Why It Matters.

As Summer begins to fade and fall starts to take shape there is a change in the air that goes beyond temperature and precipitation. The feeling is raw, it’s electric and if you have ever played the game of football you know without a doubt one of the true “sparks” of the season is the game we all love so much. While I dislike some of the big business aspects of what High School football has become, there is nothing about this game I do not love. The sights, the sounds , and the atmosphere of two communities coming together to watch their teams battle it out play after play and then shake hands afterwards is as American as it gets. It’s who we are as a people, it’s “we may not always see eye to eye but after this battle I hope yall make it home safe, good luck on a win next week” I’ve experienced this great game here in Union county as a player, as spectator or as a commentator for 30 years, In that time the game has gotten faster, plays more sophisticated and a lot more expensive than it used to be. Perhaps one of the biggest changes to the game has been it’s coverage. Newspaper and Radio were the only available source of promotion for prep sports for a long time even here in Union County. Now we have Tv coverage, Web coverage, Newpaper coverage and Radio coverage. I will always be a little partial to the later of the aforementioned. Radio is consumed in real time. With radio there is no pause button and no rewind. You have to be committed to what you are consuming, or you risk missing something. And I believe that is something we are missing in almost everything we consume. Choosing Radio for live sports is choosing to participate instead of watch. I’ve called well over 200 games on air as well as multiple state championships in multiple sports and with over 20 years “on the call” It is time to evaluate why it matters. Over the years we have received many emails, messages and phone calls in reference to Union County Football games we have called. Sometimes those correspondences come in the same night , sometimes its weeks later. Comments from grandparents who may know nothing about football but they could follow along and sure loved hearing their grandsons name being called. Comments from listeners who cannot make it to the game anymore physically but listen in each week because it makes them feel like they were there. Comments from college scouts who were listening in as they traveled between games and then seeing an uptick in kids signing to go to that school! Comments from the Soldiger in Frankfurt Germany who wanted to hear how his little brothers game was going and Thanked us for the “trip back home” that one will forever be one of the more humbling comments we’ve ever recieved for what we do. I could ramble on for hours with stories from the last 20 years and sadly at this stage of life there are probably more forgetton than remembered. The secret to true success in in life is the ability to make new memories and help others do the same, that’s not only why we come back Friday night after Friday night, Year after year. It’s why it matters!