Inside A Football Telecast

 Hear it here!

 

We’ve watched football telecasts for years. We sit back, see the camera shots record the happenings on the field, and hear the announcers describe and breakdown what is going on. What makes football and all sports different than entertainment and news broadcasts is that it is live and unscripted and while we have no idea what the next play will bring, neither do the guys in the booth.

Having done this forever, why not take the viewer backstage to what is actually going on during a broadcast. When you’re sitting on your sofa, it may seem to be an easy exercise. Two broadcasters are standing (rarely sitting) next to each other and talking.

It’s as simple as that.

Well, it’s not that simple, and while it is not rocket-science, it takes immense concentration and teamwork to make it look easy.

The broadcast booth consists of two announcers, the play-by-play man who stands to the left of the expert-analyst, both are wearing headsets. To the left of the play-by-play man is the spotter, to his left is the statistician. Say I’m calling the plays. Behind me is the stage manager who will hand me cards at the prescribed time that will promote future shows, or games, or anything else the network wants out there. It is usually combined with a graphic on the screen to reinforce the copy.

The two of us working the game wear headsets so that the producer and director, located in a truck outside the stadium near the press entrance, can inform us of a specific shot coming up or, for the analyst, what kind of replay will immediately be shown. My partner may choose to use the ‘telestrator’ where they can draw lines or circles by an attached instrument. He has to learn to be quick to draw and quick to erase since the frozen key shot on the screen will move quickly. The last thing you ever want is to see the frozen replay picture start to move and the circles and lines stay on the screen.

So here’s what happens on a given play in a nutshell: I will describe the play, who carried, or who a pass was thrown to. Was it complete or not? Who defended? How many yards were picked up if successful, and were the yards gained sufficient for a first down?

My spotter has the same board I have with the players listed. He backs me up with the principals on the play. The statistician writes down how many yards were picked up on a white board. In front of me are a series of monitors. They consist of the ‘line’ monitor which shows what you are seeing at home, a close-up look of the play, and a team and individual statistical rundown that is up to date.

So if the receiver caught a 20-yard pass, the stat monitor will indicate how many passes he’s caught for how many yards, and everything is updated. My job is to absorb all of that. Toward the end of the play, my partner is told what kind of replay may be coming.

It may be a shot of the line of scrimmage, where a key block took place. It may be the receiver getting open and avoiding a defender. It could be anything.

My partner now takes over and explains whatever it is he needs to explain. My job is to listen to him so that we’re always on the same page. But the producer may want me to get ready for a graphic on the screen showing how the passing game has evolved for that team. Or it could be shot of the man who caught the ball, or a coach on the sideline. Or anything else. So, I have to pay attention to my partner, while I’m listening to the producer telling me what’s next. We all have to make it sound and look seamless.

Maybe my statistician is writing on his white board the fact that the quarterback has completed 8 straight passes. Maybe my spotter sees a new running back enter the game and points to his name on his board which is identical to mine. I may look down at a note on the player coming in that I prepared for during the week.

All of this is about all of us reacting quickly and accurately. For me, it’s reacting to what’s happening on the field immediately and not hesitating or delaying. Finding the right words. Knowing what the game situation is. Keeping the viewer informed without his having to wonder or guess. For my partner, it’s seeing why something worked and how it was successful, as well as pinpointing why it failed. He has to watch 22 players on each snap. He has the toughest job because while I’m the one who tells the story of the game, he’s the expert who viewers want to hear most because he breaks down the why and the how and he’s been there as a player or coach.

When I started doing play-by-play everything moved too fast. It took me a while to digest the play, the principals, the new down and yardage, and all of that. It’s all about reps. It takes a while for everybody, even the very best to get their footing.

Once they do, after years of doing games, it all becomes watching something in slow motion. Before a snap at the line of scrimmage, I can see a defensive back blitz or charge in to get to the quarterback. It’s really a craft. You do it enough; it becomes second nature. But at the same time, you can never get complacent because after a million years of doing it, you still have to have the right people doing the right things and being accurate in everything you say. Concentration.

That’s why when a game is finished, I feel it lasted a matter of 10 minutes. Everything has gone on so quickly. But it’s never a successful broadcast if the spotter and statistician and the two announcers are not coordinated and smooth in their operation.

It’s all about teamwork and believe me, when it’s over, everyone is exhausted.

Obviously, a close, tight game is more enjoyable than a blowout.

You have to work more if the game gets out of hand. That’s when you go outside the actual game to talk about upcoming schedules, the division races, and the overall league picture. But remember, the cameras still have to cover the game, and it can’t be ignored.

You have to balance both. Easier said than done.

I’ve offered a brief description of what it’s like in a broadcast booth working a football game.

Other sports bring on different scenarios, but looking back, I never would have traded working with all my partners and assistants for anything in the world.