UM broadcast students run jumbo sports screen

By Chelsi Moy
J-School Web Reporter

The huge screen towering over 20,000 fans at the south end of Washington-Grizzly stadium adds a new luster to Grizzly football. It takes you on the field as Monte the mascot rides his motorcycle, flashes close-ups of the players, pinpoints cheering faces in the crowd, and never misses an opportunity for a slow-motion replay. The action is courtesy of students in UM’s broadcast news and radio/television departments, who direct from a U-Haul trailer parked outside the stadium.

Photo by Josh Parker

Cameraman Ron Russell, a senior in the R-TV Department, films the first quarter of the Grizzly's home football game against Northern Colorado on Sept. 14. The images he records are projected on the temporary Pro-Star screen behind the south entrance of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

UM is currently using a temporary Pro-Star screen until the new 28-by-34-foot Jumbotron is installed. The Jumbotron, taken out of Times Square in New York City, will be even larger than the temporary screen and will sit on top of the scoreboard. Dan Hawley, marketing manager for UM athletics, said the Jumbotron would be installed for the homecoming game on Sept. 21.

At the Sept. 14 game against Northern Colorado, UM’s J-School students rose to the challenge, meeting fast-action deadlines.

"Are we running the Griz Quiz?" assistant director Robin Catterton asks urgently.

"We need it now," demands director Brent O’Connor.

Somebody radios to the announcer that the tape is running, and seconds later the "Voice of the Grizzlies" echoes through the bleachers, reading the Griz Quiz questions as they flash on the screen.

"Everyone is doing awesome for such a fast job," says O’Connor.

A fast job indeed.

For four hours intense during every home football game, O’Connor, a graduate student in broadcast journalism, and his crew of 12 students are in constant demand to shoot the best shots and make the transitions look smooth. They call themselves Grizzly Vision.

The students did not have time to work with the equipment before the first home game on Sept. 7. They didn’t have headsets, making it hard for the control station to communicate with cameras inside the stadium. Some of the students were thrown into positions that they had never worked before. Other students have never covered sports before.

Josie Hollenback, a senior in radio-television, is not familiar with football but felt confident once she relaxed behind the camera.

"It was easier once they told me to follow the ball and not the players," said Hollenback. "I got the hang of it after a while."

Courtesy Lisa Hornstein/Montana Kaimin

Journalism professor Bill Knowles (bottom) looks on as four students operate the production side of Grizzly Vision out of a U-Haul at the Griz game on Sept. 14.

Terry Pugh, a UM alumni and ex-Grizzly football player, paid for the new Jumbotron screen. Hawley said he doesn’t know the total cost because installation and transportation fees are still unknown. And the final cost may include a truck instead of the rented U-Haul. Hawley said Pugh is hoping to recoup some of the costs through advertising. Businesses can purchase packages ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 to have their ads run on the Jumbotron during the games, and the deals are a 10-year commitment.
The athletic department pays the students $7.75 an hour to run the Jumbotron, but most consider the opportunity valuable work experience.

"I’d do it probably if I didn’t get paid," said Amanda Tutschek, a senior in broadcast news.
The opportunity to cover live sports is rare. Lance Johnson, a senior in R-TV production, said he wants to cover live sports after he graduates. He loves the way the crowd immediately responds to his camera work.

"It is so cool to see the people reacting to your shots," Johnson said.

O’Connor is planning to watch the game tapes to see where he can improve. He has experience from working with FOX Sports and has done some directing, but he said this is a "crash course" for him.
"I learn as I do," he said.

The majority of the students working for Grizzly Vision enjoy participating in the football game in ways other than getting rowdy in the student section. Grizzly Vision’s technical director, Kate Braden, said she watches more of the football game working the switcher board than she would if she were in the stands. Not only are they involved in how fans see the football game, but the perks also include free press-box food and field passes.

"We get paid for doing something you’d be doing anyway," said cameraman Chris Durden, "and watching something you’d already be watching."

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