AUBURN, Ala. – Daymeon Fishback pays homage to fellow former Auburn basketball standout Charles Barkley, the standard bearer for the many former Tiger student-athletes on TV.
"I think the guy who set the tone for us broadcasters, the one who's making the most money, said it best," said Fishback, referencing Barkley. "You can't like Auburn. You've got to love it.
"When you see one of your Auburn family members having success, you can't help but be excited about their opportunity."
While Barkley holds court on TNT's famed "Inside the NBA" studio show, Fishback sits courtside, analyzing the hows and whys on SEC Network broadcasts since 2014.
Fishback views his analyst role as extending beyond what he sees on the court.
"The opportunity to give back," said Fishback, who also works as a studio analyst in addition to his day job in financial services. "I'm very big about going to practices, trying to meet with family members and truly finding out individuals' stories because I feel like they've earned the right for us to tell their story the correct way.
"My motive is to always tell the truth. To not do it for ratings but to have people say, 'This guy has integrity. If he says it, then he believes it.'"
Fishback traces the origins of his broadcasting career to his time playing for the Tigers from 1996-2000, and how the way he represented Auburn during media interviews impressed former sports information director Chuck Gallina.
"He said, 'Man, you're really good at this, Fish. Have you ever thought about being a broadcaster?'" recalled Fishback, who also credited his head coach, Cliff Ellis, for accelerating his broadcasting career after several seasons filling in as an analyst for Auburn games on radio.
"Coach Ellis made a couple phone calls. He said, 'This guy's been doing radio for years, he's really good, you should give him a chance.' And that's how I got started."
When Barkley won his second Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, former Auburn swimmer and fellow gold medalist Rowdy Gaines debuted as NBC's swimming analyst, a role he's served with distinction ever since.
Former Auburn and NFL star linebacker Takeo Spikes traded his football helmet for a microphone after playing 15 professional seasons, debuting on SEC Network during 2022 SEC Media Days.
"I'm truly excited for Takeo, who's always been a close friend," Fishback said. "I think he's phenomenal."
"I've always had my eye on the SEC Network," Spikes said. "To me, this is the epitome of excellence when you talk about a collegiate athlete playing football. It gets no better than this."
Spikes' final season on the Plains, 1997, was the first for four-year letterwinner Cole Cubelic, who began in sports talk radio before becoming part of an SEC Network crew in 2016.
"I try to live it and breathe it," Cubelic said. "I don't think there's any other way."
Each week when Tiger fans tune into the Auburn Network, they hear football standouts Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring.
Former Auburn gymnast Toi Garcia brings her expertise to Friday Night Heights calling Auburn meets on SEC Network since 2018.
Former Auburn volleyball student-athlete Dawn Davenport has parlayed a television and radio career into a decade of sideline reporting and play-by-play assignments with ESPN and SEC Network.
Auburn being Auburn: Dawn Davenport, Cole Cubelic and Taylor Beth Davis made ESPN history in March
In March, Cubelic and Davenport teamed up with fellow Auburn University College of Liberal Arts graduate Taylor Beth Davis to call an XFL game between San Antonio and Houston on ESPN2, becoming the first trio from the same university to call the same game.
"We had three Auburn Tigers on broadcast, with a wide age range and graduation years," Davenport said. "That Auburn flavor was pretty cool."
Davenport credits Auburn public address announcer Ric Smith, a senior lecturer and internship director in the college, for encouraging her to intern, network and get hands-on experience while a student.
"We were taught how to go about things the right way," she said. "A lot of this business is about relationships and making sure you nourish those. I think that's part of it too."
"I think it says a lot about Auburn," Cubelic said. "It's a testament to the people who have been inside that program for a long time like Ric Smith and John Carvalho. There are people who know how to prepare you for life after college."
Cubelic hopes to serve as a role model for Auburn students and student-athletes interested in broadcasting careers.
"Hopefully there are examples like Takeo, Dawn and myself who can say you can come through Auburn and be successful," he said.
"When you cross paths with other Auburn grads, there's a different connection," said Davis, a 2014 graduate. "When I got to Auburn, I was instilled with all the confidence and tools that equipped me to chase this career and that still apply to my job every day.
"Every time I tell people I graduated from Auburn it is greeted with respect. I think that says a lot about the institution. They always say if you love Auburn it will love you back, and I have seen that in my career for sure."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
