The Sport That Gave Birth to Football Is Starting to Grow in America

Show Pony Live: What If College Sports Was Never Supposed to Be a Business?

Tomorrow, Congress takes its turn trying to fix college sports. On today’s Show Pony Live, we preview the congressional hearing featuring Nick Saban and Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua and discuss what lawmakers are hoping to accomplish as college athletics continues to wrestle with NIL, revenue sharing, and a rapidly changing landscape. We also tackle a question that has been on my mind for a while: What if college sports should have never been run as a for-profit enterprise in the first place? What if the money and resources generated by college athletics had remained focused on creating opportunities for student-athletes rather than chasing bigger revenues and television deals? Plus, I share a personal story. Recently, I accepted the public address announcer position for Middle Tennessee football at my alma mater. The opportunity made me reflect on where my career began, the people who opened doors for me, and how one decision can alter the course of a life. All that and more on today’s episode of Show Pony Live. 🎙️ Show Pony University Cohort 2 begins Wednesday at 8 PM Eastern. Sign up here for Show Pony University [https://buy.stripe.com/9B6cN77eacD27Debs06Vq00] If you’ve ever wanted to improve your interviewing skills, learn how to build a compelling show, create better content, develop your on-air personality, or grow your personal brand, this four-week course is designed for you. The reviews from the first cohort have been incredible, and I’d love to have you join us. More information available at ShowPonyMedia.com. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Chris Doering on SEC Meetings, College Football's Future & The Three-Bath-A-Day Lifestyle

The SEC meetings are over, but the questions surrounding college football are only getting bigger. What did we actually learn from the meetings? How much power do conferences really have? Where is the sport headed next? And what should fans be paying attention to as the battle for college athletics continues to unfold? Tonight, I welcome Chris Doering of ESPN and SiriusXM to Show Pony Live. Chris and I discuss the biggest takeaways from last week’s SEC meetings, the current state of college football, and the challenges facing the sport as conference leaders, television partners, and lawmakers all attempt to shape its future. We also talk about Chris’s unique journey from SEC player to broadcaster and the lessons he’s learned during his successful media career. And yes, we address perhaps the most important topic of all. Chris Doering takes three baths a day. Not showers. Baths. We’ll get to the bottom of that mystery as well. Thanks for listening and supporting Show Pony Media. Show Pony University Starts Wednesday Sign-up for Show Pony University here! [https://buy.stripe.com/9B6cN77eacD27Debs06Vq00] The next cohort of Show Pony University begins on Wednesday, June 3rd, at 8 PM Eastern. Over four weeks, I’ll teach the skills I’ve developed during more than two decades in national radio: • Show structure and preparation• Interviewing techniques• Teases, hooks, and audience retention• Finding your voice and building your brand• Creating content that people actually want to consume The first cohort exceeded every expectation I had. The feedback from students has been incredible, and several told me they received more practical broadcasting education in four weeks than they did during their college coursework. If you’re a podcaster, broadcaster, content creator, aspiring sports media member, or simply someone who wants to communicate more effectively, I’d love to have you join us. For details and registration, visit ShowPonyMedia.com. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Show Pony Live: Who Really Runs College Sports?

Today’s edition of Show Pony Live takes a look at the power struggle happening in college athletics as the SEC and Big 12 wrapped up their spring meetings. Who do Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti ultimately serve? Their schools? Their fans? Or the television networks writing billion-dollar checks? As playoff expansion discussions continue and the SEC and Big Ten gain more influence, I explore whether a super league is truly coming—and if the biggest conferences may be underestimating the backlash that could follow. I also discuss the latest developments involving Brendan Sorsby after new details emerged regarding his gambling activity while at Indiana. The case continues to raise difficult questions about sports betting, athlete responsibility, and the environment college athletes now operate within. Plus, a few thoughts from my weekend getaway with family. From the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to Kings Island and a Reds game in Cincinnati, it was a reminder that sports are ultimately about experiences and memories—not just television contracts and revenue projections. On Today’s Show: * SEC and Big 12 meeting takeaways * Who really holds power in college sports? * Greg Sankey, Tony Petitti, and the network influence question * Is a super league inevitable? * New revelations in the Brendan Sorsby case * Kentucky Bourbon Trail highlights * Kings Island and Cincinnati Reds trip recap Show Pony University Cohort #2 Starts Wednesday, June 3 The first cohort was an incredible success, and the feedback from students exceeded my expectations. If you’re interested in sports broadcasting, podcasting, interviewing, content creation, or building your personal brand, I’d love to have you join us. We’ll cover show preparation, interviewing, teases, audience retention, branding, and the skills I’ve learned from more than two decades in national sports radio. Registration is open now at ShowPonyMedia.com. Click the link to sign up. https://buy.stripe.com/9B6cN77eacD27Debs06Vq00 [https://buy.stripe.com/9B6cN77eacD27Debs06Vq00] Thanks for listening to Show Pony Live. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every bit of support helps us continue growing this community. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Sport That Gave Birth to Football Is Starting to Grow in America

For today’s episode of Show Pony Live, I decided to step outside my normal college football lane and explore a sport that could be on the verge of a major breakthrough in the United States. My guest is Will Hooley, one of the leading voices in American rugby and a former member of the USA Eagles national rugby team who competed for the Stars and Stripes in the World Cup. Will joined me to discuss the recent growth of rugby and why the sport appears better positioned than ever to gain traction with American sports fans. We also discussed the World Cup of Rugby coming to the USA in 2031, which could become a transformative moment for the sport in this country. If you are a football fan, this conversation is especially fascinating. Rugby and American football share more DNA than many people realize, but the sports also differ in ways that make rugby uniquely compelling to watch. Among the topics we covered: * Why Major League Rugby continues to build momentum * How the 2031 Rugby World Cup could accelerate the sport’s growth in America * Key similarities and differences between rugby and football * Why rugby has become a global phenomenon * What American sports fans may be missing I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and learned a tremendous amount from Will. If you are curious about the future of rugby in the United States, this is a terrific place to start. This will also be the final podcast of the week, as I’m taking a short family vacation over the holiday weekend. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend, and I look forward to returning next week with more episodes of Show Pony Live. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Show Pony Media. 🎧 Search Show Pony Live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.📺 Watch on YouTube at @ShowPonyMedia.📝 Subscribe at ShowPonyMedia.com. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Just Because the SEC and Big Ten Can Break Away Doesn't Mean They Should

There is a growing sense that the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference are losing patience with the current structure of college sports governance. Reports suggest the two super conferences are increasingly frustrated with the College Sports Commission and may be considering a future in which they break away and build their own governing structure—one where they control the overwhelming majority of the money, the rules, and the power. If that happens, college athletics as we know it could change forever. On tonight’s episode of Show Pony Live, I explain why I believe this would be a profound mistake. My view is straightforward: just because you can do something does not mean you should. The SEC and Big Ten undoubtedly have the resources and influence to create their own system. But college sports has always been bigger than any two conferences. Its appeal has come from a national ecosystem where schools of different sizes, budgets, and histories all had a place in the conversation. Destroying that ecosystem in pursuit of greater financial control would be legal. It would also be deeply unethical. I also discuss comments from Jamie Pollard, who accused the SEC and Big Ten of hypocrisy and essentially challenged them to stop making threats and simply go form their own league if that is what they truly want. And I examine the irony of Big Ten administrators warning about “unsustainable spending” while conducting their spring meetings at an ultra-luxury resort in Southern California. At some point, fans have to ask a simple question: Are college sports leaders acting in the best interests of student-athletes and the broader athletic community—or are they merely consolidating power for themselves? That is the focus of tonight’s episode. 🎧 Search Show Pony Live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@showponymedia?utm_source=chatgpt.com]📬 Subscribe at ShowPonyMedia.com [https://www.showponymedia.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]