Mike Tussey: Football is here — exciting for everyone — including the announcers

Here we are in early September and you can feel it in the warm air! Football and the game is the place to be.

The coaches, teams, fans, cheerleaders, and band members love the majesty of Friday Night Lights.

Or course, the game day excitement extends to all the local broadcasters as well. For over 50 years, I called play by play for high school football and even now, still love it all, especially key games and the huge crowds.

Do I miss it all?  You bet I do!

However, when the local announcers are in the HOME press box, it’s Camelot. It doesn’t get any better.

Most veteran announcers I’m sure have many stories of their adventures calling the away road games.

When you’re on the road, it’s like Forrest Gump once said: “You never know what you’re going to get!”

Usually at home, broadcasters have plenty of room to spread out their equipment and charts, and even enjoy a nice leisurely cold drink.

However, there comes that time via the schedule that says next week your team is “on the road” and so will the announcers.

When announcers travel to a road press box usually most schools are very accommodating and do all they can for their Friday night guests.

As you know, there is an exception to every rule.

So, with the new football season now underway,  announcers embark upon the roads far and near, to cover the broadcasting of all the games.

The expectation usually is you will be shown your location in the press box and you get right down to work.

However, sometimes, your visit can become a nightmare.

So, here are a few instances that happened to me and my partner years ago that even today, I call an “occupational hazard.”

This is not fiction; and it’s hard to believe.

Since these incidents, I have come to know and understand that when the visiting media visits a high school press box or gym, sometimes, not always, are actually perceived by the usual inhabitants of the press boxes as —

“INVADERS”
That’s because when you arrive you will possibly take seats that are occupied by local folks when the media is absent.

The seats are usually located within the proximity of the guest telephone line hook up.

The local fans that usually occupy those seats; now would have to stand up or move – not something they like to do.

FRIDAY NIGHT TOILET PAPER AND LIPSTICK

My partner and I after a long trip entered the home press box searching for the visiting telephone hook-up.

Then we saw the unbelievable.

We just stood there and stared at a rectangle of toilet paper taped from the window onto the two chairs sending a message that the area was indeed – OFF LIMITS!

The toilet paper transmitted a very strong message printed in red lipstick that read:

“NO RADIO PEOPLE HERE!”

We laughed as we looked at the notification, nevertheless proceeded to enter the prohibited area to begin setting up our equipment.

Several minutes later, the usual occupants of the press box began arriving. When they saw that we had indeed trespassed into their restricted area – they loudly greeted us with:

“Get out of those chairs and get out now!”

We could not believe the belligerent tone of their voices as they pointed to the press box door.

We asked for someone in charge, that request made them even more demanding.

The press box was filling up quickly and there was no place to go except on the steps of the press box side door.

We used our extension cords and of course, had to stand up as the overflow crowd from press box was gathering in front of us down the steps.

I stood the entire game with pen in hand and a clipboard struggling to see the play on the field amid a crowd who did not move an inch.
We finished our broadcast, as tough as it was to call the game.

The game’s end could not come soon enough.

Could it get worse?

It did.

Next up:

YOU’LL MOVE OR I WILL CALL THE POLICE!

This time as usual we arrived at the visitor’s press box early to get set up. The regular folks had not arrived yet.

We quickly found our telephone line and proceeded to get things set up
.
On the table in front of me was a set of keys, 2 packs of cigarettes and a lighter. I moved them away from my area to the left of me.

We were ready to go, even got some soft drinks and were waiting for our on air time of 7:45 p.m.

Headsets on, the game intro was playing and I had just got on air to welcome the fans to our broadcast, when a woman tugged at arm while saying:

“You are in my seat! Move now!”

She was interrupting my train of thought as I tried to continue and could not. I told my partner to take over; took off my headsets and asked what her problem was.

She vociferously replied:

“You people come here once a year and want to sit on the 50 yard line. That’s not happening! Find another place to sit now!”

I explained that it was too late, we were already on the air.

She then said with a loud challenge:

“You will leave or I will call the Police!”

I answered:

“What did you say?”

Another loud reply:

“Move now or I will have the Police move you!”

Meanwhile, the game was close to kick off and I was sure the listening audience heard the disturbance.

Just minutes later, she arrived with two deputy sheriffs and pointed at me.

I was ordered to stand up, show my ID and asked why I was causing such a problem and ordered to vacate our seats immediately.

I explained I could not move due to being on the air and the game was beginning.

I was explicitly told if we did not move, we both would be arrested for criminal trespass.

I said, you’re kidding right?

The Officer relied loudly, “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

At this point, I realized it was time to show my Police ID as my partner took over the game.

Both Officers then look amazed when they saw I was a fellow Police Officer trying to do a job and wanted no problem whatsoever.

I explained as an Officer, this was getting out of hand and that physically arresting me would not be the proper way to handle it all.
So, after a short discussion, a compromise was made.

At this point, the woman continued to be upset.

I told her that I would indeed move as far to the right as I could and my partner would stand up and she then could have her usual seat.
So, for the remainder of the game we sat elbow to elbow and mercifully the game ended.

Just another example that exemplifies why sometimes game day announcers are looked upon as – THE INVADERS!

Over the years, there were more crazy instances that I ran onto such as when the press box was loaded with fans and staff on a rainy Friday night.

Again, there was no room in the press box even though we requested room to broadcast upon arrival.

So, the principal of the high school, asked me if I had enough telephone line; they could pull a school bus near the end zone and I could call the game from there.

It was tough, but we made it all happen. Thank goodness, I could see the scoreboard.

Just like the US Marines, sometime you have to overcome and improvise.

Yes indeed, my bus driver kept the wipers on the entire game.
Just some old memories from my many years of Friday Night Football – On the Road.

Kickoff is getting close, just two days to go for week #3 and to those unknown adventures for Friday Night announcers.

To those Friday Night announcers – Enjoy your adventures.

Best Wishes for a Great Game!

Mike Tussey has “retired” from a 60-plus-year career as a legendary play-by-play announcer for over 2000 football, baseball, and basketball games, including most recently for ESPN+. His career also includes a stint in law enforcement, teaching and coaching, and writing books, including the “Touchdown Saints.” He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and now lives in Florence with his wife, Jo. He has opened another “Door of Opportunity” and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune.

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