The Rocket

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Jessica Rupell Duncan Sargent, the retired dean of graduate studies, has been the announcer at SRU home football games for 13 years. [Click to enlarge]

While most people come to home football games to relax and cheer on their team, five men see nearly as much action as the players on the field.

Thanks to Duncan Sargent, the retired dean of graduate studies and the announcer of home SRU football games, and his crew in the press box, fans know who tackled whom and other details of the game.

Though not as detailed or continuous as a radio broadcast, Sargent's job includes giving the details of a play and making university announcements during downtime.

"Students and parents and fans like to hear names called, and if I can get it in there, I do it," Sargent said.

Sargent, who has been doing the announcements over the loudspeaker at the SRU football games for 13 years, said he started announcing at the games when he was asked by Paul Lueken, the athletic director, if he would take over after the former announcer's last season in 1994.

Though he isn't sure if Lueken was aware of this, Sargent said he agreed to take the job because he had always been around football and because he had previously done radio broadcasting in college and as a part-time job at a local radio station.

Sargent said he remembers doing his first game at SRU, and that he was a little nervous but also confident in his abilities from his previous experience.

"I had the advantage of having a lot of time (previously) spent in front of a microphone," Sargent said.

"A lot of people new to (announcing) have a fear of having other people hear their voice if they make a mistake, but that's the job."

Though the press box seems to be one large area, it actually consists of four smaller areas. Facing the field, Sargent is in the second area from the right in a part of the press box that measures about seven feet by nine feet.

Continued...

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