{"id":1193,"date":"2026-02-25T10:52:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/foundation\/?p=1193"},"modified":"2026-02-25T10:52:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:52:34","slug":"from-living-room-dreams-to-the-broadcast-booth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/foundation\/2026\/02\/25\/from-living-room-dreams-to-the-broadcast-booth\/","title":{"rendered":"From Living Room Dreams to the Broadcast Booth"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the teenage years, most kids are scrolling through social media, trying to fit in, and figuring out who they want to become. At just 14 years old, Pat Boylan<\/a> already had a clear vision. As he watched the Indiana Pacers from his living room, he knew he wanted to call the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting involved with the radio and television stations at Carmel High School confirmed his passion for sports broadcasting and play-by-play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Pat came from an Indiana University family and visited IU first, a conversation about his career goals led him in an unexpected direction. He was told Ball State University would offer stronger hands-on opportunities for what he wanted to pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n

One campus visit was all it took.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Ball State, Pat didn\u2019t just see potential; he stepped into it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Taylor<\/span><\/a> had just launched Sports Link and encouraged Pat to join. That invitation became a defining moment. Through Sports Link, he gained extensive on-camera and behind-the-scenes experience in editing, producing, and television play-by-play.<\/span><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t stop there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pat also worked for WCRD, serving as the play-by-play broadcaster for Ball State football for three years and traveling with the team. In the offseason, he covered basketball.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday nights during his junior and senior years, he worked at WISH-TV covering high school sports, sharpening his skills in shooting, editing, setup, and post-production. Summer breaks meant internships in the sports departments at Channel 6 and later Channel 8.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time he graduated in 2013, Pat had built a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that many broadcasters spend years trying to assemble.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to Carmel and Ball State, I felt like I already had seven years of real-world experience heading into my first job,\u201d Pat said.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That first job took him to Bismarck, North Dakota, with BEK Sports, where he continued learning every aspect of the broadcast process, from running cable to creating graphics to stepping in for television play-by-play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just one year later, the opportunity he had dreamed about since childhood became reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2014, Pat was hired by Jamie Berns to work for the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pacers and Fever believed in me when I was 24 years old,\u201d Pat said. \u201cThey believed that with some development, it could turn into something really special.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In 2018, he became the Indiana Fever’s full-time announcer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, in addition to that role, he serves as the pregame and halftime host, postgame locker room reporter, and sideline reporter for Pacers radio broadcasts. He also hosts Pacers Weekly on Saturday mornings and co-hosts a Pacers podcast with fellow Ball State alum Jeremiah Johnson.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt keeps me busy,\u201d Pat said, \u201cbut it\u2019s something I wake up every day passionate about. I have a ton of gratitude for what I get to do. It\u2019s truly a dream come true.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"

Pat at the 2012 Olympics.<\/p><\/div>\n

Pat credits much of his growth to the opportunities he found at Ball State, not just in the classroom, but beyond it. Even with a clear goal in mind, college became a space to grow, adapt, and prepare for life as a professional.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His advice to students is simple: Get involved early. Join Sports Link. Work at WCRD. Write for the Daily News. Say yes to opportunities that stretch you. College is the time to test your path and pivot if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Ball State, immersive, hands-on experiences aren\u2019t extras. They are the foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think being a Ball State Cardinal is woven into the fabric of who I am, both professionally and personally,\u201d Pat said. \u201cThose four years became my foundation.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because of Ball State, students like Pat don\u2019t just dream about calling the game; they prepare to lead it.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in building the next generation of journalists and broadcasters, consider making a gift to support the College of Communication, Information, and Media at <\/span>bsu.edu\/give<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 (fund 028010).<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the teenage years, most kids are scrolling through social media, trying to fit in, and figuring out who they want to become. At just 14 years old, Pat Boylan already had a clear vision. As he watched the Indiana Pacers from his living room, he knew he wanted to call the game. Getting involved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":440,"featured_media":1198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,2,73,6],"tags":[25,71,14,22],"class_list":["post-1193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-features","category-foundation","category-sports","tag-alumni","tag-alumni-engagement","tag-cardinal","tag-get-involved"],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Living Room Dreams to the Broadcast Booth - Ball State Foundation Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ball State University's hands-on experience helped Pat Boylan become the voice of the Indiana Fever and a broadcaster for the Indiana Pacers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/foundation\/2026\/02\/25\/from-living-room-dreams-to-the-broadcast-booth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Living Room Dreams to the Broadcast Booth - 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