A Sea Of Red

First off, I'd like to request that I not be censored here like I've been before. I have a strong opionion and I'd like to be heard.

First of all I'd like to point out that I've tried to stay clear of some of the other threads with some of the critical elements of the game because I was not there and only heard most of it on the radio. I've done a lot of reading though and would like to thank all of you for the entertainment.

In this thread though I would like to mention our radio (and internet) broadcast. One thing I've always liked about Jerry E. is that he tended to stay objective and not be too much of a homer even if he never gives the score and time remaining. However on Saturday night, both at the Half and the end of the game he an Paul were completely out of control. They acted like fans and not professionals broadcasting a game. I felt like it would be fine for a fan to use terms like "home cooking" and "horrible spot", but way out of line for them on the radio. Even when I post on here there are those of you who hold me (and everyone else) to a higher standard because we are Liberty and we want to be an example to those who may be outsiders. With the atmosphere JB has helped create we have a ton of non-traditional LU folks following the program these days. Well any outsiders to the radio broadcast are scratching their head today let me tell you. I thought they were WAY out of tune with Coach Rocco's professional post-game comments. I read a few comments spread throughout all the other diatribes, but would like to hear your opinion on the subject if you heard it.

There, I said it!

Just about every broadcaster on the home side is slanted. I don't think it's such a big a deal. Now if the guys on ESPN Gameday or calling the games on a nuetral channel, like ABC or ESPN, then you have some issues.

I thought the same thing. But it's typical of a home team broadcast everywhere. Rut always says "we". That bugs the heck out of me. At the end of the broadcast I was thinking about it, and I decided I liked it better that way.

LUconn wrote:I thought the same thing. But it's typical of a home team broadcast everywhere. Rut always says "we". That bugs the heck out of me. At the end of the broadcast I was thinking about it, and I decided I liked it better that way.

Rut?

ditto LUconn and TD, but i was at the game and did not hear the broadcast. yes the video shows we had the first down, but the ref said no, and it's over, plus i have never seen home announcers not show some "homerism".

It didn't bother me. Home team broadcasters are given more leeway to be slanted in their commentary. That said I have never been a big JE fan so if we are calling for a new broadcast team I can get behind that.

Didn't hear the broadcast, but talked to some that did. I have been listening to JE for however many years he has been broadcasting LU athletics and have very seldom if ever heard him get excited about anything. So farnkly, I am glad he did show that he was able to get emotional about anything. My main complaint about him is that he has been so reserved when things go good or bad for us. I realize there has to be some balance, I certainly wouldn't want him to be so biased and a homer like Woody Durham is for Carolina and all objectivity is left at the door of the announcer booth, but every now and then, I would like to see JE act like he ate Wheaties for breakfast.

I'm not calling for anything just stating an opinion. I would give out Woddy Durham as a home guy who is fair. There are many. Eli Gold for Alabama. I'm just saying he shouldn't be saying what those listening and the LU fans in the stands were saying. He should be more professional.

I was listening online and his descriptions actually know what was going on from a Liberty perspective. Should he have couched his descriptors more carefully? Perhaps. But he is being paid by Liberty to give LU fans a description of what is going on. I'm not the biggest Jerry fan in the world (that C he gave me in sportscasting class two decades ago hasn't been forgotten ) but I agree with Flameshaw that is was nice to hear some rare emotion. It was an incredibly intense situation and I'm open to giving PxP guys a little dramatic license from time to time.

At least Jerry knows the names of the players.

Sorry, it was too tempting.

Sly Fox wrote:I was listening online and his descriptions actually know what was going on from a Liberty perspective. Should he have couched his descriptors more carefully? Perhaps. But he is being paid by Liberty to give LU fans a description of what is going on. I'm not the biggest Jerry fan in the world (that C he gave me in sportscasting class two decades ago hasn't been forgotten ) but I agree with Flameshaw that is was nice to hear some rare emotion. It was an incredibly intense situation and I'm open to giving PxP guys a little dramatic license from time to time.

At least Jerry knows the names of the players.

Sorry, it was too tempting.

See I'm not the one who brings it up.
I got a B in the class.
I did like the emotion, but not the outright attacking of the officials. All it needed was saying the ref's moms all were ugly, stupid, and wore army boots.

Listened to the vast majority of the broadcast.

Have to say- it was a nice change from the normally reserved (read: nearly puts me to sleep) Mr. Edwards.

He was basically yelling the same things I was thinking- the question is, is that proper decorum for him or not? I certainly didn't have an issue with it- I DID however, find it amusing that he got the yardages wrong several times, and was even at a complete loss for words at one time.

Overall- a good job, and I enjoyed it.

SLY
How would you have handled the same situation in JE's mocasins?

College radio announcers are almost always homeristic to a degree. Some of more so than others. Watching a game on broadcast television you expect neutrality from the announcers, unless it's Notre Dame on NBC.

If you've ever heard Munson from UGA, you'd never complain about Edwards. I heard some UGA broadcasts and I'd like to give him a "hobnailed boot" everytime I hear him say it.

Anyway, like most have said, the fact that Jerry got so emotional this time just tells you how bad of a call it had to have been, because it's not characteristic of him.

Your announcer showed emotion? Really? Does anyone have audio? I've listened to plenty of WU road games and that guy is one of the most monotone, unemotional play by play guys I've ever heard.

As for the home team commentary, what is wrong with that? Most announcers doing it just for a school have a home school slant. As long as they give their opinion both ways (i.e. when the home team gets the call--we got away with one) I don't think it's a big deal. I just don't like the ones that blame everything on a hose job (ex. Matt Hogue for CCU). Every call against CCU is a bad call to that guy.

Edwards has always seemed pretty darn neutral and calm, so if he was worked up and ticked, there was probably a reason for it, and he was giving you a good call.

I listened to the entire broadcast, and I have to agree that it is possibly the most animated (for which I was thrilled), and definitely the most "homer" I've heard Mr. Edwards before. I noticed this a bit beginning last year, and I've only just now put together a theory on it. Last year, Director of Football Operations Paul Rutigliano was added to the broadcast booth as a color commentator. To my knowledge, PR does not have any previous broadcast training, or radio experience. His commentary is usually very slanted, and tends to precede any extra commentary which Mr. Edwards may provide. Certainly on Saturday night, PR's color commentary was often animatedly derisive of the officiating, strongly in favor of the Flames, and borderline interruptive of Mr. Edwards' play-by-play ("Rashad! Rashad! Throw it to Rashad!!). All of that, to me(except for possibly the interruptions, when he really does sound like nothing more than a fan), is excusable, based on his lack of experience and training. I'm not blaming PR for any wrongdoing of any kind, but I surmise that Mr. Edwards' play-by-play and commentary may have been influenced this season and last by PR's presence in the booth.

How would I have done it differently, its tough to say in retrospect since I wasn't as offended as other here apparently were. But I would've tried to place the frustration with the officiating through description of the animation of the coaches & players on the field (and perhaps the fans in the stands as well). Perhaps it is the PR guy in me but I tend to prefer to place the emphasis on others when I shouldn't be saying something directly myself.

It's funny because you have so many people getting all emotional on this board because of the refs, but when you have the radio guy showing emotion, people complain.

I think there is a line between being a homer and showing emotion for the home team. A fine line, yes, but the line is there.

I think it's good when a college announcer isn't afraid to stand up for his team. I don't quite understand why anyone would be upset about the emotion that our announcers showed. They are not paid by W&M as well as Liberty to broadcast, they are paid by LU, so why shouldn't they get a little emotional about it.

THIS IS SUCH A MEAN, INSENSITIVE THREAD!!

I am kidding...nothing wrong with stating your opinion...

I do disagree though....It was good to hear some emotion for a change...that is what college announcers do...maybe not all the time, but in situations that we were in, it is good to hear some heart....they are LU's announcers after all

I am a Buccaneers fan, and a Colorado State fan, and the radio teams for both are rather home-cooked.

And the W and M PA guy was pretty homecooked, too.

Thats how sports works. You work for a team, they are YOUR team, and you love em.

Overt homerism is a favorable quality that makes the radio personality's charm.

However, it is difficult to gain an objective feel during questionable calls. So consider the source if you're being worked up.

Go to YouTube and listen to the App State radio hosts call the final blocked kick...it is the thrill that makes sports great.

Well, I must admit that is probably the most animated that I have ever heard Jerry. Honestly, I think he would have been almost as surprised had the same call went the other way against W&M. Now I don't mean to say he would have been nearly as agitated or animated, but Jerry has been doing this a LONG time and he knows that you NEVER see a measurement in that situation. If the nose of the ball touches any part of the line it is a first down. You simply don't measure it ... it's an automatic. I just think that Jerry was absolutely stunned and then the emotion of the moment took over. Maybe a bit over the top, but to some extent very understandable.

i would love to hear him be more emotional as long as it is under control. but i would like to hear some of the broadcast. I see nothing wrong with being emotional on the radio as long as it is under control.

FlameNForest wrote: If you've ever heard Munson from UGA, you'd never complain about Edwards. I heard some UGA broadcasts and I'd like to give him a "hobnailed boot" everytime I hear him say it.

Munson is great at what he does. I turn on the Dawgs on the tv and put it on mute just to hear munson call the game. Homerisim is just a small part of what makes these kind of games so great to listen to. I can't say I've ever listened to JE on the radio so I have no opinion on him, but from what ya'll are saying it sounds like the guy finally got excited in the box. let him go do what he does. if you don't like the announcing... go watch the game cast with no sound online!

I would love to hear him out of control. Dropping F-bombs and such. Calling for the ref's heart Temple of Doom style. Things like that.