PUBLIC ADDRESSERS - The old school rule for public address announcing in football is to inform spectators on factual matters like who carried the ball and who made the tackle, down and distance and yard line and perhaps explaining a penalty.
“The Brisco touchdown run of 16 yards is being brought back as Cape will be assessed a 10-yard holding penalty. The Vikings have the ball first and 10 on the 26 with under a minute left to play.”
Cape parents of players were mad and booing the Indian River announcer late in the game as he seemed too enthusiastically involved and offered commentaries on collisions - like when Laquan Hazzard was separated from his helmet. Laquan ran and got his helmet put it back on ready for the next play and never said a word, but there was commentary about a vicious hit and a head being separated from shoulders.
Announcers are no longer unbiased at any level from Delaware to Eagles games. But the bias is discerned in emphasis and inflection of voice, but not commentary. I could tell that the IR announcer, who I don’t know, is a good guy who likes all kids and just got caught up in a great game.
I do know that Cape principal John Yore went to find the Indian River principal Mark Steele to request that the volunteer announcer guy back down a little and to curb his enthusiasm.
SO WRONG - College students with clackers driving their parents deeper in debt with each passing semester were “off the hizzy” at Delaware last Saturday night and the things those kids were chanting in unison were sometimes vulgar and offensive. But as I looked around all I could see were smiles on the faces of adults like they were wishing they could say things like that indoors and outdoors at the expense of their adversaries.
I do know that the Delaware student section has been spoken to as a group by the head coach in the past - “put the clackers down a minute and listen, especially you shirtless guys with letters painted on your torsos. You can say they are bums but real bums may be offended and you can say they suck although I don’t approve of that but you cannot say they ____. Fill in the blank yourself, and if you were at the game email davefredman@comcast.net and tell me what you heard when your attention wasn’t lusting for a footlong hot dog with no mustard.
BALL TECHNICIANS - You’re right, it doesn’t sound like a desirable job, but at Delaware it is an elite crew which gets you on the sidelines for home games where you get to wear a vest and feed fresh balls to the sideline officials. Last Saturday I was pleased to speak with Eddie Ginder who is head of the extended family of 13 chain crew members and has been since 1974. Locals Dickie Bryan and Bob Derrickson were part of the team last Saturday night. Bob has been there for a few years, but Dickie’s appearance was brand new and so I gave him my Gazette hat to help block out the lights because Dickie is photo sensitive.
SALESIANUM REUNION - Uncle George Glenn was my sideline companion last Saturday night at Delaware as he was there to support his long-time friend and college coach Jim Brazil who is on the staff at West Chester along with Brazil’s son Mike while his son Jim is a player. All the Brazils stopped what they were doing to hug Uncle George. Glenn left Salesianum and came to Cape in 1993 and left Brazil with a team that won the state championship.
OLD SCHOOL IN THE EXTREME - Zach Chupa won the 5K race at the Bottle and Cork 5K and 10-miler last Saturday morning wearing a shirt – OSXfitness - which is “Old School Extreme Fitness” completely natural and drug free. The club is for runners and lifters and anyone who wants to push it. Chupa brought a lot of people with him, especially Tatnall cross country runners, and he was escorting runners to the finish line over the next hour.
Speaking of Old School, Hootie is cool because I met him at the Vet after singing the anthem at an Eagles game. Speaking of not cool, Liza Minnelli was singing God Bless American before the U.S Open and I understand God himself looked down and said, ”Oh please! Talk about over the top Broadway show tune gaiety?
Send this message to her: I just want to watch Roger.
