20 Years Later: The Unbelievable True Story Behind "Boom Went The Dynamite" And Where Brian Collins Is Now

In late 2025, the internet is still buzzing about a moment of televised chaos from two decades ago, a moment so universally relatable and cringe-worthy that it became an immortal internet meme. On March 22, 2005, a nervous Ball State University freshman named Brian Collins was filling in as the sportscaster for the student-run broadcast, *Newslink@9*, when a series of technical failures and a lack of preparation culminated in one of the most famous on-air meltdowns in history, forever cemented by the phrase: "Boom went the dynamite." The 20th anniversary of this iconic sports blooper in March 2025 serves as a fresh reminder of the power of viral fame and the sudden, explosive impact of a single, unscripted moment. The infamous clip, which has been viewed tens of millions of times across various platforms, is more than just a funny mistake; it is a cultural touchstone that perfectly encapsulates the early days of viral video sharing and the brutal, unforgiving nature of live television. Brian Collins's struggle to read the teleprompter, his frantic flipping of papers, and his desperate, improvised commentary—culminating in the now-legendary line—turned a student broadcast into a piece of digital history, launching a phrase that is still used today to describe any sudden, dramatic, or explosive event.

Brian Collins: A Biography of the Reluctant Viral Star

The story of "Boom Went The Dynamite" is intrinsically linked to the life of Brian Collins, a young man whose dream of becoming a sportscaster was instantly complicated by an unexpected dose of global infamy.

• Full Name: Brian Collins
• Born: Circa 1986 (Based on being a 19-year-old freshman in 2005)
• Hometown: Milan, Indiana, USA
• Alma Mater: Ball State University (BSU), Muncie, Indiana
• Incident Date: March 22, 2005
• Incident Context: Filling in as the sportscaster for the student-run broadcast, *Newslink@9*.
• Viral Phrase: "Boom went the dynamite."
• Post-Viral Career: Despite the initial embarrassment, Collins pursued his career, working as a sports reporter and anchor at various news stations in the Midwest and Texas, including a stint in Waco, Texas.
• Current Status (as of late 2025): While specific, day-to-day employment is private, Collins successfully navigated the initial stigma and continued to work in the media field, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to his professional goals despite the global recognition of his worst on-air moment.

The Anatomy of a Catastrophe: What Really Happened on March 22, 2005

The segment began with a seemingly simple task: a sports report. Freshman Brian Collins was filling in for a sick colleague on *Newslink@9*, the student-produced news program at Ball State University. What followed was a perfect storm of technical and personal failure that created TV gold. Collins was visibly nervous from the start, a common affliction for a college freshman making his on-air debut. However, the technical issues compounded his anxiety. The teleprompter was not working, leaving him without the prepared script. He began to read from his printed notes, but the papers were disorganized. The resulting commentary was a frantic, improvised word salad of sports clichés and confused statistics.

The Infamous Lines and the Climax

The blooper reel is a masterclass in escalating awkwardness, filled with unforgettable lines that have been quoted endlessly by sports fans and internet users:

• "Got a couple of scores here... of the area." (An early sign of trouble).
• "The Cardinals... they are a team." (A desperate attempt at analysis).
• "I'm gonna be honest with you right now, I'm a little nervous." (The moment of self-awareness that endeared him to millions).
• "The score is... 5 to 4." (A simple stat read with profound difficulty).
• "Boom went the dynamite." (The final, inexplicable, and iconic sign-off after a particularly confusing hockey score segment).

The phrase "Boom went the dynamite" was Collins's final, desperate, and completely unscripted attempt to transition out of a segment he couldn't salvage. It was a moment of pure, raw human struggle captured live, and within hours, it was being passed around the nascent internet, turning a local college news show into a global phenomenon.

The Explosive Cultural Impact and Meme Status

The virality of the "Boom went the dynamite" clip was a precursor to modern meme culture. It appeared during a pivotal time in the internet's history, predating YouTube's massive dominance but coinciding with the rise of widespread video sharing.

A Milestone in Viral Video History

The clip was initially shared on platforms like LiveJournal and early file-sharing sites. Its rapid spread demonstrated the internet's ability to turn a private blunder into a public spectacle. The phrase itself is a perfect catchphrase: short, punchy, and applicable to any situation where a sudden, dramatic, or decisive event occurs. * Sports Commentary: It is frequently used by professional sportscasters and fans to describe a sudden, game-changing play, a buzzer-beater, a knockout punch, or a spectacular goal. * Business and Finance: The phrase is often deployed on social media and financial blogs to comment on a sudden stock market surge or a major business deal that "explodes" onto the scene. * Everyday Use: From a friend announcing a surprise pregnancy to a sudden, loud noise, "Boom went the dynamite" has become a casual, hyperbolic expression for any unexpected climax. The enduring nature of the meme, even 20 years later, is a testament to its relatability. Everyone has experienced a moment of high-pressure failure, and Collins's on-air meltdown provided a humorous, shared experience of that feeling.

The Legacy of Brian Collins: From Blooper to Resilience

The immediate aftermath of the viral video was intensely difficult for Brian Collins. He faced ridicule and the fear that his career was over before it began. However, his story is ultimately one of resilience. Instead of abandoning his dream, Collins leaned into the fame with a surprising degree of grace. He began to appear on national shows, including *The Today Show*, to discuss the incident, turning a moment of humiliation into a unique—albeit unconventional—calling card. He completed his degree at Ball State University and successfully pursued a career in sports reporting and anchoring at various stations across the United States. While the meme may have been a temporary hurdle, Collins's ability to continue his career demonstrates that viral fame, even of the embarrassing variety, does not have to be a career killer. In fact, it gave him an instant, recognizable brand, a level of name recognition that most local sportscasters never achieve. His story is a powerful reminder that in the age of constant digital scrutiny, the response to a public failure is often more important than the failure itself.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords Related to the Phenomenon

The "Boom Went The Dynamite" incident touches on several key topics, making it a rich subject for discussion and search. * Media Entities: Ball State University, *Newslink@9*, *The Today Show*, Deadspin, YouTube, Viral Video. * Cultural Entities: Internet Meme, Sports Blooper, Viral Fame, Teleprompter Failure, On-Air Meltdown. * Associated Phrases (LSI Keywords): Boom goes the dynamite, Brian Collins sportscaster, Ball State blooper, viral news anchor, sports broadcast failure, what does boom went the dynamite mean, Brian Collins where is he now. This iconic moment, now two decades in the past, continues to resonate because it captures the essence of human vulnerability in the spotlight. As the internet continues to evolve, the phrase "Boom went the dynamite" remains a timeless shorthand for when things suddenly, and spectacularly, go wrong.