Today’s (Apr. 21, 2009) edition of the UT Daily Beacon has a story about my son, Roger W. Hoover!
He was interviewed by Staff Writer Krisitan Smith after his recent recognition as one of the Top 20 Best Student Sportcasters in the U.S.
Smith quotes several authorities about Roger’s success:
Jon Chelesnik, CEO of STAA, said the Top 20 sportscasters program was the “equivalent of the Heisman trophy in college football.” He said Hoover was chosen for many reasons, including his writing and talent for broadcasting.
“He tells me what’s at stake in a ballgame,” Chelesnik said. “He adds drama to the game.”
Chelesnik commented on Hoover’s controlled energy.
“Many young, inexperienced broadcasters get too into the game and start screaming, but Hoover was never over the top,” Chelesnik said.
And of course, there were the early days when his mother and I indoctrinated him in the ways of the Chicago Cubs, as he sat in his wind-up swing in front of the TV as Harry Caray helped pass the afternoons away…
It’s been a difficult year for UT Athletics, given the disappointing football season leading to a change in leadership, both basketball teams making early exits in postseason play, and the baseball team struggling in SEC play.
But there’s good news: a UT Student has won Top Ten honors relating to Athletics — broadcasting, that is…
UT Junior Roger Hoover has placed eighth nationwide in the STAA (Sportscasters Talent Agency of America) All-American Program, which
recognizes the most outstanding collegiate radio sportscasters in the country and encourages collegiate sportscasters nationwide to strive to achieve their best. Each June, the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sportscaster will be presented the Jim Nantz Award.
Hoover happens to be the son of Roger C. Hoover of the Clarence Brown Theatre, who pens these blogs, but Roger the Elder isn’t at all prejudiced — his boy is very talented and certainly going places.
Hoover the Younger is majoring in Journalism and Electronic Media. He is the recipient of the Edwin C. Huster Scholarship for Athletic Broadcasting and works with the UT Athletic Department in Internet Communications, writing and voicing reports on utsports.com and utladyvols.com. In addition, he is co-host of the Vol Network’s Inside the Orange television program and is the public address announcer for UT Baseball at Lindsay Nelson Stadium. He also serves as emcee for UT Baseball’s Bullpen Club luncheons (as shown above).
Last summer, he was the play-by-play announcer for The Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League, and this year is moving to the broadcast team of the Class-AA Tennessee Smokies.
When that day comes when he signs a lucrative contract with a major league baseball team (hopefully the Chicago Cubs!), Roger will most certainly reward his parents richly for the sacrifices they have made for him through the years…
Congratulations, Coach Summitt!
The University of Tennessee has been very fortunate having Pat Head Summitt as its Women’s Basketball coach for many years.
Last night, the Lady Vols won their 1000th game with Pat Summitt as their coach – something no other NCAA Division I coach, man or woman, has ever done before — and perhaps no one else will ever do again.
She’s done it through the years with class and dignity — and of course amazing intensity. She is a winner, and it’s fun to be a witness to an event like this!
For the record, the Lady Vols defeated Georgia 73-43 before a big crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena. After the game, there was a special program of recognition, featuring various local dignitaries, things being done to memorialize the feat, and Coach Summitt addressed the audience.
One of the “fun” things was Coach Summitt getting the “Gatorade shower” — only this time (it being indoors in an arena, etc.) it was confetti dropped on the Coach and the Fox Sports South sideline reporter interviewing her. In the photo below (from the UT Athletic Department’s Elizabeth Olivier), you can see this observer’s son (Roger W. Hoover) at the far right peaking around his computer to watch the action.
Best wishes to everyone in the blogosphere — Happy New Year!
And of course, congratulations to all my fellow Vols on the Outback Bowl! (In case you missed it, the final score was Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17). (Whew!)
My New Years’ Resolution — blog more often.
Several interesting items (to me…)
Gene Wojciechowski has written an nice piece about UT Lady Vol Candace Parker on ESPN.com. Gene is one of my favorite writers — and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a UT grad and a Chicago Cubs fan.
According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Broadway in Knoxville will go dark next season.
Roane State Community College is holding auditions for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Theatre on the Roane County campus. Actors are asked to prepare a 1-2 minute monoluge. For more information, call Michael Golebiewski at 865-882-4589. The play will be performed Feb. 14-16 and Feb. 22-23 at 7:00 p.m., Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m., and Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m.
There’s another review of the currently-running Clarence Brown Theatre production of A Christmas Carol, this one in Metro Pulse. Once you get past reviewer Kieron Barry’s somewhat self-indulgent and condescending asides, he says some interesting things about the show:
And indeed there is much to enjoy. Edward Morgan’s sprightly, lovable production is spirited in all senses. With a lavish set by James Kronzer and Beverly Emmons’ blissful lighting design, its production values are approaching the stratospheric. The cast, by and large, lives up to this promise, some of them even gamely attempting an English accent here and there.
If you’re coming to the UT football game this Saturday (Sept. 22 vs. Arkansas State), arrive a little early and make your way to the University Center for the UT Pre-Game Faculty Showcase, featuring Theatre Department Head and Clarence Brown Theatre Producting Artistic Director Calvin MacLean.
While that might sound exciting in itself, Cal’s topic, The Wizard of Oz: Gags, Shtick, Rhythms and Routines will also feature an eight-minute, two-actor version of the play written by Cal and performed by UT Theatre students Rachel Winfrey as Dorothy and Ash Edwards as everyone else.
I’ve seen it. It’s hilarious! Oh, and check out the “Ruby Red” Slippers…
The Showcase begins at 5:00 p.m. and is free!
Read more about the Faculty Showcase here.
I’ve been fond of The Wizard of Oz for years; when I was an undergraduate student at UT many, many years ago (the early 70’s), my Advanced Television Production class made a documentary television program about the Clarence Brown Theatre production of the play. (I was the Producer.) The program was called How to make a Wizard. I’d love it if someone in the Communications Building magically found the video tape so we could see it again, although it was recorded on the old format 2-inch video tape, so I’m not sure how we could play it…
Fortunately, I’m seeing a live version of the whole play this weekend. The Kingsport Theatre Guild is presenting the musical at the Renaissance Center there; my lovely wife Susan Hoover is the Musical Director. I understand they have plenty of talented young munchkins.
This isn’t a sports blog, but considering how the University of Tennessee’s football team is still working out the kinks in several key areas, we’re happy to report that they defeated the University of Southern Mississippi.
Highlights of the game are on utsports.com, reported by Roger “W.” Hoover (my son, not me…) If you click on the link to the left, click on the button for “UT vs USM Highlights” to see and hear Roger’s report. He is a sophomore majoring in Sports Journalism here at the University of Tennessee and helps provide reports on the Internet for both men’s and women’s athletics.
During last night’s game, Roger got to see Josh Briscoe’s touchdown very close up; Roger’s wearing the orange shirt in photographer’s row right where Briscoe was headed after scoring and running through the end zone.
Our football team’s off to a rocky start, but they hope to find success this Saturday here at home — and that means there’s NO SHOW ON SATURDAY (the 8th).
But with that exception, there’s plenty going on around here — The Honky Tonk Angels continues in the Clarence Brown Theatre through the 16th (with shows Wednesday through Friday this week, plus a Matinee and Evening performance on this Sunday).
And, for something admittedly different, All Campus Theatre opens EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HELEN OF TROY by Mark Schultz in the CBT Lab Theatre on September 5-7 at 8pm and September 9 at 2pm and 8pm. For more information, see our “Student Bulletins” page.
So, enjoy the drama on the gridiron on Saturday, and here every other day… (but not tonight – we don’t do Tuesdays any more…)
Toronto-based Audienceview has been a rising star among ticketing systems providers for arts organizations. Now, it’s expanding more into other areas, including big-time college athletics.
As Ticketnews.com reports, the company has added the University of Minnesota’s athletic ticketing to the arts side they already provided:
Toronto-based ticket solutions provider AudienceView, already ticketing the University of Minnesota’s Arts department activities, has now picked up the university’s Golden Gopher athletic events, which includes 25 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams in the Big Ten Conference and Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Ticket sales started August 15 at the box office, online, and by phone.
The athletic ticketing for Minnesota was formerly provided by college athletics powerhouse Paciolan, which is being purchased by industry leader Ticketmaster. Ironically, Paciolan just added the Concerts/Arts side of the University of Tennessee’s ticketing to its exisiting athletics contract.
Just ask Roger how he feels about Paciolan…
Pardon the football, for those of you who don’t hold the sport in the same degree of reverence as some of us, but I can’t help it…
Way to show ‘em, Peyton!
http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9974864
