Myranda Hill never imagined she'd be in the midst of such excitement Saturday and neither did I.
But our SLC TV timeout coordinator, whose real job is assistant Lady Demon soccer coach (see the previous blog entry), got a lot of air time as officials tried to sort out the activity in an altercation on court with 7:32 left in what turned out to be regulation of the Demons' 99-98 double overtime win over Nicholls.
She also had a front row seat as officals and scorers worked through a question about the score late in the second OT.
First, the most important fact: the final score is correct, and the score was correct on the board when the situation unfolded with the board showing the Demons ahead 98-96 with 34 seconds left.
Somehow, Nicholls got a point it shouldn't have gotten on the TV screens. The point was added, and you see it clear as day, just as Nicholls Anatoly Bose takes a pass and is about to unleash a 3-pointer with 1:24 to go. The score moves from 96-90 to 96-91, and then after the basket, 96-94 -- a point too many.
I can't tell you when the coliseum scoreboard got off course. I do know that with 48 seconds left, Bose drove for a layup and was fouled. It was a circus shot, one of the best I've ever seen anywhere, worthy of any ESPN Top 10 Plays of the Day. It went in. The referee did not signal to the scorer that the basket was good as he signaled the foul and the impending free throw try. The scorer didn't mark down the basket, accordingly, and the scoreboard didn't show it.
The stat crew realized this almost immediately, but after the free throw was made the ball was in play. The game couldn't be stopped until the next dead ball. That's when the elongated discussion unfolded, and we were able to show officials the play-by-play sheet that helped confirm the correct score. Meanwhile, Myranda called me over and I had to explain to the TV producer that despite what his scoreboard said, we had the accurate scoring on record and there wasn't going to be an extra point given to Nicholls to make the score 98-97.
As to the altercation: it happened after very aggressive foul by a Nicholls player chased Shamir Davis going in for a layup. Referees immediately ruled it intentional but at the same time Davis, feeling it was a dirty play (and it looked it, although TV replays I saw later left room for doubt), got up and challenged the defender. Players from both teams got involved in the confrontation. NO punches were thrown.
After coaches from both teams and the game officials did a marvelous job of keeping the altercation from escalating, the sitaution calmed as the referees tried to see if any ejections or technical fouls were warranted. They went to Myranda, who was at the replay monitor next to the game clock, and went to work reviewing the TV footage.
Game officials Gary Vaughn and Brent Sherrod did a masterful job of carefully looking at the tape, and rightfully assessed a conduct technical foul to Davis, who shouldn't have confronted the Nicholls defender, Chris Isles. It was a hard foul, it was intentional, and it may have been flagrant, although that's open to debate.
The referees also were correct in not penalizing anyone else. The players involved in the altercation were all in the game at the time. If a player leaves the bench and becomes involved in such a situation, he is ejected. That didn't happen.
Give both teams credit for gathering themselves and refocusing on the game, which turned out to be a classic.
Suffice to say, Myranda's pretty face got an unusual amount of TV time, and she had a lot of inside stories to share with friends!
Doug Ireland, SID
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Behind the scenes at SLC TV
Working as hired help for the Southland Conference TV crew Saturday at Prather Coliseum:
Myranda Hill, the Lady Demon assistant soccer coach, finally gets to realize a dream. She is paid to tell officials what to do. That's a switch from thinking officials aren't listening to what she might say on the NSU sideline. Myranda will be the time out coordinator Saturday for SLC TV, sitting next to the game clock, letting the officials know when TV is back from a commercial break so the game can continue. In football, that person is called the "red hat" because often he will wear a red hat to be noticed on the sidelines. No such attire needed for Myranda, whose location and broad smile will be easy for the folks with whistles and wearing stripes to see.
Kerwin "Fat Daddy" Forges, the crafty member of the 2005-06 Demons of Destiny NCAA Tournament basketball team, will be right next to the action, too. "Fat" will be the statistics relay for the production truck. He will sit with SLC TV announcers Doug Anderson and Ladarrin McLane, and primarily be reading updated stats off the stat monitor so the graphics director in the production truck outside can input the numbers and get them on screen.
SLC TV producer Jeff Watts and his brother Michael were scurrying around Prather Coliseum all afternoon getting cables and equipment in place.
They'll tape brief pregame interviews with NSU head coaches Jennifer Graf and Mike McConathy Saturday morning. During the doubleheader telecast, you'll see an interview with NSU President Dr. Randy Webb at the Lady Demons' halftime, NSU director of athletics Greg Burke in between games, and Coach Graf at the men's halftime.
Hosting the show between games will be former Shreveport TV sports anchor Darrel Rebouche, whose wife Claire has an NSU nursing degree.
Myranda Hill, the Lady Demon assistant soccer coach, finally gets to realize a dream. She is paid to tell officials what to do. That's a switch from thinking officials aren't listening to what she might say on the NSU sideline. Myranda will be the time out coordinator Saturday for SLC TV, sitting next to the game clock, letting the officials know when TV is back from a commercial break so the game can continue. In football, that person is called the "red hat" because often he will wear a red hat to be noticed on the sidelines. No such attire needed for Myranda, whose location and broad smile will be easy for the folks with whistles and wearing stripes to see.
Kerwin "Fat Daddy" Forges, the crafty member of the 2005-06 Demons of Destiny NCAA Tournament basketball team, will be right next to the action, too. "Fat" will be the statistics relay for the production truck. He will sit with SLC TV announcers Doug Anderson and Ladarrin McLane, and primarily be reading updated stats off the stat monitor so the graphics director in the production truck outside can input the numbers and get them on screen.
SLC TV producer Jeff Watts and his brother Michael were scurrying around Prather Coliseum all afternoon getting cables and equipment in place.
They'll tape brief pregame interviews with NSU head coaches Jennifer Graf and Mike McConathy Saturday morning. During the doubleheader telecast, you'll see an interview with NSU President Dr. Randy Webb at the Lady Demons' halftime, NSU director of athletics Greg Burke in between games, and Coach Graf at the men's halftime.
Hosting the show between games will be former Shreveport TV sports anchor Darrel Rebouche, whose wife Claire has an NSU nursing degree.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Excitement in the Air
I live in Shreveport, but can still feel the excitement building toward what should be a fun-tastic Saturday afternoon at Prather Coliseum.
I hope you know by now that there are several promotions surrounding the men's/women's televised doubleheader which begins at 2pm. The NSU marketing/sports information department has done a terrific job of getting the word out about everything that will be going on. If you need more details, just look around this website.
From the women's standpoint, there is even more reason to look forward to Saturday's game against Nicholls. Last Wednesday, while the Lady Demons were resting up, Stephen F. Austin was falling short against Texas-Arlington. That means despite losing last time out against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, NSU is just a half-game behind the LadyJacks for first place in the Southland Conference's Eastern Division. Saturday, SFA goes to Southeastern Louisiana. A loss by the LadyJacks, and a win by the Lady Demons, and NSU could be in first place by a half-game. (As of this writing, UCA and SLU are a full game out of first place). That should be reason enough to cheer the Lady Demons in person Saturday!
And guess who NSU plays next Wednesday? Yep, SFA--in Nacogdoches.
As always, if you can't make it to the game Saturday, I hope you listen to all the action on the Demon Sports Network (including 100.7 KZBL) and this website.
But if you can make it, I hope you do. And remember to wear white!
Tony Taglavore
Voice of the Lady Demons
I hope you know by now that there are several promotions surrounding the men's/women's televised doubleheader which begins at 2pm. The NSU marketing/sports information department has done a terrific job of getting the word out about everything that will be going on. If you need more details, just look around this website.
From the women's standpoint, there is even more reason to look forward to Saturday's game against Nicholls. Last Wednesday, while the Lady Demons were resting up, Stephen F. Austin was falling short against Texas-Arlington. That means despite losing last time out against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, NSU is just a half-game behind the LadyJacks for first place in the Southland Conference's Eastern Division. Saturday, SFA goes to Southeastern Louisiana. A loss by the LadyJacks, and a win by the Lady Demons, and NSU could be in first place by a half-game. (As of this writing, UCA and SLU are a full game out of first place). That should be reason enough to cheer the Lady Demons in person Saturday!
And guess who NSU plays next Wednesday? Yep, SFA--in Nacogdoches.
As always, if you can't make it to the game Saturday, I hope you listen to all the action on the Demon Sports Network (including 100.7 KZBL) and this website.
But if you can make it, I hope you do. And remember to wear white!
Tony Taglavore
Voice of the Lady Demons
Passing of 1990-93 football player Curtis Wilkins
Teammates have made us aware of the recent untimely passing of Curtis Wilkins, a four-year letterwinner (1990-93) as an offensive lineman on the Demons' football team.
There will be a service for him Friday, Jan. 29 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, Texas, beginning at 10.00 a.m., reported teammates Bax Kegans and Carlos Treadway.
The church address and website follow. As we get more information, we will let you know.
423 South Broadway
Tyler, TX 75702
http://www.thecathedral.info/
There will be a service for him Friday, Jan. 29 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, Texas, beginning at 10.00 a.m., reported teammates Bax Kegans and Carlos Treadway.
The church address and website follow. As we get more information, we will let you know.
423 South Broadway
Tyler, TX 75702
http://www.thecathedral.info/
Signing Day luncheon being set
As always, there will be a National Signing Day event on campus to celebrate new additions to the football, soccer and track programs.
More than 150 supporters attended last year's event featuring new football coach Bradley Dale Peveto and what turned out to be, according to Rivals.com rankings, the No. 1 recruiting class in the FCS.
All I know is that 14 of those true freshmen played, and 7 started, last fall. That's immediate impact.
Signs point toward another strong signing class.
Expect arrangements for this year's Signing Day event to be announced in the next few days.
More than 150 supporters attended last year's event featuring new football coach Bradley Dale Peveto and what turned out to be, according to Rivals.com rankings, the No. 1 recruiting class in the FCS.
All I know is that 14 of those true freshmen played, and 7 started, last fall. That's immediate impact.
Signs point toward another strong signing class.
Expect arrangements for this year's Signing Day event to be announced in the next few days.
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