UD senior and soccer player Cris Granada spent the summer working as a digital media intern with NBC Sports. The experience helped him define his career path in the broadcasting industry.

From the pitch to a profession

Article by Hilary Douwes Photo illustration by Jaynell Keely | Photos by Ali Cucinotta and Mikey Reeves and courtesy of Cris Granada August 19, 2025

UD soccer player discovers dream career through NBC Sports internship

University of Delaware senior Cris Granada can’t remember a time when soccer wasn’t a part of his life. He started playing when he was 3 or 4 and dreamed of playing professionally when he grew up. In high school, he became interested in broadcasting and digital media, and he realized he could combine both passions at UD.

Now, thanks to an internship with NBC Sports and support from UD’s faculty and his coaches, Granada is hoping to join a new team — a broadcasting team covering the world’s most popular sport.

Granada, a communication major with a concentration in media communication and minors in journalism and sport management, spent the summer as a digital media intern. His duties included working with assistant producers and the NBC sports desk, editing content from live events like the Tour de France, podcasts and shows that air on NBC’s Peacock streaming service, like the Dan Patrick Show. The clips were then posted to the NBC Sports website and social media. He also worked on the show Pro Soccer Talk, and wrote a story for the soccer section of the network’s website.

This was Granada’s second summer interning with NBC. In addition to building on the skills as a digital media creator he learned last year, he got to see more of the elements needed to produce a live sporting event. That experience helped him define his career path.

The long days included a three-hour commute to and from his home in Allendale, New Jersey, to the NBC office in Connecticut, eight hours of work and time spent training for the upcoming soccer season after he got home.

“There were definitely days when it was brutal, but I couldn’t turn down an opportunity like this,” he said. “Before my first internship I always wanted to be in front of a camera, but this summer made me realize I generally like being behind the camera more,” he said.

Premier opportunity

The realization came during the highlight of the internship — working on the network’s live broadcasts of the English Premier League’s summer series in the U.S, three days of preseason games between four teams from England’s top league.

Granada was on the field for the games at MetLife stadium in New Jersey on July 26, conducting fan interviews and creating behind-the-scenes content for the NBC Sports digital platforms, social media accounts and YouTube channel. He also interviewed Premier League host Rebecca Lowe. His work received hundreds of thousands of views.

Granada worked pitchside creating content for NBC Sports’ digital platforms at the English Premier League game at MetLife Stadium in July.

“Being pitch side and capturing the energy of the crowd gave me a real look into the excitement and demands of covering live events, which was an unforgettable experience,” he said, grinning.

On Aug. 3, he traveled to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where he shadowed the graphics team in the control room during the live broadcast. He listened to the directors and producers over a headset throughout the game and was surprised to learn that highlighting individual players on the field is not a high priority.

“There's like 20 voices at once, and it was really cool just to see how everything works,” Granada said. “The director says cut to the camera showing that fan showing emotion or that celebration. But it’s not just telling people what to do. They’re thinking about what it’s like to be a viewer and how to tell a story. It was awesome to listen and see it come together minute by minute. I realized that’s where I want to be 20 years from now. That’s what I love.”

Support on and off the pitch

While his UD coaches have pushed Granada to succeed on the soccer field, Lydia Timmins, associate professor of communication, adjunct professor Tim Furlong of NBC10 in Philadelphia and Nancy Karabjanian, director of the journalism program, encouraged him in the classroom.

This spring he was one of 10 students from the mid-Atlantic region to receive a scholarship from the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. More than 60 undergraduates applied for the honor. Timmins, who hired Granada as a teaching assistant this fall, attended the award ceremony with him.

“When I first met him Cris was already committed and determined, and watching him grow and increase his skillset has been so wonderful,” Timmins, an NBC alum, said. “He has talent in both production and on the field, which I think gives him a huge advantage. I definitely see him making a place for himself in the field.”

Granada and men’s soccer coach Tommy McMenemy during training for the upcoming season.

He has the same commitment to UD’s men’s soccer team as well.

“He worked so hard [for NBC] all summer, and as much as he traveled he never let it impact his preparation,” Coach Tommy McMenemy said. “He actually broke his own personal fitness testing records recently. He always put the team first.”

McMenemy said Granada has become more confident since interning with NBC.

“He's more willing and comfortable speaking up in leadership situations, whether that's on the field, in training or if we're doing workshops with the team,” he said.

UD offers all student-athletes a program called Building Leaders Utilizing Education (BLUE), which provides resume, interviewing and networking workshops, among other activities, to prepare athletes who decide to transition out of sports after graduation.

“Student athletes make great employees,” McMenemy said. “To get to this level of college athletics, you have to have a great work ethic. You have to be able to navigate conflict resolution, deal with pressure situations, follow instructions, time management, all of the things that are just kind of innate in our student athletes.”

While Granada isn’t sure whether he’ll look for a job or consider graduate school after graduation, he is grateful to have had the opportunity with NBC.

“I tried to take as much as I could from the internship,” he said. “Maybe I won’t find what I want to do right away, but as of right now I love the behind-the-scenes aspect of TV.”