Graduate Spotlight: Bigsby turns dreams into play-by-play reality

Kim Chaudoin  |  01/02/2025

When Brandon Bigsby arrived at Lipscomb University in the fall of 2022, he brought with him a passion for storytelling and a dream of becoming a play-by-play broadcaster. Two years later, the Nashville native is celebrating graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in sports media during December commencement, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and a collection of accolades that underscore his remarkable journey.

For Bigsby, his path to Lipscomb was one of both discovery and faith. After earning an Associate Degree from Columbia State Community College, he took a gap semester to work an internship and search for his next college home. One night in April 2022, Bigsby and his mother were doing online research on universities with sports broadcasting programs, and he discovered the next stop on his academic journey.

“Lipscomb's sports media major happened to be one of the first ones that popped up. When we clicked on the link, the first thing that we saw was a picture of two Lipscomb students doing a radio broadcast at a basketball game,” he explains. “After seeing that photo and everything that the school and program had to offer, there really wasn't much doubt in my mind about where I wanted to be.”

“Ultimately, it just felt like this was where God truly wanted me to be,” Bigsby continues. “I couldn’t have imagined being anywhere else. The idea of going to school in a faith-oriented environment, close to family and friends, just felt right.”

Building a career, one call at a time

Bigsby quickly immersed himself in Herd Media, Lipscomb’s student-operated media outlet, where he honed his skills as a broadcaster, writer and storyteller. From writing game recaps to calling live sporting events, he used every opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice.

“Herd Media has given me the chance to actively apply what I’ve learned in the classroom through live experiences,” Bigsby explained. “The opportunity to take on different roles has made me a better broadcaster and writer and provided me with the rare opportunity to be an active part of the working sports media as a student.”

His skill and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Bigsby has earned several prestigious awards, including two Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards in the  television feature reporting and radio feature categories and recognition at the Southeast Journalism Conference Best of the South competition, where he placed second for Best TV Feature Reporter and third for Best TV Journalist.

Gaining experience in the field

Beyond campus, Bigsby secured internships that further prepared him for a career in sports media. In early 2024, he interned with the Nashville Predators as a game night communications intern, gaining hands-on experience in a professional sports environment.

In June, Bigsby was offered an internship with VandySports.com, where he covered Vanderbilt men’s and women’s basketball as a contributor, writing stories, interviewing players and coaches, and creating multimedia content.

“This opportunity not only provided me with the chance to make additional connections around the Nashville sports media scene, but it has also allowed me to work in a role outside of my desired career path, which is play-by-play commentary,” says Bigsby. “In this role, I have been able to see myself grow as a writer and even take on the challenge of embracing the role of a beat reporter, something that I had not had much experience with prior to this internship.”

Additionally, Bigsby participated in multiple internships with Lipscomb Academy’s football program over the last three seasons, working across various roles over three seasons, from play-by-play commentary to video editing, social media management and game operations.

A voice for the game

Even with his various experiences giving Bigsby opportunities to develop a diverse skillset, broadcasting remains his passion. For Bigsby, play-by-play broadcasting is more than just calling a game — it’s about immersing the audience in the moment.

“To me, there's just something special about being able to tell a story, especially a story that is unfolding and being written right in front of you; which is really what sports and sporting events are when you think about it,” says Bigsby. “I view play-by-play broadcasting as the connection between the story and the person watching or listening to the broadcast. It's the job of a broadcaster to not only be professional, objective and informative. It is also to be entertaining … to capture that person's attention and make them feel immersed within the story that is unfolding, to make them feel invested in what is happening and to evoke emotion based on that.”

“As a commentator, you are a key part of the soundtrack that accompanies the game and the story that is being told,” he continues. “There are so many iconic moments in sports that I couldn't imagine hearing without the unforgettable calls on broadcast that accompanied them, and I'd love to be able to be a small part in some of those moments in the future.”

As graduation approaches, Bigsby is excited to take the next step in his career. While continuing his work with VandySports and commentating local games, he plans to pursue full-time opportunities in sports media. He credits his time at Lipscomb with preparing him well for his future.

“These past two years at Lipscomb have honestly been the most beneficial time of my life to this point. I've seen myself grow and develop in so many ways, not just in my academics and career aspirations, but even more importantly in my faith and as a person,” he shares. “Being able to attend a school that embraces fostering a Christ-centric environment has been such a unique blessing and is something I'd recommend to anyone no matter where they are in their respective faith journey.”

“Lipscomb also blessed me with the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the sports media field and make valuable connections both within and outside of the Lipscomb community,” he continues. “It has helped me learn how to network, branch out of my comfort zone and see the value in taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you.”

“These past two years at Lipscomb have been the most beneficial of my life,” he reflected. “I’ve grown in my academics, my career aspirations, my faith, and as a person. Lipscomb has provided me with hands-on experience, a supportive community, and the chance to build a network that will help shape my future.”

Looking back, Bigsby is filled with gratitude. “I will forever be grateful to my time here at Lipscomb, the people that I have met and the experiences that I have been able to have in my years as a Bison,” he says. “From friends, to professors, to mentors and supervisors; there are so many great people in the Lipscomb community that have helped shape my experience into a positive one, and I will always appreciate them for that.”