Here’s a headline for ya: “Copy editor gets out of newsroom, actually goes to game”
I had the pleasure of attending Tulsa’s homecoming game with SMU on Saturday. Well, the experience was a pleasure, not the game. TU lost, 27-13.
I had decided that since I had never been to a TU game in the four football seasons I have worked in Tulsa that it was time. But I wanted the full media experience, not just as a fan.
After being stopped three times by traffic police asking for my media parking pass, I finally arrived. My co-worker and TU beat writer Mike Brown had arrived at the exact time I did.
The noon sun shined as we made our way across a pavilion, weaving our way through many excited blue-and-gold clad folks. Mike commented that the crowd was likely the biggest he had seen at a TU game. The 65-degree weather, homecoming festivities and 1 p.m. kickoff surely played a part in the crowd of 21,714.
We entered the stadium through glass doors and were greeted by smiling gameday personnel, who seemed to be at every door and elevator, subtly noting the press passes around our necks.
The Chapman Stadium press box, which is on the fourth floor, was freshly renovated (as was the whole stadium) in the offseason. It was already occupied by other writers, who sat in front of their laptops.
I took my seat in the front row between the other TU writer, Eric Bailey, and Mike and looked out the big, east-facing glass windows. We set up our laptops and watched the teams and the band warming up. (Because it was Halloween, the band members wore their costumes. There were several refs, but only one with sunglasses and a walking stick.)
I made sure to grab some lunch down the hall before kickoff. A buffet of hot dogs, burgers, baked beans, pasta salad and cookies were on the menu. Tasty stuff.
Before the game started, Eric and Mike showed me around the rest of the floor, which included some luxury suites, radio booth and visiting coaches booth. I was also introduced to TU’s athletic director, Don Tomkalski.
Just before kickoff, I smiled a little bit as a voice came on the speaker in the press box reminding us (the objective media) of where we were and that cheering was strictly prohibited. Don’t worry, this was one game where cheering in the press box was not an issue.
If you want a recap, click here: TU stumbles in uninspired loss, because this post is long enough without rehashing the game. But TU’s offense has totally lost its 2008 luster. It plain stunk. At one point, TU used FOUR guys at quarterback in the span of ONE drive. That’s how desperate the Hurricane was for a spark.
Postgame, we walked down to a narrow room set up for the press conference. The TV folks set up their cameras in the back, reporters laid their recorders on the front table, and we took our seats. An unhappy head coach Todd Graham arrived and we all snapped to attention. He started speaking immediately. In short, he was disappointed.
Following him were senior defensive ends Un’Tavious Scott and George Clinkscale, and junior backup quarterback Jacob Bower. The three remained positive and said they needed to focus more before the game and play with more emotion.
Anyway, it was an interesting day. I worked my regular desk shift too, so I was pretty tired at the end of the night.
I can see how if nonjournalists had spent the day in my shoes, they might think it’s glamorous being a reporter: special parking, free food, luxury-type seating, the travel, developing relationships with famous or soon-to-be-famous athletes and coaches. And of course, the bylines.
But that’s only four hours a week. The rest of the week, there’s a lot of grunt work. Also, you can’t really relax during or after the game. And most reporters I know keep their own stats by hand during the game, meaning you must focus on the field, noting things like who made that tackle. A fan in the stands can occasionally forget what down it is or grab a Coke. Not reporters.
Plus, if anything on your beat happens on your day off, guess what? It’s time to make some phone calls and get to writin’. And with the Internet, the demand for breaking news is higher than ever.
So don’t worry, sports writers of America. I don’t want your job. Your multi-tasking involves stat-taking, crafting the perfect lede, quickly producing accurate copy while juggling phone calls and analyzing why they went for it on fourth and 19.
My kind of multi-tasking involves crafting the perfect headline, reading your story for factual errors, grammar and clarity while cutting it to fit, posting it to the web site and making sure the paper gets out. Different passions for different people. 
Who knows. Maybe one day I will get tired of being cooped up in the newsroom. But it did me good to get out and refresh my perspective on the other side.
Saturday’s experience was not only the perfect reminder of how I appreciate reporters and the hard work they do, but also how my hard work doesn’t usually feel like work. And that’s what matters most.
