Delta State University

« Back to Recent News

Delta State to host roundtable on sports and digital media Oct. 19

Cleveland, MS (10/09/2026) —

Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (662) 846-4678

Email: nduff@deltastate.edu

Delta State to host roundtable on sports and digital media Oct. 19

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will host "The Digital Sideline: Sports and Content Creation in Mississippi and Beyond," a fall sports roundtable at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Jobe Hall Auditorium.

Co-sponsored by the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Division of Sport and Movement Sciences, the event will explore sports marketing, media production and career opportunities in an evolving digital landscape. Dr. Todd Davis and Professor Don Allan Mitchell will lead the conversation.

Featured panelists are Blake Levine of the Magnolia Shine Podcast, Tangela Banks, head women's basketball coach and interim athletic director at Mississippi Delta Community College, and Tyler Cleveland of the Crooked Letter Sports podcast.

The panelists will discuss the future of sports from their perspectives in coaching, athletics administration, journalism and independent content creation. A question-and-answer session will follow the discussion.

"My students are excited to hear from these distinguished panelists about the means to promote and develop sports in Mississippi and beyond," said Davis, associate professor of sport and movement sciences.

Levine launched the Magnolia Shine Podcast after a decade in local news. His work highlights Mississippi sports and the stories behind the state's teams and athletes. Originally from Los Angeles, Levine is a Syracuse University graduate who studied broadcast journalism.

Banks has led MDCC's women's basketball program since 2019. During the 2024-25 season, the Lady Trojans recorded a program-best 21 wins and reached the Region 23 championship game. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she serves as the college's interim athletic director.

Cleveland has spent approximately 20 years covering Mississippi sports. His experience includes reporting for the Hattiesburg American, Madison County Journal, Jackson Free Press and Clarion-Ledger, along with digital sports coverage for Rivals and Scorebook Live. He currently co-hosts Mississippi Today's Crooked Letter Sports podcast, which streams through Mississippi Today and YouTube.

Dr. Charles R. Westmoreland Jr., associate professor of history and chair of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, said the discussion offers something for audiences across academic disciplines and professional backgrounds.

"This is the type of discussion that will resonate with students of different majors and people of various backgrounds," Westmoreland said. "You don't have to be an expert podcaster or a sports stats savant to gain insights from this panel discussion."

Students, faculty, staff and members of the surrounding community are encouraged to attend and participate in the conversation.

"We all live in a digital age and live in communities where sports are important to daily life and the broader culture," Westmoreland said. "We hope to attract a great crowd from campus and the wider community. We encourage all attendees to take part in an enlightening Q&A session following the panel discussion."

For more information, contact Westmoreland at cwestmoreland@deltastate.edu or 662-846-4066.

Cutline: (L to R) Blake Levine, Tangela Banks and Tyler Cleveland will be the featured panelists at "The Digital Sideline: Sports and Content Creation in Mississippi and Beyond," a fall sports roundtable at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Jobe Hall Auditorium at Delta State University.

###

About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 15 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.

Media Attachments

(L to R) Blake Levine, Tangela Banks and Tyler Cleveland will be the featured panelists at “The Digital Sideline: Sports and Content Creation in Mississippi and Beyond,” a fall sports roundtable at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Jobe Hall Auditorium at Delta State University.

Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out