry, the future is bright. Our series SVG Students To Watch highlights the next generation of live-sports-production professionals. Across campuses nationwide, students are playing a pivotal role in bringing their schools' games to fans - from running cameras and graphics to sitting in the producer's or director's chair and everything in between. This series shines a light on the young talent making an impact today and preparing to shape the future of sports-video production.
Madison McCarter
College: Michigan State University
Academic Year: Senior
Hometown: Reedsville, PA
Roles: Producer, Director, Graphics Operator
Madison McCarter has excelled as both a producer and director for Michigan State's B1G Student U program. She has also shown her skills as a camera operator. Here she shoots during a Michigan State football game vs. Western Michigan last season. (Photo: Alexis Schmidt)What drew you to live sports production, and how did you get started?
This might be controversial, but I never watched many sports broadcasts growing up. I played a lot of sports (field hockey, softball, basketball, soccer), but I never understood the appeal of sitting down and watching them when I could be practicing or playing.
Rather, I got my start toward sports production through the broadcasting route by taking an Intro Multi-Cam Production class that focused on interview shows and the news. The class introduced me to my love of directing and technical directing, but the scripted format quickly bored me and left me wanting more.
That led me to join B1G Student U and realize that, while I never loved watching sports, there was something captivating about getting to see every possible angle of a game and choosing what the audience gets to see. I fell in love with the unpredictability, the fast pace, and, quite honestly, the stress that comes with live sports production.
During summers in her home state of Pennsylvania, McCarter interned as director for closed-circuit broadcast with the State College Spikes, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.Are there any aha moments when you realized you really loved a particular role?
The role that was the biggest surprise and the biggest aha for me was graphics. I was never drawn to graphics as much as I was to the more dynamic positions like directing, technical directing, and replay.
However, my boss, Matt McCulloch, randomly put me in the position for practically 10 games straight. Those games gave me an appreciation for the role, but the actual aha came during the MSU Hockey versus Lindenwood game over Thanksgiving.
We were short-staffed so, for the first time, I did not have a graphics assist. Plus, our scorebug dashboard broke halfway through the game, so I was also operating the scorebug through Xpression. The rush of balancing the building of full-screen stat comparisons while being shouted out to take out Powerplay and asked if I could throw in a Series History graphic at the same time showed me how much fun I could have working graphics. It might not be the flashiest position, but it is a space to get creative and was the path that later got me into producing.
One of McCarter's favorite assignments was a Michigan State vs. Minnesota gymnastics meet, which was produced by an all-female crew and broadcast on B1G on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.What has been your favorite project or game that you've worked on, and why?
I've been lucky enough to get to work a lot of cool events throughout my college career so far: directing the videoboard for No. 7 MSU Men's Basketball versus No. 4 Duke, directing the B1G stream for MSU Women's Volleyball versus No.1 Nebraska, producing the NCAA Women's Soccer tournament games for MSU on ESPN , operating graphics for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
However, the event I will always be the fondest of is MSU Women's Gymnastics versus Minnesota. It's a meet that would not stick out to anyone looking at my r sum ; both teams were ranked, but there was no rivalry or tension or playoff contention involved. However, this show was put on by an entirely female production crew in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. I got to direct and help produce the game and had never felt so respected or valued in a production room before.
While our Student U has always been great at uplifting women into leadership positions, no matter the title or position, it is always difficult to gain respect as a woman in sports. Getting to be a part of a show that had women supporting women was an experience I will always value.
McCarter also directs in-venue videoboard shows. Here she directs a Michigan State Men's Basketball game vs. Indiana alongside Technical Director Zach Nartker, a fellow student.What's the most challenging aspect of working in live sports production as a student?
My bosses at Michigan State always stress that the most important part of our student-run broadcasts is that we are students. Balancing that student aspect is the most difficult for me. I'd be lying if I said I never skipped class to work or prepare for an event. I've also definitely procrastinated and put in half effort on assignments in favor of prep and research. Keeping up with my classes while still prioritizing the experiences that are going to get me a job has been the toughest challenge and one I will have to keep facing.
What are your career aspirations after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to find a job within college athletics production so I can work with students and help them find the same passion for broadcasting as I did.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
I wish I could
