Season Opener for UWG Basketball 2012

I have not seen a UWG basketball game in quite some time. It had to be at least two years since the last time I watched a UWG basketball game. Fortunately, I was not scheduled to work this Friday, so  I decided to come out and show my support. Morehouse University versus North Alabama were playing when I first arrived at the Coliseum. They looked pretty good too. Watching them play had me excited to see what UWG had to offer. I have a couple of basketball players in my classes from Australia and I really was anxious to see what they were bringing to the table. I wish there was more support for the basketball program here but I guess since it was so close to the weekend a lot of students went home for the weekend. I don't know, or it could've been because of the cold weather.It was freezing. I remember we used to come to the basketball games deep back in the day when basketball games were played in the H.P.E gym. From the first tip of the ball until the time I had to leave, the game was very fast paced. There was plenty change of possessions throughout the first half of play. It was the first game of the season however,so I couldn't expect too much. West Georgia played well together though. I had to leave after the first half to finish up an assignment but West Georgia had the lead by a couple of points. The next day I got the news that West Georgia lost the game in a tight one 63-66. I look forward to checking out more games in the season.

Disability Awareness Week on Campus

It was Disability Awareness Week on campus this week. I've attended Disability Awareness events in the past on campus but really  didn't realize the significance of the event. I just knew there was free food and prizes on campus one day and I was all for it. This year was different. I'm grateful that attending this event was extra credit for a couple of my classes this year because I probably wouldn't have known about it. I am rarely at the heart of the campus nowadays being a senior and all and having all my classes in the Coliseum. However, I am glad that I got a chance to participate. There were a lot more vendors and tables this year than in the past and also a lot more people getting involved. I participated in making a pbj blind folded, wheeling myself up a steep hill to get a lunch tray and wheeling back down, and a full court wheel chair basketball game. The wheel chair basketball game by far was my favorite. I had a lot of fun, but at the same time it made you realize how much different life is for people with disabilities. I have a new found respect for people with disabilities and appreciate their toughness and getting through the day despite their disability.

University of West Georgia Homecoming! Valdosta vs UWG?

West Georgia Wolves

West Georgia Braves

In 2005, my freshman year at West Georgia, I was introduced to a new city, new people, a new football culture, and  most of all a new rivalry in Valdosta States football team. Valdosta State had always been a premier football program in the GSC and at the D-II level period. From my first day at football camp I was made aware of how deep the Valdosta State vs. UWG rivalry was . It was like the theme for motivation for the entire season. The Blazers were coming off a 13-1 2004 season, and reigning NCAA D-II National Football Champions. We finally face off the final game of the season. The final score, West Georgia 29- Valdosta State 15. We knocked them off their high horse. We won that Peach Basket.The attendance at the game was 5,616, full house I assume. Unfortunately I was red shirted and didn't travel with the team. Nonetheless, I felt every bit a part of the win. Blood, Sweat, and Tears was shed on that practice field  with this team. That 2005 West Georgia Brave football team was special and I applaud every single one of them and was glad to have been a part of it and a part of West Georgia history.

I said all that to say this. Was the decision to play West Georgia's arch rival Valdosta State on Homecoming a good decision? Its a known trend that you play a sub par team for the easy win to compliment with the homecoming festivities. I was anxious to see the result of the game and the show out of the crowd. I only got to see 15 minutes of the game because I had to work. However, it was a great turnout and it was a clear, sunny, cool day. I'm sure West Georgia did well in ticket sales for this game. Speaking of ticket sales, thats one element that makes this decision a good one. Knowing that West Georgia beat Valdosta last season in a tough 23-20 bout, in addition to knowing its the most anticipated game of the season,why not schedule them on homecoming?
When I got off of work and found out the final score of the game I was shocked to see they got beat 42-7.   http://www.uwgsports.com/news/2012/10/6/FB_1006121205.aspx?path=football
I wish I could have stayed so I could give my own personal analysis of the game, but the bills have to be paid.lol. Despite the ugly homecoming loss, it was a good homecoming week.You can't beat catching up with old friends, football, and good food fresh off the grill.

Tusculum vs. UWG: CSS broadcasting Volunteer Sept. 8, 2012

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with the CSS broadcasting team on this day. I arrived at the stadium early around 11:45 a.m. excited about just being apart of the experience. I wasn't only excited about helping out but also seeing Tusculum college face off against West Georgia. It was ironic to me because Tusculum offered me a scholarship to play football for them but instead I chose to attend West Georgia. Although I was no longer playing football for West Georgia I couldn't wait to see the competiveness  and the type of athletes on Tusculums team.

Back to the topic at hand. As I sat under the big white tent waiting on instructions from the CSS director, we were fed Shane's Rib Shack.  This was a treat because I was staaarving.  Once everyone arrived that was volunteering as well, the director introduced us to his  broadcasting crew. He gave us a brief description of each of their jobs and then he told us where he wanted us to go once the game started. Since I was familiar with the game of football he put me in charge of calling the downs and yardage back to the broadcasting truck from the press box. I was excited to but also kind of nervous because I didn't want to screw up a live broadcasting.

As the game was about to start, I reported to the press box to meet whoever I was supposed to be working with. Stepping off the elevator I was amazed with the press box. It was really nice. It was my first time ever being up there. It was a major come up from where West Georgia's football team used to play at Carrollton high schools stadium. I felt like I was in a D-1 facility. Any who, I reported to the press box and there were a team of people already sitting in their designated areas. I introduced myself and told them I was there to do the stats as a CSS volunteer.  They told me the GSC had already brought their own stat guy. In the back of my mind I was thinking "only at West Georgia". They told me to go down to the broadcasting truck to talk it over with the Director. So I arrive at the truck just right outside of the stadium.  In this small beat down truck there were 5 people in it with buttons and screens everywhere. It felt like a scene out of the Anchorman. lol. A bunch of co-workers horsing around before they had to go on live.

The Director informed me that he didn't know that GSC had brought their own stat guy and told me just to sit tight. So there I was standing in this baby truck for the whole first half of the game watching them work their magic. It was interesting to see though. There is really a lot going on behind the scenes that you would never think of if you were at home just watching the game. One guy is responsible for queing back replays, another guy strictly handles scripts,scores, and additional info that rolls across the screen and plenty of other roles played by the crew. The Director is like the quarterback of the whole scheme of things. He's calling out what camera angles he wants displayed, zoom ins, zoom outs, calling tv timeouts and so on. Its a controlled chaos on that truck.

After spending the first half on the truck I was ready to help in some sort of way so I made my way to the sidelines. As I looked up in the stands, it was a pretty good turnout.  There were a lot more fans than when I played. I was handed the audio shield and told to point it towards the football wherever it goes. Easy enough, even though the shield had a short in the cord. I loved it though. There is no better place to be than being right there close up to the action. It was a good game. Tusculum had a pretty decent team. I wondered how my life would have been different had I chose to go to Tusculum instead of West Georgia. Would I have been presented with the same opportunities? All in all it was a good experience and I enjoyed myself and West Georgia won38-29! At the end of the game the team gathered in front of the home crowd and sang the Alma mater. This was new to me. We never did that when I played. It was good to see that West Georgia was building some tradition.

The University of West Georgia's campus is in full bloom. I've had the experience to see the campus change in infrastructure, culture, and tradition, spanning from the year 2005 until now in my graduating year. It has been a long, challenging, enlightening, and adventurous journey. It has changed from a small campus where everybody knew everybody, to a fairly larger campus where it is kind of rare to see the same face twice now. I will remain a West Georgia Brave at heart forever, but I will walk with the new pack of Wolves and share my wisdom and in turn will learn and understand the new culture of a West Georgia Wolf.