In a way, Dave Furst is the "original" winner of ESPN's "Dream Job." In 1990, as a student at Indiana University, he competed and won a job as a sideline reporter for ESPN's broadcast of the IU vs. Ohio State football game. A year later, he was on national TV again working the IU vs. Kentucky game. The Newburgh, Ind., native decided to continue his broadcasting career after graduating from IU with a double major in political Science and journalism. But his collegiate background isn't all about the "cream and crimson" considering his grandfather was a graduate of Purdue.

His career has taken him to stops at WTVW-TV in Evansville, Ind., WLKY-TV in Louisville, Ky., WLFL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., and WOWK-TV in Huntington, W. Va.

He started as a sports reporter at RTV6 in October 1997 and was named sports director in January 2002.

Furst has been honored many times throughout his career. In 2007, he was awarded a Sportscasting Emmy for his work at WRTV. In 2006, he won an Emmy for his exclusive look at Indy Car driver Danica Patrick and an Emmy as host of "Sunday Sports Xtra." In 2005, he was again awarded an Emmy for Sportscasting Excellence. All told, Furst has been awarded five regional Emmys over the last four years.

He also won an Indiana Associated Press award for best sports program for the Brickyard 400 edition of "Sports Xtra" in 2001. Before that, he received the 1995 Best Sportscast award from the West Virginia Associated Press, the 1996 Best Sportscast and Best Sports Operation awards from the West Virginia Associated Press and the 1997 Best Sportscast and Best Sports Operation awards from the Ohio Associated Press.

In 1996, he was awarded Best Sports Story by the North Carolina Associated Press.

You can e-mail Dave at dave_furst@theindychannel.com.