Since this thread popped up thought I would respond for clarification and how things go.
The Basics
I am given a game script which is reviewed and approved by the Athletic Bosses. I can be handed updates or changes literally up until I am actually doing a read. During the game, I am calling the play by play with assistance from my spotter, who sits on my left with binoculars. It is his responsibility to give me the correct players involved on each and every play. He is an SMU die hard Alum and knows his football, as well as players. There were one or two occasions where in his excitement, he gave me the wrong information and, of course, I repeated that. That said, he is a great spotter and has joined me for the last three games.
To my right is my line producer. She is basically the game Director. She has what is called an element sheet. Unlike my PA script which is the reads, hers has each of the things numbered into different elements. She is in communication with our Board Man to her right, our Producer directly behind us and our media truck, which is outside of Ford stadium with the other media trucks on the South End. I am told when to start my read and whether it is a Jumbo-Tron item that I have to coordinate with.
Our board guy is tremendous. He has the responsibility for everything that is seen or heard. Not what is put up, but how it is seen or heard in the stadium. Additionally, he is responsible for what the media feeds get, whether radio, TV or our own SMU broadcasts. He also controls what is piped into the suites, the bathrooms and the concourses.
The media truck really is the backbone of what is seen on the Jumbo-Tron. He directs the on field camera men, tells them where to go and be, does all the replays that are seen on the Jumbo-Tron as wells as all the commercials, SMU plugs and anything else that has to do with the visually aspect of game preparation. The "Replays" are taken directly from the TV Crews and their cameras which are spread throughout the stadium. It is the TV folks whose shots are sent to the reply booth, which is next door to us on our left. The truck guy is basically required to show on the Jumbo-Tron what the TV guys give him.
Our Producer, which is my boss, overseas the entire operation.
Now, to address some of the points.
1. When I made the announcement about being "tied", that is what I was told initially. Then, they told me they were wrong and we were 1st. Well, in my business..... if I said it, I am responsible for it, even though I was given that information as accurate. So that is when I said "I stand corrected, we are Number One!". OF course, the person responsible for the inaccurate data being given to me apologized to me.... but it was no big deal. I gladly take the responsibility for what is said, because that is my job..... and I love it.
2. The replay is what we were given to show and as we have a paid sponsor for replays, we are required to show it whether it reflects one way or the other for our own team. It sucks, we don't like it, but that is our job...... play and do what we are told.
3. Regarding "Joe Smith" I announced "Back To Receive" and did say "On The Return". But you are correct, there were several times I said “On The Receptionâ€. No excuse really, just a screw up on my part. What you don’t know is that I have a headset on as I am doing the game.... Spotter talking to me on my left, Line Producer on my right cueing me, Producer behind telling me things..... and on the headset I am constantly getting chatter from the truck to the cameramen. Not an excuse, just saying there is a heck of a lot more going on in my world than you think.
As for the “Be Carefulâ€. Sorry it annoyed you, but as crazy as things were going, neither SMU or any of us in the broadcast booth wanted anyone to be hurt jumping over the walls to get to the field. It was a day for celebration, not putting people at risk because of risky behavior. I will always make my first priority to make the experience safe for everyone. We had small kids on the field additionally.
By the way, I go by “Davidâ€. Always here to listen and pass on to our crew.
Go Mustangs!
David
