What does it take to build a national championship team — and a culture to match? Students in the Sports Documentary course at TCU explored that question in The Roditi Rule, a student-produced film that follows TCU men’s tennis through its historic 2024 NCAA title run.
The class, offered through the Film, Television and Digital Media program, challenges students to capture a compelling sports moment. In the first week, students apply for crew roles and are selected for key positions before production even begins. Then the real work begins—connecting with stakeholders, developing the story’s angle and managing the process from concept to completion.
This year’s film centered on head coach David Roditi and the cultural transformation he helped spark, one that changed not only a program but the game itself.
A New Kind of Tennis
At most tennis matches, the loudest sounds come from racquets and polite applause. But at TCU, that tradition has changed.
The “Roditi Rule” — officially the Big 12 Tennis Decorum Policy — opened the door to chants, cheers and crowd energy more commonly found at football or basketball games. For fans, the rule invited a new kind of courtside experience. For players, it helped fuel a championship season.
The students behind The Roditi Rule set out to explore the impact of that change and the decades of hard work and leadership behind it.
Finding the Real Story
Students in the Sports Documentary class talk with Coach Roditi to prepare the documentary.
Ella Hestand ’26, a junior sports broadcasting and journalism double major, served as director. Her original plan was to focus on the team’s season, but her conversations with Roditi shifted that perspective.
“I realized the real story was Coach Roditi himself,” Hestand said.
She discovered a deeper narrative: A former TCU player who came close to a national title in the ’90s returns to transform the program and finally leads it to an NCAA championship alongside a former teammate. “It’s a story that inspires, pulls at your heartstrings and gets you invested in college tennis,” she said.
Hestand said one of the biggest challenges was relying on external footage from TCU Athletics.
“As director, I knew how important b-roll would be, but I wasn’t sure it would arrive on time,” she said. “I had to trust that everything would come together.”
Behind the Camera, a Team Effort
Coach Roditi being interviewed by the team in the Green Screen Studio in Moudy South.
Carson Scott ’25, a film, television and digital media major, served as director of photography.
“During production, we really sought out action and natural shots — practices, games, behind-the-scenes moments — to visually tell the story,” Scott said.
He said the experience offered more than camera skills.
“Everyone involved had their own story and perspective,” he said. “It was intimidating at first, but we eventually got to know them as people.”
Scott said building connections with both the crew and the tennis team was a highlight.
“Our weekly interactions and our trip to accept our award in Las Vegas were some of my favorite parts,” he said.
For Scott, the project was about more than a championship.
“This story was about years of hard work from so many people,” he said. “We had the chance to document a legacy Coach Roditi and his team are still building.”
A Story That Stays With You
Students from the team posing with their award from BEA.
The film premiered to strong acclaim, earning an Award of Excellence at the 2025 Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts. It has been featured on TCU Athletics platforms, including GoFrogs.com and ESPN+ broadcasts of women’s basketball.
Braden Johnson, assistant director of communication for TCU Athletics, praised the students’ professionalism and creativity.
“You’d have no idea undergraduates were responsible for the cinematography, scripting and editing unless you were told,” Johnson said.
He added that the collaboration deepened ties between TCU Athletics and the Schieffer College.
“Sharing the documentary across Athletics’ social platforms and GoFrogs.com reflects a strong alignment with TCU Marketing & Communication,” he said. “Several students from the production team are now interning with our office.”
For the student team, The Roditi Rule wasn’t just a project — it was a moment. A chance to tell a story of leadership, perseverance and purple pride.