The five-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and mass communications and a master’s degree in business administration launched this fall.

Fritz Messere ’71, M ’76, dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, said he sees many graduates of the college’s broadcasting program develop successful careers in the field outside the studio. The new degree option aims to give such students a quick start on that career path.

“Particularly the students we see graduate from the broadcast program who are not in a creative area, they tend to be focused in some area related to business: sales of broadcast time, programming, management of broadcast stations, advertising and marketing,” Messere said.

Richard Skolnik, dean of the School of Business, noted that the strength of the two programs at Oswego makes the combination especially attractive for students seeking thorough grounding for solid careers. The School of Business appears every year in Princeton Review’s guide to “Best Business Schools.” The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences lists Oswego’s broadcasting program among the nation’s outstanding television, film and digital media programs.

Mom put the kibosh on that idea, but Dave was able to grab his degree, make his first and only collegiate play-by-play broadcast and launch a career that has made him the television voice of the National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

David Benz ’92 most recently hosted, anchored and reported for Comcast Sportsnet in San Francisco. Last fall he became the TV play-by-play voice of the National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I’ve always wanted to do full-time play-by-play,” says Dave, who has spent his two-decade career as a sports broadcast journalist in Miami, Dallas, Denver and D.C., among other cities.

Most recently, he was able to enjoy the Giants’ 2010 baseball championship run and last year’s successful 49ers football season as a host, anchor and reporter for Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area in San Francisco.

“I’ve had the chance to go to great places and meet a lot of people … I’ve had an unbelievable career,” Dave says. In addition to his full-time studio work, Dave found his way into some TV and radio play-by-play gigs covering college sports and arena league football while also working the sidelines for the NFL, MLB and NBA broadcasts. The work paid off as he now enters a very small fraternity of NBA commentators.

“I feel like this is the job I’ve been grooming myself for basically my whole professional life,” Dave says.

“There’s just something about doing the game live,” he says. “It’s so much more electric.”

Dave cut his teeth “cutting tape” in the WTOP studios, where he directed and hosted “7 O’Clock News.”

“That was invaluable experience,” says Dave, who worked closely with Professor Mike Ameigh, current School of Communication, Media and the Arts Dean Fritz Messere ’71, M ’76 and Bill Canning of the television lab staff.

“It was Oswego that gave me the confidence and the skills to succeed in the real world, where you’re all headed Monday,” Levy told more than 750 graduating seniors, their families and friends May 13.

Steve Levy ’87, second from right, was the emcee of the Sesquicentennial Torchlight Ceremony in May. Also leading the festivities were from left, Mistress of Ceremonies Jacquelyn Costello ’11, Torchbearer Tyler Hilliard ’11, President Deborah F. Stanley, Levy, and Student Speaker Meghan Milewski ’11.

“This is your shot right now. This is your time to go out and do something you love, something you are passionate about,” Levy said at the Commencement Eve Dinner, which precedes the Torchlight Ceremony. “If you love something that you’re doing, chances are you’re going to be great at it.”

Levy got his start sportscasting at WTOP-TV and WOCR-AM as a communication studies major at Oswego. He joined ESPN and became an anchor on the network’s flagship SportsCenter program in 1993.

“I know all of you will make us, the alumni, very proud,” he said. “So I leave you with this: Get out of here. Go be great at whatever you’re great at and achieve your happiness.”