2008 Woodie Awards
Play-by-play booth full of coordinated chaos
By Jessica Rupell
Rocket Focus Editor
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Focus
In the small area of the press box, Sargent sits to the far left, with a microphone by his mouth, a binder filled with announcements propped up against the window, and team rosters sitting in front of him.
He said if there are any special announcements to be made, such as last week's Hall of Fame, he receives that information a few days before the game. However, he doesn't get any actual information about the game until the night it is played.
"It's important to annunciate clearly and get the material right," Sargent said, "especially for special occasions."
Sargent said he has been with his team for about 12 years now and that there is a lot of camaraderie among the men.
"We have fun and kid around," Sargent said, "but at the same time they must keep the game clock correct and (these men) do because they are good at what they do."
Sargent's spotter, Michael Saraka, the director of alumni relations, stands behind Sargent and holds a numerical roster for each team.
With a pair of binoculars in front of his face during most of the game, Saraka is always ready to tell Sargent whom the pass was intended for or who is credited with the tackle.
Frank Hulick, an assistant professor in the computer science department, sits at the right of the booth and works the 25-second play clock, while John Snyder, the associate director of Career Services, stands behind Hulick and is in charge of the game clock.
Finally, Greg Sferra, the director of campus recreation, sits in between Sargent and Hulick and takes care of the scoreboard.
Each of these five men gets $25 per game to do his specific job due to it being a requirement of the PSAC, but Sargent said he would it for free.
"It has been a wonderful experience and a way for me to give back to SRU," he said.
Sargent said he loves athletics, and especially Division II football.
"Very few (D-II) players are going to be professional," Sargent said. "But they play and try their hardest for the love of the game, and that's what college athletics is all about."
He said if there are any special announcements to be made, such as last week's Hall of Fame, he receives that information a few days before the game. However, he doesn't get any actual information about the game until the night it is played.
"It's important to annunciate clearly and get the material right," Sargent said, "especially for special occasions."
Sargent said he has been with his team for about 12 years now and that there is a lot of camaraderie among the men.
"We have fun and kid around," Sargent said, "but at the same time they must keep the game clock correct and (these men) do because they are good at what they do."
Sargent's spotter, Michael Saraka, the director of alumni relations, stands behind Sargent and holds a numerical roster for each team.
With a pair of binoculars in front of his face during most of the game, Saraka is always ready to tell Sargent whom the pass was intended for or who is credited with the tackle.
Frank Hulick, an assistant professor in the computer science department, sits at the right of the booth and works the 25-second play clock, while John Snyder, the associate director of Career Services, stands behind Hulick and is in charge of the game clock.
Finally, Greg Sferra, the director of campus recreation, sits in between Sargent and Hulick and takes care of the scoreboard.
Each of these five men gets $25 per game to do his specific job due to it being a requirement of the PSAC, but Sargent said he would it for free.
"It has been a wonderful experience and a way for me to give back to SRU," he said.
Sargent said he loves athletics, and especially Division II football.
"Very few (D-II) players are going to be professional," Sargent said. "But they play and try their hardest for the love of the game, and that's what college athletics is all about."
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