Wake Forest Athletics
A March To Madness
3/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 22, 2002
By Stan Cotten
I'm banging this one out in the few hours between arriving back from Charlotte and the ACC Tournament and departing for Sacramento, Calif., for Wake's Midwest Regional game with Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament. My window of time is less than 48 hours, and that's not a lot of time when you consider there are clothes to get to the dry cleaners, clothes to wash, logistical considerations for originating broadcasts in foreign territory, prep work so I'll have a reasonable idea of what I'm talking about and, of course, family members to pass in the night.
March Madness indeed.
But it's the best job in the world. No complaints - just the facts. Like a guy yelled my way at Madison Square Garden early this season during a break from our broadcast of the Wake-St. John's game: "I can't believe you guys get to do this for a living!" My thoughts exactly.
And this time of year is so special. Deep in my soul, I'm a football (weekly reference) guy, but basketball in this part of the country - especially this time of year - is a way of life. I know that's no news flash to most, if not all, of you. But if you come from the outside like I have and learn to live and breathe football (Tennessee, SEC), basketball becomes an acquired taste. And I have acquired it!
I just completed my sixth year of broadcasting every game of the ACC Tournament on the Wake Forest ISP Sports Network. And I'm the rookie. Mark Freidinger is in double-digit years on our network, not to mention his time on the Wake bench as an assistant coach. Chris Ferris, who produced our week so fluidly, is also a tournament veteran. Their insight and experience are invaluable.
We got back from Charlotte late Sunday following the Duke-N.C. State final, and I literally raced up the stairs from my garage just in time to turn on the television and learn of Wake's trip to the West Coast to face the Waves in only four days. And on the other side of the world! Here we go again.
But the work, and I know from that guy in New York that I use that term loosely, we'll do in bringing you the NCAA Tournament will be a walk in Central Park compared to what we just did at the ACC Tournament at the Charlotte Coliseum. Fun but tiring. Long but rewarding. Ready for it to end but wanting next year to already come.
Here are a few random thoughts of our time in Charlotte preparing for and broadcasting the entire 49th Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.
Wednesday
This is a great day. The tournament doesn't start until Thursday night's "play-in" game. But we head out a day before so we can ease into our once-a-year broadcast boot camp. Wednesday is a day to pack the radio wagon full, tie the rest to the roof and get there to survey the landscape. There's the hotel to check into, radio gear to drop off and set up at the arena and the only relaxing dinner of the week.
Chris has the hardest day. He works with the other networks that also broadcast every game (North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke, Virginia and Georgia Tech) to make sure everything is technically ready to go before Thursday ever arrives. There are cables to be run, phone lines to be tested, back-room studios to link with courtside locations. It's amazing what these guys do in such a short time.
Dinner with friends and colleagues, some paperwork and lights out.
Thursday
Practice day for the teams at the arena. We get a lot of interviews with players and coaches to use both that night and for Friday's gauntlet of four games. The pregame, halftime and postgame shows are all planned and mapped out. Segment hosts Scott Briggaman and Carter Blackburn arrive to join the team.
More paperwork with team stats, histories, rosters, etc. A great deal of this kind of work is done before leaving Winston-Salem, but you can't do it all.
Before you know it - game one. Play time.
Friday
Four games today. Eat a big breakfast. You'll be mostly working on it. Yes, there are press meals, but I don't eat much of them. Ice cream between games gets the job done!
The games are a blur. The day is over before you know it. So many names and jumpshots. They tend to run together for me. It's almost like one game that never ends. When the games are over is when it hits me. We just did four ACC games in one day. Normally it takes two weeks to do that many.
Back to the hotel after midnight. Stats need updating. In bed about 2 a.m. ready for the semis.
Saturday
Another big breakfast. Quickly to the arena to make sure all segments of the broadcasts are planned and ready to go. Finish up more paperwork and research. Blink your eyes, and there are only two teams left in the tournament.
Saturday goes fast. Order dinner and pick it up to eat in the hotel. A little time to relax, then some paperwork and planning. Lights out after midnight following legendary sportswriter Bill Brill's Field of 65 announced in the media hospitality room.
Sunday
No rest today. Off to the arena early to make sure the broadcast of the championship game is ready. Last minute changes, interview scheduling. Only one game? Piece of cake. One game does seem like nothing in context of the whole week. Before you know it, Duke is champion. Again.
Tear down as fast as possible. Stuff everything back in the car. Head home for a quick pit, then back out for the maddest march of all.
