Commentating comes full circle

My time as a play-by-play sports commentator for CSC Live comes full circle as my first time calling a game was the Eagles hosting Black Hills State University in 2016. Conveniently, this Saturday’s game between the same two teams marks my final time commentating.

I began as a color commentator alongside former Eagle Sports Editor Preston Goehring and I will never forget the nerves I battled knowing my voice was live and on-air. I was so nervous for that game I emphasized my already-monotone voice to sound like a pretentious sports personality thinking the audience couldn’t hear my lack-of-expertise.

Prior to commentating, I helped shoot video of two football games, but thought that was my ultimate route because I felt commentating may be out of reach.. The opportunity came when I spent a Saturday morning during my freshman year helping Daniel Binkard move camera equipment from Chicoine Center to Memorial Hall. During this time, Binkard asked if I was interested in helping call games for all CSC sporting events.

Absolutely, I was interested, I grew up watching sports and loved hearing Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels tell live stories. Ironically, mono or tonsilitis invaded my immune system that fall (mind you, I achieved perfect attendance three years in high school). After telling Binkard I was excited and ready to commentate, my sickness conquered, and I immediately found the nearest vomiting station. But here I am, as an improved play-by-play commentator, so I am forever grateful for Binkard’s patience.

Commentating sports live is more challenging than I first thought. You have to tell the game’s story as it’s happening while matching the tone of dramatic events and provide updates on stats, scores and schedules. It’s easy for one to assume they can commentate because they watch sports and yell at the T.V. when big plays happen, but it’s often forgotten that all professionalism is thrown away in our natural viewing habitat.

Working with CSC Live over the past four years helped me become a better speaker, gain interest for sports I never previously watched, like wrestling and volleyball, and the opportunity of getting to know the people outside of just playing their beloved sport.

I can proudly say that through four years at CSC, I attended 50 men’s and women’s basketball games, 17 softball matches, 23 football games and nine wrestling matches on campus, but have yet to view any home event from the stands or bleachers.

While commentating has been a wonderful experience, kudos to CSC Live’s camera crew are in order. Chadron receives awful weather when we least hope for it, but those responsible for shooting video always proved tough enough to outlast blizzards in October or March. Along with their toughness, the video crew always provided top-quality shots of all events.

My time as a play-by-play commentator is a job I never expected to have in college but proved to be valuable. The campus job helped me connect the dots to my passion in communications during my time as an education major. As this Saturday marks my final time commentating sports for Chadron State, I can finally call myself a retired NCAA Div. II commentator.

Finally, a piece of advice for upcoming broadcasters – study name pronunciations, sounding hyped all the time is childish, and hot mics ruin lives.