Pledge from the Press Box
The view from the press box (CREDIT: Columbia University Athletics/Gene Boyers)
Last week, I was very honored to be officially named the color commentator for Columbia football's professional radio broadcasts. Columbia is generously making the audio feeds for those broadcasts free this season, (there will be a charge for the video feeds), on GoColumbiaLions.com.
Now comes the hard part. Play-by-play man Jerry Recco is already at the top of his game after 10 years as a professional sports radio broadcaster. But I have a lot of work to do to get myself totally ready for the season.
While I feel about as comfortably familiar with Columbia football as a non-coach and non-player can be, I want the Columbia broadcasts to be THE PLACE to go for all Ivy fans who want the absolute best coverage of the league.
In other words, I don't expect non-Columbia fans to tune in to our broadcasts when their teams are in action... but when their school's game is over or not yet started and the Columbia broadcasts are streaming live, I want them to feel absolutely compelled to tune in. If I do my job right, the pre-game, halftime, and postgame shows will provide more than just scores from around the league, but real analysis and information you can't get anywhere else.
For game action, I know there's been some concern about identifying the correct tacklers on defense and that's going to be something I'm going to make a major effort to improve.
I'm also going to be keeping some of my own key stats, like 3rd down passing, throughout the season and during games so fans can get a better handle on what's really happening.
Ivy League football fans deserve smart, football-based coverage, not just a lot of fluff and "feature-heavy" content that belongs in the "Living" section instead of the sports page.
So if you just happen to prefer Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton or Yale over Columbia, you STILL need to tune in or log on to our broadcasts. Because frankly, you deserve it.
posted by Jake @ 9:03:00 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Jake,
Your photo of the field shows a "CU" at midfield and "LIONS" in one end zone. Is that a current or older photo? I don't see the alternating light and dark 5-yard sections that I believe is part of the new turf.
Yes, that is an older picture... I couldn't find a newer one from that vantage point.
Jake, I'm sure you're going to do a great job. I'll bet you though, if you listen to tapes of your first couple broadcasts you might get a little discouraged with yourself, but save them and compare them with seasons end and I'm sure as you get more relaxed and experienced you're gonna hear a dramatic improvement from game one to the final ones.
Dabull:
I do expect to get better over time, but hopefully even my earliest efforts will still be very good.
The greatest football broadcaster of all time was the late Al DeRogatis. Listen to some of his old tapes if you can obtain them. He was a Giants' mainstay for years and had an uncanny ability to size up defenses and predict vulnerabilities which were inevitably exploited. I think that the key to being more than a cheerleader is preparation. See if NW will let you speak with his coordinators. Also see if you can get the opposing HCs to give you half an hour during the week. will NW let you attend any practices?
Also, we really appreciate your wit and sense of humor. It doesn't always have to be: "This is Ray Scott from that frozen tundra, Lambeau Field, bringing you, a colossal match between two teams, whose fate could decide the course of the free world..."
The very best way to learn what to look for and to get a feel for what Columbia is trying to do as far as game plan goes is to be able to sit in on some film breakdown with coaches and players. Man, if you could get in with the staff like that you're football IQ would really soar.
The picture is now updated. This view is from the Cornell game last season.
You're the man now, Dog!
Thanks for the updated photo. You really leave no stern untoned :)
That is such a beautiful photo. Makes you wonder if the athletic department shouldnt make more of an effort to publicize what a magnificent venue Wein Stadium at Baker Field can be in the fall.
Good point on venue. The setting is incredible. Say what you will about Princeton; I think it's setting is antiseptic.
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