Mr. Network.....on the air

[Mr.Network]

As many of you know, I am an attorney in Chicago but my background is in radio in Kentucky. I have been a part of hundreds of football game broadcasts, mostly for my alma mater, Lincoln County, from 1983-1989 and 1994-2001. I want to share the following with my BGP friends.

 

My son is playing varsity football here and I found it very tough to watch from the stands. There are only so many times that I can hear other fans talk about things like "they still have two time outs and the two minute warning to stop the clock" or a million other uninformed comments.

 

Being that the school is in a large radio market, there aren't many stations that carry high school football games. The local station that does carry games provides spotty coverage to our team once or twice a season.

 

With that considered, I decided to scratch my broadcasting itch by offering to do a webcast for the school. I pay for all of the streaming costs and use students to help with the broadcast.

 

I have set it up so it will be a learning opportunity for the students and I will let them do some events by themselves (basketball games, wrestling matches, track meets, special school Masses, etc.). Meanwhile, I am teaching them the basics, such as my number rule that there is never any cheering in the press box.

 

I started with no publicity and only a link to the webcast from the school website. Nonetheless, the first broadcast had over 100 playviews (listeners connecting to the stream) for the live version and then several hundred for the archived event. The next two games had similar listener numbers.

 

Then, the playoffs started and I had 221 playviews for the first round and 376 for the second round. The third round game, last week, was in East St. Louis which is a 4 hour drive from home. I knew the audience would be larger but I was amazed to have 1,289 playviews.

 

On top of that, the local radio station's primary game was postponed until Saturday due to a torrential rain and lightning storm so they put our webcast on the air live. I was able to communicate with the studio producer by way of email from the game. In fact, we take email from our listeners and comment on it during the game. We also have a sponser that gives away prizes to those emailing us.

 

In addition to the webcast, I do a low-power FM stadium cast for fans at the game. The whole broadcast is produced at the game with the use of MP3 files, a laptop computer with a wireless internet connection and an audio mixer.

 

The commercials that we play during the breaks in the game are actually announcements for school events or school programs and were written by BGP's very own Birdsfan. He has a copywriting company and is very, very good at what he does.

 

This week will be the 7A semi-finals and we play a regular season opponent that we lost to 17-14. With a win, we will advance to the Finals at the University of Illinois on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

 

There is a prep message board here but I do not post on it. It is the complete opposite of Bluegrasspreps and I don't care to be called an idiot or moron just because of the team I choose to support. However, the carriage of our webcast on the local radio exposed us to people who are not necessarily fans of our team. Since they are always negative, I was surprised to find out that they were complimentary of the broadcast.

 

One comment was:

 

Great Job by the Provi Dad and the Junior Student. How refreshing to hear a play by play that was not so one sided towards one side or the other. They made the IHSA announcers shound like crap. Way to go Providence.

 

Another one:

 

I think they did a great job too.. Better than some pro announcers I've heard..Great job guys! Keep up the good play by play..

 

 

Since I don't post on that site and no one really knows me, they will never know that I have a background in radio. I find that amusing.

 

You can hear the broadcasts here: http://www.providencecatholic.org/athletics/audio_broadcasts.html

 

If you happen to listen Friday night, send me an email (providencewebcast@yahoo.com) and I will make sure that we give you a "shout-out".

[Xgrad-JAGdad]

^ Really cool!

[patb63]

Wow, Mr. Network!!!

 

I've been saving my 500th post for something good....and you just made it worthwhile.

 

Glad to hear that you're getting to mix your passion with a positive experience.

 

Hope to be listening Friday night.

[Hatz]

Sounds great and hope I am able to tune in to your broadcast.

 

Question: Will Nunnemaker be there?

[Watusi]

Nice Job, Mr.N. :thumb:

 

That sounds like a lot of fun and a good learning experience for the students. Not to mention the good service and publicity for the school.

[westsider]

Good luck to you, your son and the Providence Celtics ... I was surprised at how easily you guys beat East St. Louis.

 

For the uninitiated, Mr. Network's son plays for one of the most storied programs in Illinois in what is probably the strongest football area in the state.

[Mr.Network]

I've been saving my 500th post for something good....and you just made it worthwhile.

 

Happy 500th!!

 

 

Question: Will Nunnemaker be there?

 

They're not quite ready for that, yet.

 

 

That sounds like a lot of fun and a good learning experience for the students.

 

I have several friends from high school and college who went into teaching. I always told them that I have neither the patience nor ability to be a teacher. However, watching these two kids absorb the information I give them and seeing them put it into action has been very rewarding. I think I now understand the attraction that others have to the teaching profession.

 

 

I was surprised at how easily you guys beat East St. Louis.

 

In my opinion, Providence played the toughest schedule in the state and in the toughest conference (Chicago Catholic League, Blue Division). In fact, the only game that any conference team lost to a non-conference team was Providence's 15-14 loss to Lincoln-Way East, the defending 8A champion. Otherwise, the conference was 20-1 against non-conference teams and 6 of the 7 conference teams made the playoffs. Providence, St. Rita and Mt. Carmel are still alive in the semi's.

 

East St. Louis had a nice team but they were at a little different level than we are used to seeing. As for being storied, East St. Louis has some tradition, too, but they haven't done much lately (last title in early 90's). Of the 32 playoff teams in Class 7A, Providence and East St. Louis both have the most success with 27 playoff appearances and multiple championships (9 for Provi and 6 for ESL).

[cvillecat]

Congrats on a job well done.:thumb: Good luck to you & your son.

[Birdsfan]

Mr. Network, I've listened to every one of your broadcasts that I've had a chance to. I can honestly say that you do a fantastic job announcing the games. But it's not just that, but the way you treat your student assistants, that I admire. You always treat them as an equal and help them out when they get a little tripped up.

 

I hope everyone in the community appreciates what you're doing for them. Surely it's quite a personal sacrifice of time, and otherwise.

 

Glad to hear you've picked up some sponsors and that it seems to growing into something very special. Good luck and keep up the good work! :thumb:

 

And thanks for the kind words. You were (as always) a pleasure to work with!

[Mr.Network]

Glad to hear you've picked up some sponsors and that it seems to growing into something very special. Good luck and keep up the good work! :thumb:

 

 

Actually, the sponsors are companies with which I am connected. I pay the school for the sponsorships and we use them as seed to attract other advertisers.

 

Thanks for YOUR kind words.

[westsider]

In my opinion, Providence played the toughest schedule in the state and in the toughest conference (Chicago Catholic League, Blue Division). In fact, the only game that any conference team lost to a non-conference team was Providence's 15-14 loss to Lincoln-Way East, the defending 8A champion. Otherwise, the conference was 20-1 against non-conference teams and 6 of the 7 conference teams made the playoffs. Providence, St. Rita and Mt. Carmel are still alive in the semi's.

 

East St. Louis had a nice team but they were at a little different level than we are used to seeing. As for being storied, East St. Louis has some tradition, too, but they haven't done much lately (last title in early 90's). Of the 32 playoff teams in Class 7A, Providence and East St. Louis both have the most success with 27 playoff appearances and multiple championships (9 for Provi and 6 for ESL).

You don't have to tell me about Chicago Catholic League football ... it's a meat grinder week-in and week-out.

 

I figured you guys were better than East St. Louis ... just surprised at the margin, especially after the long trip.

[gold sunrise]

I would love to listen to the broadcast, but this Friday I will be at the game supporting my Cards in the playoffs. Best of luck to your sons team.

 

Many times our actions, time and just caring for others will have a impact on others lives that we will never know how great. Mr. Network, what you are doing and providing for these young people is priceless :thumb:

[thegeneral]

Good to hear you're back behind the mic with what sounds like a terrific setup for all involved. We still miss your broadcasts (and your 60-minute pregame show) back in the Bluegrass. Best of luck to the Celtics.

[Poster Boy]

Just listened to your game. Great job! :ylsuper: Good luck with it.

[joedirt]

You are a class act Mr. Network.

I agree with you about BGP also. Looking at other forums makes you appreciate how decent most of the posters on this site really are.