For the past 20 years, our team has had the incredible honor of producing Panther Sports Talk, a weekly sports television show dedicated to telling the amazing stories of the University of Northern Iowa Athletics department. What began as a passion project back in 2002 while I was a UNI student, has taken us on quite a journey, and I would not be where I am today without this program.
Getting Started
You need someone to do all of the technical/engineering for a television program, so I found the smartest person that I knew, Michael Rueber. We had been classmates at UNI studying Electronic Media Production and we worked great together. I had just graduated with my Masters Degree and was ready for a challenge. I convinced Michael to quit his full-time job to join me in launching Around The Corner Productions with the sole purpose of producing Panther Sports Talk.
When we started Around The Corner Productions, Panther Sports Talk was all that we had. It was our baby. And it was a huge lift for us to produce a 30 minute show every single week. We poured our hearts into every story, every interview, and every episode. We grew up alongside this show—and as it grew, so did our business.
Three years after becoming incorporated we were starting to get things figured out. Brad Wells joined ATCP full-time and began co-producing and hosting the program. He brought fresh energy and ideas to our team. We also started the Videoboard operation for UNI Athletics which allowed us the opportunity to get highlights from all the sporting events.
What began as a dream built on passion and pride for UNI Athletics evolved into something far greater than we could have imagined. Here is a story we produced celebrating our 250th episode:
Panther Sports Talk 250th Episode.
Show Highlights
Over these two decades, we’ve had a front-row seat to history in the making. We have witnessed many championships in various sports programs, NCAA tournament wins, and milestone moments for our alma mater. We have enjoyed telling these stories and connecting with fans as we celebrated with Panther Nation. The opportunity to share these moments reminds us why UNI holds such a special place in our hearts.
Producing nearly 900 episodes is no small feat, and every single one has been a labor of love. Behind the scenes, our team has worked to craft meaningful human interest features that bring fans closer to the action and the athletes they cheer for. There have been well over 200 UNI students that have assisted with the program filming highlights for the ESPN+ broadcasts or editing stories and highlights for the show.
A fun promo that a student intern produced in 2017.
Continued Thanks
We are thankful for the access and trust we’ve been granted by coaches, players, and staff throughout the years. Their openness and partnership have allowed us to shine a light on the character, leadership, and excellence that make UNI Athletics so special.
As we look back on this incredible 20-year journey, our hearts are full of gratitude. We’re thankful for the support of the UNI community and the viewers who have tuned in to watch on our Television network across the Midwest, or on our social media platforms from anywhere across the globe. Most of all, we’re proud to have played a part in documenting and celebrating the legacy of UNI Athletics. It has been an unforgettable ride. Go Panthers!