Last Tuesday, I received this Facebook message on The Statman Speaks:
Hi my name is Ruby Dominguez. My son, Jacob, is a freshman at Charlotte high school and is taking a college course right now. In this class he had to state his career choice and he chose a sports statistician. He would like to interview someone with experience in the field for an assignment. Is there any way he can interview you either through email or on the phone? I found your information when I googled local sports statisticians in the San Antonio area.
I was so honored he chose me and I was extremely happy to answer his questions.
So, without further words, here are my answers to his questions.
Describe your job duties?
I was a High School football statistician for the Texas Sports Radio Network (TSRN) from 1997 to 2014. I provided offensive statistical numbers to the broadcasters. This included first downs, 3rd down conversions, penalties, punts, turnovers, time of possession, drive summaries, individual stats (quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers), how long a particular play was, and total yards and plays. I also hung radio/internet/sponsor banners and helped setup and take down the equipment. On Friday’s, I gathered scores from all the other games for the Friday Night Scoreboard Show. I would often be the last person to leave the stadium!
I was a High School football statistician for Thursday Night Lights from 2009 to 2016. In addition to everything I mentioned above for TSRN, I also had to provide these numbers to the graphics operators in the truck so they can put them on the TV screen.
For both, I also would be a spotter if needed. A spotter is somebody who identifies the player who gets the ball or the player who made the tackle.
In 2011, I jumped on the Twitter and Blog bandwagon and started Tweeting and writing about the games I covered.
I stepped away from TSRN in 2015 in order to become a freelance writer/photographer.
I stepped away from Thursday Night Lights at the start of this season so I could spend time with my wife and newborn baby.
What skills and/or talents do you use in this career?
Occasionally, I would use a calculator, but most of the time I am adding and subtracting in my head — so, I guess quick mathematical skills. You have to really pay attention to the game. You can’t look at the crowd or cheerleaders because you will miss something.
What advice would you give someone considering this type of job?
You have to be passionate and enthusiastic about High School football. Of all the media people I have met, we share these traits.
Always be proactive (don’t ask, just do it). From 2003 to 2014, I worked Judson football games with the TSRN boss and I knew what he needed in preparation for the games and I provided it (stats from the newspaper, officials working the game, and adding pertinent information to the line-ups if it was missing grade classification, name, or number).
Be willing to work for either no money or very little money. When I started, I was getting paid out of somebody’s own pocket.
Show up to as many games as possible. Eventually, you will be recognized and somebody will want you. That is how I got involved with St. Anthony…I covered some basketball games in 2012, 2013, and last season. Nobody was paying me; I was doing it because I enjoyed writing and taking photos. Well, when the football season began this year, the Principal approached me (I had met him at the basketball games so he was familiar with my work) and he wanted me to cover the football team. And, they even paid me.
What challenges or problems do you face in your work?
All –star games, triple option teams, no huddle offenses, and teams where it is difficult to see the jersey number makes a statisticians job challenging. Blowouts can also be difficult, because you have to remain focused.
I used a dry-erase board to keep track of the stats, so having extra markers was a necessity for me. Once, I did run out of markers but thankfully I had my laptop with me at that game so I transferred the stats to a spreadsheet. I had everybody in the press-box searching for a dry-erase marker.
At another game, I only had one dry-erase board so I had to put both teams on one (and it was a playoff game).
Sometimes, there is a player who gets on my stat-board, but I nor the broadcasters know his name or classification because he isn’t on any of the rosters. That is when I turn into an information gatherer and find the assistance coaches to get it.
What kind of interview process did you have to go through for this position?
While I was in High School, I was the manager of the Clark High School Varsity basketball team. I filmed all the Varsity games and kept stats and operated the scoreboard at the Freshman and Junior Varsity games.
I started as the radio statistician for the Cuero High School Gobblers shortly after I graduated from Clark High School in 1995. It was my friend, Marc Hoenig’s, first sports broadcasting job. I was paid very little but I was happy to lend my hand and numbers to Marc.
Marc was also moonlighting as a High School football broadcaster and I tagged along as his statistician.
I didn’t apply for the job with Marc, he is actually a close friend of my family and knew what I did for the Clark basketball team. After the Cuero gig ended for us, I followed Marc as his basketball statistician for the St. Mary’s University Rattlers for 2 years.
In 1997, I was officially an employee of The Texas Sports Radio Network as a statistician for High School football games.
I read a press release in 2009 from the San Antonio Express News that CW35 in San Antonio was going to be broadcasting Thursday night High School football games on television. I mailed a letter and resume to the General Manager and the Director of Sales outlining my years of experience as a radio statistician for the Texas Sports Radio Network.
The Director of Sales, Dean Radla, forwarded my letter and resume to the Director of Operations, David Ostmo. I didn’t know it at the time, but Dean worked for the Texas Sports Radio Network. Dave Ostmo was going to be the producer for the Thursday Night Lights football games.
When I spoke to Dave, he told me he was impressed with my background. We talked about high school football in general and during our conversation, he offered me the job!
What kind of education and training did you get to prepare for this job?
Since I didn’t have a mentor, it was on the job training by me because I didn’t know anything about football stats.
What are the most important characteristics for success in this field?
Always be on time, always be respectful of everybody in the press-box, always write and speak legibly, always have a smile on your face, and always be confident in your abilities.
In what ways does your work impact your life outside of this job?
I have a fulltime job from 8am to 5pm at a bank and Thursday’s and Friday’s were extremely long days for me as I wouldn’t get home till 11 or midnight. The bank has always been flexible in allowing to me change my schedule, if needed. When I am at a game, I know my family misses me and I miss them. But, I know that I am not alone as everybody has somebody important at home, especially the coaching staff as they put in a lot more work than me. One thing my wife dislikes, is the fact that I can talk a lot about high school football…so, I try to minimize that at home. Now, my wife and son did come to a St. Anthony football game with me last month, but I was on the sideline as a writer/photographer. They came to see me and because it was a beautiful day outside that afternoon.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of entering and being in your occupation?
One of the best advantages was my reputation as a top notch statistician and it only grew as time went on. Whenever I showed up to a game, the broadcasters never have to worry about stats as I have them covered. Some crews would request me!!! When I stepped away from TSRN and TNL, they wanted me to come back. Even this year, I had some opportunities to make a comeback. But, I stood my ground and told them all NO.
The disadvantage of being a High School football statistician is that it isn’t all year round!!! The season could be as short as 10 weeks or as long as 16 weeks.
What do you like most and least about your job?
I had a front row seat (well, actually I was in the press-box) for the most exciting sport in the state of Texas — HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. I got to see a lot of tremendous athletes, I have covered several state championship games, and I got to cover games at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium and the Houston Texans stadium. You can’t beat that!!!
I don’t like seeing injuries and I have seen some horrific injuries — one of them, a player got paralyzed. That is always very sad to witness.
What is the most important thing you learned in college?
I got a BBA from UTSA with an emphasis in Tourism Management. Unlike my freshman year where I slacked (I would get up in the morning for class but when I came home, I napped). I quickly had to get my act together and read the textbooks, participated in classroom discussions, and made sure I was prepared for quizzes and exams. I think it was also good for me that starting in 1996, I had a real part time job (that was not statistics).
How did you become interested in this field?
After I graduated from High School, I was thinking of attending a school that had a sports management degree. I actually don’t know why I didn’t choose that route; rather I chose to attend UTSA. I also didn’t have a job. So, when I was offered to do stats for Cuero High School later that year, I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain. That decision has led me to where I am today as a respected statistician and a freelance High School sports writer/photographer
