Beyond the Play is a dynamic talk show created by Autumn Watts in collaboration with Scott Mills for their Capstone project. The show offers a unique blend of perspectives on the CSU Pueblo men’s and women’s basketball 2024-25 season, combining in-depth insight with Mills’ play-by-play radio analysis.
Their partnership brings two distinct viewpoints together: one from an athlete’s lens and the other from a broadcaster’s perspective, providing fans with a well-rounded narrative of the season.
Watts created this Capstone project in order to gain more on-camera experience, with her ultimate goal of trying to pursue a career as a sports reporter for a big company such ESPN, while also showcasing the material she learned within the Media & Entertainment Department.
Mills created this project to further develop his sports broadcasting skills and portfolio to help land a job in the sports broadcasting industry. He also wanted to build on his video-editing and journalism skills to showcase how he can effectively produce multiple forms of sports media content.
The main goal of Beyond the Play is to give athletes a voice, allowing them to share their experiences, opinions on plays, and clarify incidents that occurred throughout the season. This platform offers players the chance to defend themselves and their team, pushing back against public narratives or misconceptions. By highlighting the athletes’ personal stories, ambitions beyond basketball, and the players’ true personalities, the show aims to further a deeper connection between the players and the fans.
The talk show brings together multiple elements of media production, tying them into a cohesive and professional project. It draws from four key areas within the Media & Entertainment Department: audio, film & production, digital design, and journalism. Each of these departments contributes to the creation of the final product Beyond the Play, showcasing a collaborative effort that highlights what they’ve learned from this department on campus.
They wanted to design a project that encompassed every aspect of the media field — combining digital design, film and production, journalism, audio, and social media — while also delivering meaningful content. Bringing the talk show to life required extensive preparation and coordination with the media department, from developing the set to organizing production details.
However, partnering together made their process much more efficient. Mills’ expertise in radio broadcasting and game analysis added valuable depth to the project. Watts’ well-rounded experience in journalistic interviewing and media production allowed them to create a well-rounded and engaging show that highlights their work and the athletes.
Additionally, the show’s goal is to boost fan engagement and attendance at CSU Pueblo home games by making the teams more relatable and accessible. Through candid interviews and authentic storytelling, Beyond the Play not only celebrates the players’ athletic journeys but also gives them a platform to express their truth and build their own personal brands.
