SANTA CLARA, Calif. — While the Seattle Seahawks were busy dismantling the New England Patriots 29-13 to claim the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium, a trio of Alfred State students was carving out its own legacy on Media Row. Madisyn Herman, Douglas Premo, and Zach Dyer spent the week of Super Bowl LX operating at the highest level of sports journalism, proving that small-school talent can hold its own against the giants of the industry.
Representing the student-run Bandwagon club, the team navigated the high-stakes environment of San Francisco’s media hub. This marks the second year Alfred State has sent a contingent to the big game, and the results were immediate. From capturing the intensity of the NFL Pro Bowl to documenting the 2026 NFL National Girls’ Flag Football Championships, the crew didn’t just watch history—they recorded it.
Viral Moments and Professional Polish
Madisyn Herman, a veteran of the Super Bowl scene making her second appearance, led the photography efforts. She wasn’t just snapping local athletes; her lens caught influencers, entertainers, and NFL legends throughout the week. Meanwhile, Douglas Premo handled the technical heavy lifting, serving as the lead audio and video technician. Premo’s highlights included interviewing members of the eventual champion Seahawks during the chaos of Opening Night.
The on-air presence came from Zach Dyer, who worked the room as a personality while simultaneously producing graphics and logos on the fly. Back at the Alfred campus, the digital impact exploded. Student Samuel Robinson turned a reaction video of Bad Bunny’s record-breaking halftime show into a viral sensation, racking up over 1.1 million views on TikTok in a matter of hours.
The group operated under the guidance of advisor John Anderson, a Southern Tier journalism veteran. Anderson watched as his students transformed from classroom learners into confident professionals, engaging with icons they previously only saw on a television screen. The “Bandwagon” table became a networking hub, drawing interest from agents and producers who were impressed by the students’ polished output.
“Not only do we get to meet and produce content with some of the biggest names and celebrities in the world, we get professional contacts from so many agents and producers. It made us very proud to be Alfred State students and show the world what we can do.”
— Madisyn Herman, Alfred State Bandwagon
The Road Ahead: Building a Media Powerhouse
The success at Super Bowl LX is a massive win for the Alfred State Bandwagon program. By securing interviews with high-profile figures like Max Klymenko (9.5 million followers) and working alongside established outfits like Gameday Hospitality, these students aren’t just building resumes; they’re building a brand. With a state-of-the-art podcast and music recording studio back on campus, the club is positioned to become a premier pipeline for sports media talent.
As flag football prepares for its 2028 Olympic debut, the team’s coverage of the Girls’ Flag Football Championships shows a keen eye for where the industry is heading. For Herman, Premo, and Dyer, the 2026 season wasn’t just about a football game—it was the launchpad for their professional careers.
