I was the Manager of the Clark high school basketball team from 1991-1995. I filmed all the varsity games and kept score and operated the scoreboard at the freshmen and junior varsity games. It was an amazing experience and the coaches were wonderful. I still keep in touch with both coaches; Danny Murphy is a real estate agent and Kevin Hamilton is the assistant athletic director at Northside ISD. A lot of current High School basketball coaches planted their roots with either Danny or Kevin.
I started summer school for college in 1995 and at that same time, a friend of mine, Marc Hoenig, was starting his radio broadcasting career for the Cuero high school basketball team which is about 90 miles from San Antonio. Marc is my brothers age and his sister is my age and his parents and my parents are best friends so yes, we all knew each really well.
Marc was aware that I had statistician experience in high school and he offered me a job as his statistician. The pay was very little and would come from his own pocket. I didn’t even think about it and accepted right away; it seemed like a fun opportunity and something new. I didn’t mind that there would be games during the weekday.
After the Cuero basketball season ended, Marc did play-by-play for high school football games and I went along side him to do stats. I didn’t know a lot about the football rules and stats but I picked it up as I watched the games.
While I was working with Marc, I met Bobby Stautzenberger. Bobby is the owner of RJS High School Sports which is affiliated with the Texas Sports Radio Network. RJS and TSRN broadcast high school baseball, basketball, and football games on the radio and the internet. Soon after I met Bobby, I was officially on the payroll for RJS High School Sports as a football radio statistician. To this day, I still don’t know how I made that transition. Maybe there was a secret auction and Bobby won the bidding!
I have gotten better and better each year and am overjoyed when other radio crews request to work with me or when other radio crews breath a sigh of relief when they see me!
I worked for ESPN radio in 2001 for the Alamo Bowl. I also worked with Jeff Watts Production for a state championship game in 2006 that was broadcasted live on the internet only.
This year marks my 18th with RJS and TSRN! Holy Crap, that is a long time; almost half of my life. Is there a Hall of Fame for Stat men?
I will have stats, pics, and stories for every High School football game I work this season. Please follow me on Twitter @mdlblog and also like mdlblog on Facebook for updates throughout the season.
