Troy University Athletics
Homecoming, Tailgating, and Broadcasting
11/9/2008 6:00:00 AM | General
I'm not sure if it was because it felt so good to finally be able to broadcast a football game at Troy, or because I had a full schedule of stuff to do, or because the Trojans won and became eligible for postseason, but Saturday was one of the most enjoyable days I've ever spent on campus. Troy beat WKU 17-7, the broadcast went very well, and Jerry, Chris, and I (and Alyson) didn't have to change a tire all day.
I hit campus at 8am to be on the Saturday Morning Scoreboard Show on the radio with Les Perault and Kirke Adams, which is always fun. They were on campus as the guests of Adrian and Judy Holman in front of their omnipresent Airstream in the RV lot, and I enjoyed it, as always.
Then I sneaked in and watched a little of Troy's basketball practice at Trojan Arena next door and caught up with Coach Maestri and Coach Felix. The Trojans open up this Saturday at Trojan Arena against UAB, and you need to be there! Because our regular crew will be in Baton Rouge to cover the Troy-LSU football game, former Montgomery Biscuits broadcaster Jim Tocco will handle the radio call of the game on the Troy ISP Sports Network.
I caught Troy's track and field coaches in their office as well. Jill Lancaster and Tommy Barksdale had a big recruiting day planned, but they still set aside some time with me. I had the chance to see Troy compete in the "Great American" Cross-Country event in Spain Park last month, and told the coaches how impressed I was with the way the Trojans competed. Troy's lucky to have Coach Lancaster and Coach Barksdale, and also to have the help of Doc Anderson to provide coaching, life skills and philosophy...
I'd worked up an appetite by that point, so I took my buddy Kendall Leverette up on his invitation to gorge on some barbecue at his tailgate spot in the Trojan Arena lot. The Leverettes, Marrell Hartley of Bence-Hartley Motors in Opelika, and Troy trustee Allen Owen were among the tailgaters getting their game face on for the WKU contest, and Marrell (he's the one in the stylish apron) proved worthy of his two-ton grill-on-wheels by turning out some of the best ribs I've ever eaten! Spot #22 in the RV lot is a happening place!
One of the more interesting parts of the Homecoming experience at Troy University was the initiative from Troy's Office of Instructional Support Services for their Homecoming display, which focused on Troy football between 2000-2008. The display featured, among others, Coach Blakeney, Leodis McKelvin, and yours truly with this year's common reader, A Lesson Before Dying. Dr. Marian Parker, the Office's director, came up with the idea to take my picture in our radio broadcast booth at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. I took a picture of the display at Eldridge Hall and, while I've never actually cracked a book in the booth with my headphones on, I thought the overall effect was excellent, and I was honored that Dr. Parker would think of me as a subject!
By that time, it was up to the booth to set up and test the equipment and get ready for the broadcast! Our crew spends a great deal of time preparing and planning out every broadcast, so we average getting to the stadium about 3 or 4 hours before game time. I've developed good relationships with each of the other radio broadcasters in the Sun Belt and around the country, and we all share information prior to the game (not everything, mind you). Randy Lee at WKU is one of the best, and we spent way too much time trying to catch each other up on our team's latest injuries! The game itself was interesting, especially in the way Troy's defense dominated and having Jerrl back in the second half. Next week, Jerry, Chris, Tyler and I will all meet up in Greenville and drive down to Baton Rouge to watch Troy shock the world! Our rendezvous in Greenville will, I assure you, include at thorough check of the condition of Jerry's tires!
Later on in the week, I'll have game highlights posted for each game so far this season, and a feature on our studio host, Mike Mote, who's as good as anyone at what he does, despite the fact that Mike is sightless. Until then, thanks for the time and Go Trojans!
