We at The ThunderCast have always appreciated those in the media who work the long nights; make the long trips; and bring us the stories of our Marshall Athletics programs. This article is the first in a series that will allow you to get to know these media personnel a little better and find out how they got to their current roles. So first, let’s get to know Marshall beat writer Luke Creasy of The Herald-Dispatch, who sat down with Rus Livingood for this Q & A.
Moving to the Beat
Q: How did you get started in the media game?
I grew up loving sports but always preferred to watch rather than play. Is that because I’m unathletic? Yes. Coming to that realization sooner rather than later was probably beneficial for me, so I hung up the cleats after aging out the local YMCA youth soccer league.
I knew I wanted to be around sports, and media was a great way to do that. I studied sports broadcast in college, graduating from Marshall in 2018 with a degree in broadcast journalism and soon after took an internship with the Herald-Dispatch. Worked my way over to the sports department and here we are.
Q: And after putting in several years at the Herald-Dispatch, you took over the Marshall Athletics beat. Was that something you had as a goal?
It was. I had a five-year goal to be working in sports whether it was at the Herald-Dispatch or otherwise. I think it’s smart to have clear goals and let the higher ups know straight up. I bounced around on a couple different beats on the news side before landing on the Herd beat, but this was my goal.
Q: How accepted were you by the coaches and administration as the new guy on the beat?
It’s funny, because the guy that had it before me had done it for over a decade and is now on the athletic department side of things. Before he left he had made sure most everyone in the building new my name, but then there was a ton of turnover in head coaches and administration so it was like starting fresh.
I made a point to be around as much as I could. Not only around coaches and student athletes but also training staff, equipment guys, facilites people. The more they know you, the easier stuff comes. Year two was easier than year one, as far as the job goes, because of the people I had made connections with and earned their trust.
Road Dog
Q: Marshall away games means lots of travel, even though we talk as fans about how easy the travel is in this conference comparatively. What does travel look like for you on these away games?
Work travel is so much different than fan travel. I’ve done both. I’m grateful for some of the regional games like App State and James Madison which are doable day-trips. I usually travel the day before the game and then back the day after. I like getting in town early to see around the town because traveling is as fun as you make it.
One of my favorite things is to find a local coffee shop and settle in and get some work done so that game day is a little more relaxed. I typically get to the stadium between two and three hours prior to kickoff to get my stuff set up in the press box and get a feel for the facility and won’t leave until around two or three hours after kickoff when my writing is finished.
Q: Craziest turnaround for covering more than one event?
This one happened just this season. I flew back from covering football’s final road game at South Alabama Sunday morning, it was the first flight out so that I could get back to cover Marshall soccer’s NCAA tournament game that afternoon. I was gassed after that one, not going to lie.
Q: You know I’m a foodie and I have to throw in a question about food. What’s the Sun Belt associated town or city with the best food scene that you’ve been able to hit up?
I will throw two out there. New Orleans, Louisiana, which hosts SBC football media days in the summer, is a fantastic spot. Really enjoyed the cuisine down there and branched out to try a Muffuletta thanks to some ThunderCast encouragement. Harrisonburg, Virginia has a few nice local spots and I still think about an Elvis Burger from Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint more often than I should.
The Man Behind the Pen (or Laptop, Really)
Q: You are out there in the public with your social media content, and that can get. . .let’s say interesting with regards to fan comments and theories thrown out as comments on your coverage. How do you go about handling the negative or sometimes absurd comments?
The more absurd they get, the more likely I am to completely ignore comments. There are several accounts that I automatically glance over. If takes are just completely asinine, I’ll call you out. I don’t care to do that.
My mentions can get wild during games but I enjoy the interaction. I think the more in tune I am with the fan base, the better and more engaging my coverage can be as a reporter. I know not everyone is going to like the way I go about coverage, but I’ve got thick skin.
Q: What is the proudest you have been with your career so far? Throw some self love out, man.
I took over this beat and have made it my own. Wouldn’t be in my position without others helping pull some strings but I’m confident in my work. I was named the National Sports Media Association Sportswriter of the Year for West Virginia in 2022. That was big, considering it was my first year as a full-time sports guy.
I won awards in college for my broadcasting work but that was a first big award for my print career. I was ready for the stage and the moment.
Q: What does Luke Creasy do with his downtime, considering there seems to not be much of that with all the games and events you cover?
I’m a musician. I sing and play guitar at my local church where I’m on staff part-time as the worship leader. Music is an escape for me and I actually spent about a decade in band, Torn in Two, that toured a good bit around the area. We stopped playing in 2017 and I shifted my focus to school then but still play bass and guitar. My entire family (mom, dad, two brothers) also play an instrument or sing.
Thanks for sitting down with us, Luke!
You can (and should!) follow Luke Creasy on Twitter/X at @LukeCreasy. You can also find his articles at The Herald-Dispatch here.
Great interview. Your sports writing is captivating, offering insightful analysis and a fresh perspective that keeps readers engaged. Keep up the excellent work.
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