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| ND vs Reagan Pregame |
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Almost Friday- Reagan vs. Davie
Marching orders have been given, cameras recharged and research begun as Finally Friday! heads to Pfafftown for this week's game between the Reagan Raiders and Davie War Eagles. This is technically my second trip to Reagan, the first being their week one trouncing of the Glenn Bobcats. At the time, however, there was no blog and @FinallyFri336 was mere hours old. I also had the privilege of seeing the Raiders on my second trip to North Davidson a couple of weeks ago, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Two Weeks In
I'm two weeks into this grand social media experiment, and now that this blog thingy is in somewhat readable format I want to share some observations with you. First, let me reiterate that I am no football analyst. My football playing experience involved flags and the word "Intramural". I never played a down of tackle football at any level, nor have I participated in any coaching seminars. I just see what I see.
First, some full disclosure: my stepson is starting school on Monday at Reynolds. He'll be a Junior, coming to Winston from a small, small school in Rocky Mount. He doesn't play football, basketball or baseball. So, I am NOT a Reynolds homer. There's no cheering in the press box, but since I don't sit in the press box, I can cheer for both teams. I don't care who wins. However, if the Chucktacular One decides to run track or some such thing, I will be a Reynolds homer and won't cover that particular sport. So there.
On to the football:
Quarterbacks
The winning teams in both games covered so far have one thing in common...a capable senior quarterback. Reagan's JaShawn Joyner and East Forsyth's Garrison Duncan each commanded the offense with smarts and a touch of flair. Joyner showed off an impressive arm along with general athletic ability. I sat in front of a Reagan basketball coach, and he can't wait for him to get back on the court. Duncan has quick feet along with his quick football instincts and rushed for over 100 yards, despite the fact that his starting tailback had over 100 of his own.
Atmosphere
This is what I care about most. The football experience for this blogger is diminished if the energy isn't there. The kids take care of the football energy almost every time, but I want to FEEL like I'm at a football game when I get to my parking spot. I wasn't disappointed, although I WAS almost left out of the Reagan experience because I showed up 15 minutes before the Star Spangled Banner. Note to fans: get to Reagan early. The Raiders even have a cool way of taking the field, although it does seem eerily reminiscent of West Forsyth's. I'll have to get to Clemmons and see for myself. Anyway, Reagan was great! No unruly parents, and a spirited group of students.
The walk to Mount Tabor's field was reminiscent of the walk through Clemson's campus to get to Death Valley, minus the tailgating and great unwashed. It was cool to walk between building until it opens up into the athletic fields. Mount Tabor has a great sounding marching band (as does Reagan), but I thought their student support was just outstanding. Even as they were getting eviscerated by Lavaughnte' "L-Train" Smith, the students and the support squads were energetic throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mount Tabor.
Odds and Ends
Uniforms- Reagan and East have great helmets. This is important. Ask my friends.
Mike Muse- Longtime educator, coach, Wake Forest staffer, and now head Eagle basketball coach was working stats for the football team. Of course he was. He probably lines the football field and sweeps the court...at away games. He was very helpful with game stats the other night. Give him a Twitter follow at @coachmuse.
Uniforms II- Tabor head coach Laymarr Marshall was ejected for two illegal equipment infractions. Apparently, if a player is wearing an elbow sleeve there needs to be an elbow pad in there. I agree with this rule. I still don't understand why coach Marshall had to be ejected. Can't they just hold the perpetrator out for a quarter?
Parents- There are a LOT of parent volunteers at these football games. What a cool way to get involved with your kid! Hats off to the parents manning booster club tables and concession stands.
First, some full disclosure: my stepson is starting school on Monday at Reynolds. He'll be a Junior, coming to Winston from a small, small school in Rocky Mount. He doesn't play football, basketball or baseball. So, I am NOT a Reynolds homer. There's no cheering in the press box, but since I don't sit in the press box, I can cheer for both teams. I don't care who wins. However, if the Chucktacular One decides to run track or some such thing, I will be a Reynolds homer and won't cover that particular sport. So there.
On to the football:
Quarterbacks
The winning teams in both games covered so far have one thing in common...a capable senior quarterback. Reagan's JaShawn Joyner and East Forsyth's Garrison Duncan each commanded the offense with smarts and a touch of flair. Joyner showed off an impressive arm along with general athletic ability. I sat in front of a Reagan basketball coach, and he can't wait for him to get back on the court. Duncan has quick feet along with his quick football instincts and rushed for over 100 yards, despite the fact that his starting tailback had over 100 of his own.
Atmosphere
This is what I care about most. The football experience for this blogger is diminished if the energy isn't there. The kids take care of the football energy almost every time, but I want to FEEL like I'm at a football game when I get to my parking spot. I wasn't disappointed, although I WAS almost left out of the Reagan experience because I showed up 15 minutes before the Star Spangled Banner. Note to fans: get to Reagan early. The Raiders even have a cool way of taking the field, although it does seem eerily reminiscent of West Forsyth's. I'll have to get to Clemmons and see for myself. Anyway, Reagan was great! No unruly parents, and a spirited group of students.
The walk to Mount Tabor's field was reminiscent of the walk through Clemson's campus to get to Death Valley, minus the tailgating and great unwashed. It was cool to walk between building until it opens up into the athletic fields. Mount Tabor has a great sounding marching band (as does Reagan), but I thought their student support was just outstanding. Even as they were getting eviscerated by Lavaughnte' "L-Train" Smith, the students and the support squads were energetic throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mount Tabor.
Odds and Ends
Uniforms- Reagan and East have great helmets. This is important. Ask my friends.
Mike Muse- Longtime educator, coach, Wake Forest staffer, and now head Eagle basketball coach was working stats for the football team. Of course he was. He probably lines the football field and sweeps the court...at away games. He was very helpful with game stats the other night. Give him a Twitter follow at @coachmuse.
Uniforms II- Tabor head coach Laymarr Marshall was ejected for two illegal equipment infractions. Apparently, if a player is wearing an elbow sleeve there needs to be an elbow pad in there. I agree with this rule. I still don't understand why coach Marshall had to be ejected. Can't they just hold the perpetrator out for a quarter?
Parents- There are a LOT of parent volunteers at these football games. What a cool way to get involved with your kid! Hats off to the parents manning booster club tables and concession stands.
Friday, August 24, 2012
An Introduction
Some guys buy motorcycles. Some guys get divorces. Some guys get tattoos. Me? I'm live-tweeting high school football games. For free. Follow me at @JMundyFballFri.
Welcome to my mid-life crisis.
Some brief history: My step-daughter, Morgan, spent her Junior and Senior years as a varsity cheerleader at Parkland Magnet High School. I thought this was a great idea, since it gave me plenty of excuses to get out of the house and watch sporting event...er, support my step-daughter. As the basketball season heated up this past winter, I began to realize how much I enjoyed going to these prep sporting events. I began to lament Morgan's imminent graduation and started thinking of ways to keep prep football and basketball as part of my weekly routine.
All hail the power of Twitter! I sent a mass tweet offering my services for free to anyone needing assistance with 2012 football coverage. Kenny Beck, the sports director at NBC affiliate WXII, accepted my offer and here I am.
Important Note: I am not a WXII employee. I am not compensated by the station nor do I wish to be. I'm also not a professional sports journalist (if you haven't already figured that out). My dossier includes one year of writing for UNCC's University Times, a season working the video screens at the University of Tennessee, and a season volunteering with the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. This was all a long, long time ago.
Simply put, I am a fan of the passion and energy that student-athletes bring to their respective tasks. Only the top percent of the top percent will ever play sports at a higher level, so every game is life-and-death as Senior Night looms on the horizon. I care nothing for recruiting, and know even less about it. For instance, I watched Ja'Shawn Joyner of Reagan dismantle Glenn last week, and I have no idea whether he is college material or not.
I DO know that he and his troops opened up a can on a Glenn team stocked with some very good athletes.
At any rate, I'm aware that I may spend this entire season live-tweeting and blogging to an audience of 5. I don't care. This is an experiment. I'm watching football- I win either way.
Anyhoo, I have to go. After all, it's Finally Friday.
-John
Welcome to my mid-life crisis.
Some brief history: My step-daughter, Morgan, spent her Junior and Senior years as a varsity cheerleader at Parkland Magnet High School. I thought this was a great idea, since it gave me plenty of excuses to get out of the house and watch sporting event...er, support my step-daughter. As the basketball season heated up this past winter, I began to realize how much I enjoyed going to these prep sporting events. I began to lament Morgan's imminent graduation and started thinking of ways to keep prep football and basketball as part of my weekly routine.
All hail the power of Twitter! I sent a mass tweet offering my services for free to anyone needing assistance with 2012 football coverage. Kenny Beck, the sports director at NBC affiliate WXII, accepted my offer and here I am.
Important Note: I am not a WXII employee. I am not compensated by the station nor do I wish to be. I'm also not a professional sports journalist (if you haven't already figured that out). My dossier includes one year of writing for UNCC's University Times, a season working the video screens at the University of Tennessee, and a season volunteering with the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. This was all a long, long time ago.
Simply put, I am a fan of the passion and energy that student-athletes bring to their respective tasks. Only the top percent of the top percent will ever play sports at a higher level, so every game is life-and-death as Senior Night looms on the horizon. I care nothing for recruiting, and know even less about it. For instance, I watched Ja'Shawn Joyner of Reagan dismantle Glenn last week, and I have no idea whether he is college material or not.
I DO know that he and his troops opened up a can on a Glenn team stocked with some very good athletes.
At any rate, I'm aware that I may spend this entire season live-tweeting and blogging to an audience of 5. I don't care. This is an experiment. I'm watching football- I win either way.
Anyhoo, I have to go. After all, it's Finally Friday.
-John
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