While viewers tune in for Paul Pabst and Andrew Perloff on NBC Sports’ new show “Not So Fast,” a team of Sacred Heart graduates are helping bring the production to life behind the scenes.
The set and staff of the Pabst and Perloff show at NBC Studios.
| Contributed by Paul Pabst |
“Not So Fast” premiered Aug. 31 and airs live at noon on Peacock and NBC Sports Now. The show follows “The Dan Patrick Show” and was built to keep that audience watching.
“It’s a little bit like the Dan Patrick Show meets PTI [Pardon the Interruption] from ESPN,” said Pabst. “It’s a two-person show, fast, talking about sports, stuff outside of sports, whatever we want to talk about.”
SHU graduate and sports communication and media (SCM) professor Mario Miranda was offered the opportunity to direct the new show.
“Since I was already directing the [Dan Patrick Show], I was offered the opportunity to direct the new program as well, with both shows being produced out of the same facility and control room,” said Miranda.
Beyond his broadcasting career, Pabst serves as interim director of Sacred Heart’s graduate sports communication and media program and as its professional development coordinator.
“Part of my job is to help our students get jobs and internships,” said Pabst. “When I was able to have a little bit of a budget to hire some people, I went right to the Sacred Heart people I knew because I know what I’m getting into. We actually call it a bit of a pipeline,”
That pipeline includes Jack Cavicchi, Morgan Bedard, Miranda, Dan Gardella, Ray Niver, Rob Heineman, Anthony Surrusco and Dan Raath, all of whom helped produce content for either “Not So Fast” or “The Dan Patrick Show.”
Miranda, who also serves as an adjunct professor, has helped create opportunities for graduates to enter the industry.
“It’s been awesome working with so many SHU graduates,” said Miranda. “Many of them were actually students of mine, and I had the opportunity to be involved in the hiring process.”
One of those graduates, Raath, joined “The Dan Patrick Show” part-time after being recruited by Miranda before moving into a full-time role when the launch of “Not So Fast” expanded the show’s staff.
“I now work as a studio technician, where I help develop and expand the broadcast infrastructure used for NSF,” said Raath.
While Raath works behind the scenes, fellow SHU graduates Jack Cavicchi and Dan Gardella have found opportunities as editors for “Not So Fast.”
Cavicchi started part-time with “The Dan Patrick Show” in April 2026 and is now a full-time editor for NSF.
“A typical day for me involves editing b-roll for the show based on whatever event was important last night, such as Monday Night Football or an MLB Playoff game,” said Cavicchi.
Gardella followed a similar path, starting as an intern for “The Dan Patrick Show” before being hired as a full-time editor for NSF.
“There is a level of trust I have with everyone that they will be the best at their specific roles as a result of being a Sacred Heart alum,” said Gardella.
For athletes reading this article, “we’re [the SCM program] a great option for anyone at Sacred Heart who loves sports, loves playing sports, but wants to continue by covering sports,” said Pabst.
The growing number of SHU graduates working in professional sports broadcasting reflects the vision behind the sports communication and media program.
“We want to flood the industry with SHU graduates,” said Pabst. “It’s working, it’s happening.”
