Last night I watched my son’s alma mater (D3 Trinity (TX)) home opener on Youtube. Internet broadcasting has been around for about 10-years plus, however, last night was truly an advance in the total presentation.
I sat in my living room, watched the game on my TV with great sound (nice fire in the fireplace), HD picture and was blown away by the production.
They had multiple cameras, knowledgeable announcers, in screen graphics, player intro screens for both teams and instant replay. This is a D3 program, not D1.
My son graduated 10-years ago. At the time, I was happy with live stats, an occasional audio feed and a single camera with a student announcer. We were lucky because we had an alumni parent that was clearly ahead of the curve.
Trinity has embraced internet broadcasting for some time. However, last night was a major step up it what they can present. Lots of schools now have video of games, but last nights production in my mind made a real statement “our players, families and program are special.”
I have got to believe that these efforts have to help in recruiting both great students but great athletes. How much easier is it to convince a family whose son or daughter have to go across the country to a new city that the family can “participate” in their college experience through great internet broadcasts.
I remember a game during my son’s freshman season. There was a gentleman sitting in the top of the stands talking on his phone during the entire game. I later found out that gentleman was the late Bob Edwards. He was doing an audio broadcast at an away game in Austin. I remember him doing video broadcasts of all the baseball games (not just Trinity but all the teams) at the west regional at Linfield in 2010.
When I look back, I remember Bob and what a difference he is making today at colleges across the country.