Full Sail University

ESPN Shoots ‘Bill Parcells’ Draft Confidential’ Special in Full Sail’s Sports Lab

Hosted by SportsCenter commentator Mike Tirico, the 90-minute program will air on Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m.

ESPN Shoots ‘Bill Parcells’ Draft Confidential’ Special in Full Sail’s Sports Lab - Hero image

Full Sail University’s Sports Lab was recently transformed into an NFL draft room, as the school paired up with ESPN to shoot the upcoming Bill Parcells’ Draft Confidential special. Hosted by SportsCenter commentator Mike Tirico, the 90-minute program will air on Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. and features two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Parcells sharing his draft strategy as well as wisdom he’s gained throughout his 30 years in the NFL.

“Full Sail’s relationship with ESPN allows opportunities for students to work on real projects that provide real challenges,” said Erik Noteboom, Vice President, Education Operations. “Students are getting the chance to work on new ideas, as ESPN works to build original content for their viewers. Not only are our students getting exposed to the production process and the challenges that come with it, but they are also able to contribute and help push the envelope on things that have never been done before.”

After many hours of planning and strategizing, Full Sail’s Film students and faculty began work on the set construction for the production five days prior to shooting. “We started with an empty room,” said ESPN Associate Creative Director Dan Cunningham. “We had a vision and some drawings, and the Full Sail team put it all together and built a flawless set. It was a totally professional job.”

Throughout the shoot, Full Sail students were able to shadow ESPN’s crew members. “We were able to put students in different areas, including the utility crew, lighting, and set construction,” said David Saphirstein, ESPN’s Director of Creative Technology. “They were able to ask questions, learn about the production process, and exchange contact information. It was definitely a huge success.”