About covering the RedHawks

Covering the RedHawks was one of the most fun assignments I've seen in college. It was also one of the most demanding, in time and effort.

I had to go to each game, of course. That meant staying here at least every other weekend to see the games from the press box, while all my friends were back at home or in Oxford relaxing.

I attended the weekly pressers with Coach Montgomery, and the games. I had the chance to meet some interesting people, like former Notre Dame coach and current commentator Lou Holtz or Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger while I was working the games. I sat in the same place as the big-newspaper journalists, broadcast coverage, scouts and statisticians.

The experience was invaluable.

Here's the view from my desk, at the beginning of the Syracuse v. Miami game:


Possibly the best part of the box is the free food and soda.

The game looks completely different from up there. It's relatively quiet, and a studious work environment, with stats and scores flying around constantly. I was in a sports geek's heaven.


The two guys beside me were from the Daily Orange, the student news-
paper of Syracuse University. They were unhappy from here until
the game ended.

I also traveled to Ohio University for the Bobcats-RedHawks matchup in late November. I left Thanksgiving break 2 days early to cover the game.

The RedHawks made it to the MAC Championship game, so I made the trip up to Detroit to see them play. I sat in the press box at Ford Field--


A view down the length of the press box.

Ford Field was daunting, yet strikingly magnificent. I suppose many sportswriters may take it for granted, but these are by far the best seats in the house.

I also covered the hockey team for one article, after the football season came to an abrupt end. The hockey press box, unlike the football boxes, seemingly places you right in the action.


Right in the action.

The hours are strange, and sometimes bad. The travel schedule can be grueling. This is anything but a 9-5 job. Sometimes the people are difficult to interview, or the Mapquest directions are difficult to read. Your stories are due almost as soon as the clock expires.

I think I'd still give a lung or leg to do this the rest of my life.

--Michael Truax
December 8, 2007