On a Friday morning in April 2024, a group from the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication gathered for a celebratory breakfast.
They were celebrating the Iowa Board of Regents approval of a new sports media and communication major, slated to start fall semester 2025. They were equally excited about the previous day’s announcement of Farm O’Geddon, the conference football game between Iowa State and Kansas State slated for August 2025 in Dublin.
As the group discussed all the big news, a shamrock-shaped light bulb went off in Teaching Professor Brenda Witherspoon’s head.
What if Greenlee created a study abroad program and sent students enrolled in the new major to Dublin to cover the game? The group quickly got to work sketching out a hands-on, real-world three-credit course they dubbed Touchdown in Dublin, getting buy-in from administrators, and recruiting students.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Assistant Teaching Professor James McNab (’00). “We were expecting around 10 students but ultimately had to cap it at 19.”
“I wanted to be a part of Touchdown in Dublin the minute that it was announced,” says Abby Altman, a junior. “It was not only an incredible opportunity to grow my skills in videography, reporting, covering football, and more, but was also a great opportunity to grow stronger relationships with my fellow sports media majors at Iowa State.”
Students spent the summer meeting with faculty, learning about international travel and Ireland, and preparing their individual reporting projects focused on aspects of the game or Irish culture. Their work would be content for a range of social media channels and campus publications. A partnership with KCCI-TV in Des Moines provided opportunities for exposure of the students’ work beyond campus.
Touchdown in Dublin exemplifies the possibilities of Greenlee School’s sport media and communication major, McNab says.
The breadth of the Greenlee program and the real-world opportunities we can offer students through Cyclone sports, the Iowa Cubs, national teams in our region — like the Kansas City Chiefs — and more, really set this program apart, McNab says.
Kayde Sheaffer, who saw the Dublin experience as an opportunity to demonstrate that women have a place in sports journalism, wrote an article about the history of the iconic Farmageddon match-up.
“I had the most amazing time,” says Sheaffer. “This trip helped me with my overall confidence. I said ‘Go Cyclones’ to almost everyone wearing Iowa State and Kansas State gear. I interviewed around 40 people for my major story, and I think I was able to find my voice, get out of my shell, and develop better conversational and interviewing skills.”
Matt Nielsen, a senior, and Altman teamed up for a two-part video about the Iowa State Marching Band. It gave them the enviable opportunity to be on the Farm O’Geddon gridiron.
“The coolest thing I was able to do was to have field access as a videographer. Although my focus was on the band, just being on the field surrounded by professionals was not only really cool, but it gave me something to look at for the future and learn from what they were doing,” Nielsen says. “Being able to produce content that will look good on my portfolio was great.”
The first part of their project focused on the band’s preparation, including a joint rehearsal with the Kansas State band. Once in Dublin, they followed the band around to pep-rally destinations, including the performance in the Guinness Storehouse, and got to interview people like President Wendy Wintersteen (’88) and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard.
“I love Cyclone Athletics. Even before I knew that I’d be on the field, just seeing an Iowa State takeover in a different country sounded really fun to me,” Nielsen says. “The win was just the icing on the cake. Although it was frustrating not being able to cheer as I sat in the press room working on my project during the second half.”
Altman found the experience “incredible.”
“This trip prepared me so well as a professional. It gave me confidence as I go forward in sports media,” she says. “It also allowed me to grow my portfolio and resume, giving me the opportunity to market myself to future employers. This trip was one of the best things that has happened thus far in my time at Iowa State, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
Touchdown in Dublin exceeded Grace Roncke’s expectations.
“Collecting amazing opportunities like this is critical to developing your expertise if you want to go into sports media,” says Roncke, a sophomore. “This trip definitely contributed to my college experience, especially with the connections I have made. At the beginning of the trip, nobody knew anyone else. By the last day, we all became inseparable.”
While the professional experience was a big attraction, Ireland had personal meaning for some students. Roncke’s grandfather’s family is from Ireland, and she was “excited to see the country that has been a part of my heritage.”
Logan Barleen, a senior, visited Ireland several years ago and now performs with a local traditional Irish band. Given that background, it’s no surprise he opted to do a short documentary on the role Irish pubs play as community gathering spots.
“I’ve grown up deeply entrenched in Irish culture, and a chance to do some work over in Ireland, especially in this manner, is a fantastic opportunity,” Barleen says. “A big thing I hope to accomplish is educating some folks in Iowa about the Irish experience and lifestyle and hopefully dispel some stereotypes in the process.”
Touchdown in Dublin came with a cost, but several students were able to cover it with help from families as well as financial assistance awarded through the LAS Dean’s High Impact Study Abroad Award and Gary L. and Margaret W. Krull International Scholarship Fund.
Nielsen’s parents were on board from day one, he says. “They might have been more excited than I was to be honest.”
At first, Altman feared she couldn’t afford to go, but her dad told her she had to have the experience.
“I received help from my parents and some extended family, including my aunt, who is a huge advocate for women in sports and wants to help me succeed in my dream,” Altman says.
The group that dreamed up Touchdown in Dublin back in April 2024 had a lot more than a Cyclone win to celebrate in August 2025.
“It was an outstanding experience, and I’m extremely proud of what our students accomplished in the short amount of time they had,” McNab says. “This is a model for the future. And the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is definitely on our radar.”
Student Lens
ISU sophomore Grace Roncke shares a play-by-play of her day covering Farm O’Geddon.
Stadium Entry – 10:00 a.m.
I arrived with our team of Greenlee students at Aviva Stadium, all of us eager to create social media posts for the Greenlee Global Instagram account and finish videos, articles, and other media as part of our final projects. Upon arrival, I received my press pass that allowed access to the field, and then we all checked in our pre-approved camera equipment with event staff. Game day had finally arrived.
Cyclone Excitement – Noon
I walked on the field and got a feel for where I would be during the game and how I could best document the action. Along the way, we visited the Cyclone pep band and captured some of their pre-game experience.
Press Preparation – 2:00 p.m.
We made our way to the main bustling media room. I was surrounded by local media and international journalists; the room was abuzz with conversation and Irish accents. It felt as though we were the only Americans in the room, and we were definitely the youngest. We did our best to look like we belonged, and soon after, a few Kansas State students joined us. I settled into my workspace to prepare for the game.
Pre-game Entertainment – 4:00 p.m.
I took my place on the sidelines and began to photograph the pre-game festivities. Live music, professional Irish dancers, and fireworks took center stage and filled me with a sense of awe and gratitude for the chance to experience a different culture on a Cyclone gameday.
Kick Off – 5:00 p.m.
From the opening kick, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric. Even the downpour of rain couldn’t dampen our collective excitement — I covered my equipment with raingear and continued to document the game from a perspective few get to experience. I was stationed next to three local camera operators who, during timeouts, would turn to me for help to understand the rules of American football.
Halftime – 6:40 p.m.
At halftime, I returned to the media room, where we were presented with snacks and refreshments, and a brief reprieve from the rain. I used the break to upload photos and videos, double-check my camera settings, and, with a newfound respect, watch the other media professionals hard at work covering a major collegiate event.
Victory – 8:30 p.m.
As a member of the media, I knew I couldn’t cheer or celebrate the hard-fought Cyclone win, but I did wear a small smile as I ran from the sidelines onto the field to capture the celebration.
Long Walk – 11:00 p.m.
Our work for the night was done, and it was time to return to our hotel. We waded through a sea of cardinal, gold, and purple as fans lined the streets and piled into pubs. Back at the hotel, we ordered food and celebrated the successful trip. When the trip began, we were shy and kept to ourselves, but by the end, friendships and connections were formed, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the people I met along the way.