Episode 2: Dr. Bobby Hayes, Chair of Journalism and Sports Media

In Episode 2 of Not 4 Credit, we sit down with Dr. Bobby Hayes, chair of the Department of Journalism and Sports Media at High Point University. Before leading one of the university’s most popular programs, Dr. Hayes spent years in the trenches as a sports journalist, covering everything from high school athletics to the NFL.The conversation begins with a special show-and-tell item—a print of the famous 16th hole at Augusta National—representing one of the most unforgettable moments of his career: covering the 1986 Masters when Jack Nicklaus made his legendary comeback to win a sixth green jacket. From the electricity of Augusta to the chaos of sideline reporting, Dr. Hayes shares stories from his time covering the New Orleans Saints, meeting childhood sports heroes, and witnessing some truly bizarre moments in sports reporting.Along the way, he reflects on the lessons that shaped him as a journalist—from learning the responsibility that comes with writing about young athletes to understanding the power of storytelling in sports.The episode also explores his unexpected transition from the newsroom to the classroom and how he helped build High Point University’s sports media program into one of the school’s fastest-growing areas. It’s a conversation about memorable moments, career pivots, and the craft of telling great sports stories.