Whitaker Returns to College Campus During Rays Off-Season

Between now and the Tampa Bay Rays' spring training, Tricia Whitaker keeps a full season. Just one month ago, Whitaker, completing her fourth season as the Rays' in-game reporter for Bally Sports Sun telecasts, was being doused with beer and other spirits as Tampa Bay's players were celebrating a very important victory in Houston.

A Rays 7-3 topping of the Astros on September 30 meant the club earned their fourth straight American League playoff berth. As the celebration rolled on in the Rays' clubhouse, Whitaker was attempting to continue on with her assignment.

Collecting player reactions to a season well done, and anticipation with Cleveland's Guardians in first-round Wild Card play, wiping away drizzling liquids from her face while working was Whitaker's reward, too.

After 162 regular season games covered, traveling with the club and her Bally Sports Sun teammates at all hours with the Rays, this is Whitaker's beat.

Fast forward to the final days of this month.

After Cleveland knocks Tampa Bay out of the playoffs, Whitaker packs for another road trip. This time there is no charter team jet to board. There are no baseball players picking their favorite seats. Whitaker is on her own.

Just shy of 1,000 miles north of the Rays' home at 1 Tropicana Drive in St. Petersburg, Whitaker trades in the balmy temperatures the Gulf of Mexico offers for Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana University's Media School is where Whitaker is spending her time until baseball season.

When reviewing IU's Media School faculty directory, Whitaker's profile is eighth from the final name. Nearly 150 members make up the department. 40,000 students at IU have the opportunity to look at what the Media School has to offer.

With Whitaker's time spent covering the Rays including earning four Emmy Awards, she is about to put real-life broadcast experiences to use with students. Side-line reporting, in-depth interviewing skills, on-air personality skills, and production are just a hint of what Whitaker has to offer to the next generation of sports broadcast journalists.

A graduate of IU's Media School program herself, Whitaker is eager to give back to her alma mater. But, at the same time, the seven months annually spent being around the Rays isn't easy to separate from.

"I'm a crier," Whitaker said earlier this week from Bloomington of her temporary time away from the Rays. " You really become attached to people. They become family. We're together for seven months. I think it's hard on everyone. But, we all need a break."

Trading in Tropicana Field as her home base for classroom instructions for Whitaker translates into saying so long to her Bally Sun Sports teammates. Dewayne Staats, who just this season called his 7,000th MLB game of his career, Brian Anderson, a former MLB pitcher and completing his 12th season as the Rays' TV color analyst, and Rich Hollenberg, a nine-season veteran anchoring the Rays' TV broadcasts are among the extended family remaining in Tampa Bay.

Using her professional experiences to motivate students isn't new for Whitaker. This is her sixth year instructing at IU.

"Teaching is like a breath of fresh air. I have so much fun. I'm so passionate about it (teaching). The Media School is such a great facility," says Whitaker, who prior to coming aboard the Rays' broadcast team reported on the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers for network TV affiliates.

The "fantastic setup" Whitaker boasts about at IU's Media School comprises state-of-the-art computers, editing systems, a studio, and numerous other professional-grade broadcast features.

On the first day of classes, Whitaker lays out to her students how best they should go about their studies. Veteran sports reporter Tom Rinaldi is who students are suggested to study. The FOX Sports journalists' style is the standard of excellence preached by Whitaker.

Cutting packages for broadcast, and demonstrating the impact they can have on viewers is essential learning with Whitaker's teachings. Telling stories that matter, then coaching how to go about doing so is a measure of growth in the program. Whitaker relays her own experiences and demonstrates to students her own growth on the job with Bally Sports Sun.

When her producer during a Rays' game directs that when the camera goes to her, Whitaker knows she has at times 30 seconds to be concise, informative, and entertaining. Growth is judged by Whitaker from unsolicited compliments.

Rays' manager Kevin Cash has commented to Whitaker on the evolution of the type of questions she presents to him on camera. Getting to know Cash and those associated with the team give Whitaker insight into improving ways to frame questions and project her subjects for the telecast's audience.

Being away from Tampa Bay in the winter months doesn't mean Whitaker doesn't keep her finger on the pulse of MLB happenings. Quite the opposite.

"I keep the switch on," Whitaker tells of the game. "I'm obsessed with baseball."

Teaching twice weekly, with classes scheduled from 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Whitaker appears to be among one of the most upbeat and sincere professionals on the phone, as baseball fans witness on TV. It's clear she cares for her profession and wants to ensure the next wave of reporters have the tools and tales that could make the difference in their getting the jobs desired.

Whitaker flat out says she is fortunate to have the reporting gig with Bally Sports Sun. She likes to think of herself as a good friend, and a little bit of family to her whole Rays in-season experience. Something tells me, Whitaker is thought of just the same by her colleagues.