A nine hour bus ride and four days in upstate New York might not sound like the most enticing vacation for a college student, but for me, it was four of the best days in my college career.
What was I doing up there? Broadcasting Fairfield basketball.
In my first year at Fairfield, I knew that I loved sports and wanted to be involved in some way. I participated in intramurals and attended varsity games, but I never imagined that opportunity that was in front of me. During my sophomore year, I decided to take a look at WVOF, Fairfield University’s radio station. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t know much about the station. Also, I had never been on the radio before.
I didn’t expect to be involved much early on. I figured a guy with no experience, who just started, would not get many opportunities to broadcast Fairfield sports. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Immediately, the station gave me the opportunity to broadcast Fairfield basketball. I loved it instantly. On game day, I would walk up to the media entrance, grab my pass, and find my seat right on the floor before the game. It was a great feeling to do more than watch the game.
I continued to broadcast for the next year and really started to get the hang of it. The chance to broadcast division 1 basketball in a place like the Arena at Harbor Yard was not something I could of envisioned doing just a year before.
If that wasn’t enough, I had the chance to work with one of the best play by play announcers around, Bob Heussler. He is the play by play man for Fairfield University Men’s Basketball but also does the 20 20 updates for WFAN New York, among his many jobs. Heussler is the adviser for the sports department at WVOF. The chance to work and learn from him, is an experience just by itself.
By my junior year, I had covered many games and had a lot of exciting moments, but nothing like those four days upstate. Heussler called and asked if someone could make the trip because there was an opening in the broadcast. I jumped the opportunity and three days later I was on my way to Buffalo.
I stayed in a hotel, got to enjoy practice and experience another city, but most importantly, broadcast two games with Bob. We went 1 and 1 on the trip. The team beat Canisius but lost to Niagara. Still, the trip was an experience I will never forget.
Looking back on my four years here, broadcasting sports like this is a rare opportunity and I’m glad I found out about it. I always run into people who think it would be an awesome thing to do but never go for it. Whether they think it’s too late or they think they don’t have enough experience, something holds them back.
My advice is go for it. It is never to late to get involved in something you love but why not take the chance when it’s right here? Sports radio has so much for students to get involved so if you feel it could be something for you, give it a shot. Come by the WVOF studio and become part of the college sports experience.
For more info, you can also email wvofsports@gmail.com
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