A Great Place for High School Football

Last Friday night I was at Tiger Stadium at Grimm Park in Texarkana, Texas. This is where the Texas High Tigers play football. I was there to broadcast the Marshall-Texas High football game.

This was my second trip to this stadium in 23 years. The first was back when I was the weekend sports anchor at KTRE Channel 9 in Lufkin. I came to the stadium to cover the Texas High-Nacogdoches game. I left Lufkin and stopped off in Kilgore to pick up two of my high school buddies, Eddie Welch and Trey Rosebrock.

When we arrived at the stadium 23 years ago, I remember they told me my spot to video tape the game for high lights was on the roof of the press box. Yes, the roof with no railings around it. Trey and Eddie helped me get the camera, tripod, tape deck and spare batteries to the top of the press box.

This trip was totally different. As Chris Paddie and I went to the press box we rode an elevator to level two of the press box. As we stepped out of the elevator around 30 people were enjoying a pregame get together with all kinds of food. The press box, the stadium, had undergone a complete makeover about two years ago.

The press box was one the best I have ever worked a high school game from. The atmosphere was big time. Texas High fans arrived about an hour before kickoff just to hang out.

I want to now share with you the best pressboxes I have worked out of.

1. Waco ISD- Top notch. Mike plug ins for crowd noise and the pa announcer. The last time I as there for a Marshall playoff game we had replays in the booth.

2. Homer Bryce Stadium- This is where SFA plays. Broadcasted a Maverick playoff game here in 2005. Great view and plenty a room in the radio booth. Big difference from 20 plus years ago when I worked for KTRE in Lufkin.

3. Ornelas Stadium. One of the best Div. III football press boxes in the country.

4. Tiger Stadium at Grimm Park- Enough said up above.

5. Kyle Field- Even though you are a mile away from the action. This is Kyle Field, enough said.

The worst pressboxes, that will be another blog at a another time.

Blogging

Blogging takes a commitment to writing something at least every other day. As you can tell by the dates of previous blogs, I am not very good at this.

The other day during Chapel at East Texas Baptist University a presentation was given concerning the study abroad opportunities students have. ETBU has sent students to China, Mexico, Poland, and other places to take a course while they are overseas. Alison, my daughter, listened to the testimonies of students who have gone in the past to study abroad.

As I was walking back to my office after chapel I recieved a text from Alison. Guess what it said? "I want to go to China." My response back, "Go. Get a passport and go."

The opportunity she has goes right along with the ETBU vision statement, "A World Of Opportunity in a Community of Faith." This vision statement is so true at ETBU. Our students get so many opportunities to further the kingdom of God.

I am blessed to be able to call ETBU my place of service in the kingdom of God.