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 Alumni:
Rich Russo,
Director, Fox Sports
1. What exactly does your job entail on a day to day basis?
When I have a game that weekend, early in the week we go over our prior telecast from a production and technical aspect while we get ready for the game coming up that weekend. You’re talking to announcers, production and technical personnel and talking to teams, players and coaches as they, too, prepare for the upcoming game.
2. When it’s not a “gameday” what do you have to do?
Same thing … there’s a lot of pre-production that happens way before anyone sees the game—from coming up with ideas for features, ideas for covering any story that’s happening with that team. A big part of what we do is watch film on the teams, previous weeks games, to get an idea for trends.
3. How much time does it take to prepare for directing/producing a game?
With the NFL, you basically have a week to prep for the next game, and you’re working toward that game—with an eye toward the games coming up, as it’s imperative to stay on top of storylines within the entire league whether it be football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR—or whatever sport I’m covering. You always have to be looking ahead. For example with the BCS national championship games I’m working months in advance to prepare. I have to make sure we are getting the best technical people available for all the bowl games. Once we know the teams, I spend the month watching film on all the bowl teams I am preparing to cover as well as read as much info on the teams. During the NFL season, while I’m primarily focusing on the teams for the upcoming game, I stay two to three weeks ahead with regard to the other teams I may be covering as well.
4. What path did you take to end up directing for a famous news organization like Fox?
I started out working at CBS Sports as a researcher and broadcast associate, where I was in charge of the graphics and research and was fortunate enough to work for the team of John Madden and Pat Summerall—just two years out of college. I knew directing was the path that I wanted to take. I left for Fox in 1994 when Fox obtained the NFL package. CBS had been great to me but Fox gave me more opportunities to direct, which certainly was very beneficial. Then came baseball and NASCAR so the company was no doubt committed to sports.
5. What were some of the best decisions you made after leaving Penn State?
Staying with my early career dreams, learning as much as I could from directors I worked with, and never giving up.
6. Any career decisions you regret having made?
My first job was with an advertising agency … in addition to working for CBS Sports on weekends and nights in the studio. I realized pretty quickly that advertising was not the path I wanted to take and sports broadcasting was.
7. In what ways have you found working in “the real world” different from small-town life in college?
There is not a lot of down time, you are constantly making decisions. And in this field, the quick decisions you make are automatically seen by millions of viewers. It’s pressure, but good pressure.
8. How has being a Penn State graduate helped you thus far into your career?
I’ve found some of the people I work with either went to Penn State, or have a strong affinity to the University. And the relationships that I’ve made have helped in where I am today. Penn State was one of the best experiences of my life.
9. What advice would you offer to Penn State graduates who aren’t entirely sure about what path they should take?
Stay with your dreams, don’t give up, get as much work experience on the local level as you can, and don’t be afraid of failure. It will only make you stronger.
10. What are some of your fondest memories from your time in Happy Valley?
My fraternity experiences (FIJI), my lacrosse days, all the sports moments and all the friendships that I’ve made that I keep up with to this day. My jobs at the Train Station, the Deli, and all the other bars I frequented—and worked at. And I still miss the sticky buns at the Diner and the ice cream at the Creamery. Oh yes, and the summer I spent at the Quarry. Good times.
11. How often do you make it back to your alma mater?
Not enough. It’s hard to get back with my work schedule. Many of the events are on weekends. It makes it tough. I was back to speak to at a forum as well as some classes last spring which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’ve been asked every year to play in the alumni lacrosse game but I haven’t been able to go.
12. In January 2008 you directed the Sugar Bowl, which pitted Hawaii against Georgia. Hawaii had been asking for more respect as a national power behind QB Colt Brennan and then suddenly they practically got blown out of the water by the Bulldogs. When directing, how do you keep a game like a blowout flowing smoothly and interesting for the audience?
In some ways a blowout is harder to direct and produce than a tightly contested game. You need to remain instinctive, keep it entertaining and keep the storylines at a premium. Pacing is important. I always say you can never format a live event, but preparation is still essential as many of the pieces—the graphics, storylines, etc.—are imperative to the broadcast during a blowout.
13. You also directed the past two national championship games. Both games were characterized by some people as “blowouts.” How does that kind of scoring affect the way you direct a game?
Same as above. But I also had the opportunity to direct last year’s Boise State/Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl, which many people have called “the greatest game in college football history. When you get a game as special as that, you want to make sure that you have all the angles covered. My biggest fear is not having the right replay or not having the right camera shot as the action unfolds around you. Most of what I do is liv and in live television, there are no second chances.
14. What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?
Getting the best pictures on the screen, whether it be live shots or replays, and being able to entertain, tell a story, and show the best game to the viewers. You always have to expect the unexpected because in live games nothing is scripted.
15. What is the difference between directing and producing?
Directors are responsible for the visuals that the audience sees (camera shots, replays, etc) and producers handle more of the content and the editorial. Both directors and producers are in constant contact with their announcers during the broadcast. It is also important for the producer and director to effectively communicate in a timely fashion as much is happening simultaneously.
16. Do you like directing or producing better and why?
I prefer directing, because there’s more action, and there are never any lulls in the action. You make thousands of instinctive decisions that directly affect what the viewer is seeing.
17. How did you get your start in the industry?
My assistant lacrosse coach, Pete Kowalski, sent me on an interview with Brent Musburger’s assistant. That led to a series of interviews at CBS, which landed me a full-time job six months out of college at CBS Sports. I started working part time directly out of college and six months later it turned out to be full time. I went to Fox Sports in 1994 when they obtained the NFL.
18. How has the industry changed since you first entered the field?
You’re always trying to stay on top of the technology, as the technology is always changing and advancing. Knowledge is crucial with regard to all the updates and graphics and also there are more TV outlets and media coverage and networks than ever before. This makes the competition greater, and encourages you to work even harder so your work stands out above the rest.
19. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I really love directing. To continue to direct all different sports and to continue to have the opportunity to work the big events. This year I had the chance to direct the world broadcast of Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots and I realized in the last two years I have been involved in arguably the two greatest pro and college football games in quite some time .I am very fortunate.
20. What were your career goals when you were back in college?
It was important to me to really enjoy the entire college experience which I did. I’ve always loved sports my entire life and knew I wanted to be involved in sports at some level. I knew broadcasting was also something I was extremely interested in as well. It is hard to know exactly what one wants to do so getting the most experience was very important. In fact the last time I came up to Penn State and saw the broadcasting facilities I was amazed. I would encourage students to take advantage of all the facilities and get as much hands on experience as possible.
21. What were your career ambitions as a child?
I actually wanted to be a professional athlete (basketball or baseball player). I played a lot of sports as a kid growing up and actually dreamed of playing for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. I used to imitate Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe in by driveway all the time. Of course now the Knicks are too tough to watch.
22. Who have been some of the figures that have helped you the most in arriving where you are today?
My parents, first and foremost. They never pushed me but always taught me about trust and respect. They always taught me to work hard and prepare hard and you can achieve your goals. Professionally I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful people such as Pat Summerall, John Madden, Brent Musburger, Jim Nantz, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Fouts, Verne Lundquist, Joe Buck, Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, just to name a few. Some of the directors such as Sandy Grossman and Bob Fishman helped me as I was coming up in the business.
23. Who is your direct overhead when directing a game? Meaning, who do you report to if you make a mistake?
My ultimate bosses are David Hill and Ed Goren.
24. Have you ever made any big mistakes during a broadcast?
I don’t think you ever come away feeling you had the perfect broadcast. There are always ways to improve and I always think of things that I may have done differently. Hopefully those are all blind to the viewers.
25. What have been some of your favorite games of all-time to broadcast?
I been lucky to be involved in many memorable games—from Game 7 Lakers-Pistons in the NBA Finals, Larry Mize chipping in to win the Masters, Christian Laettner’s winining basket in the NCAA Regional Finals as Duke beat Kentucky, Yankees-Red Sox Game 7, Boise State/Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl and, of course, the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl along with other tightly contested Super Bowls. I worked on some memorable events at two Winter Olympic Games when I was at CBS. I was involved in Fox’s first Daytona 500, a memorable race but for the wrong reason. It was the race where Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash. That was an unbelievable day and extremely emotional. .
26. Ever broadcast any Penn State games?
I broadcasted some Penn State football games when I was at CBS. It is always a thrill. One of my first directing jobs was a Penn State basketball game many years ago. I think the ultimate would be to direct the BCS national championship game when Penn State is playing for the national championship. Hopefully that will happen.
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