I am currently in my 17th year as a statistician for the Texas Sports Radio Network and 5th year as a statistician for Thursday Night Lights on CW35. Man, High School football in the state of Texas is absolutely unbelievable and the atmosphere is electric!!
So, yeah, I have worked a lot of games at stadiums all around the San Antonio area. One of the those stadiums is Alamo stadium which was completed in 1940 and in 2011 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2010, the San Antonio Independent School District voters approved a bond to renovate the stadium. This renovation started as soon as the 2012 football season ended.
I was really curious and made my first trip to the stadium in March of 2013 and, holy crap, the press-box was gone!!!
I went a few more times to the stadium after that (alone, with my wife, and with my Dad as my official photographer) but I wanted to see more, so I reached out to the San Antonio Independent School District athletic staff. Brian Clancy, the Assistant Athletic Director, answered my call and dude, I got inside access to the stadium and also the adjoining gymnasium and that was awesome.
Each time I go to the stadium, I am amazed at the progress and I am very glad I have a place where I can showcase the photos.
On August 20th, I got an email from Jessie Degollado from KSAT12:
Good morning, Mark!
My name is Jessie Degollado with KSAT 12 News. I am working on a story about the renovation of Alamo Stadium to update where they are in the construction. And, with high school football season nearly upon us, where are the games going to be played in lieu of Alamo Stadium.
Besides SAISD, I would like to get your take on the what’s happening there since you obviously have a lot of interest in the project? Did you play there at one time? Would you be available for a brief on camera interview hopefully in the next hour or two? We could meet you there if you’d like.
Thank you!
Jessie Degollado
KSAT 12 News
Well, I was pumped up and excited and wanted to help her out and be on television, but I was at my full-time job and couldn’t just leap out of my desk and do an interview.
Two days later, I got another email from Jessie with an even better story idea:
Here’s an idea for another story having looked at your photos. Given your role as a statistician for many of the games played at Alamo Stadium, perhaps we could show how you’re now visually documenting the stadium’s renovation. Then also talk about why you’ve made it your personal mission. Perhaps we could briefly tag along for Tuesday’s shoot?
I’ll also see if the producers are interested. What do you think?
I really wanted to get some renovation photos before the High School football season started so I scheduled a visit on Tuesday, August 27th with Brian Clancy. Jessie was unavailable to tag along with us.
After several email exchanges, we officially scheduled an Alamo stadium visit for last Friday (I took the day off from work cause I thought the Judson Rockets played in Corpus, but they were actually home).
So, for the shoot, it was me, Gil Garza, Jessie, her cameraman, Joe Montoya (the project manager for Hunt/Joeris, and Jerry Mendoza (from Joeris). Joe and Jerry were my chaperons as I wondered around the stands and the field and took pictures. Now, as I was doing my thing, the cameraman was filming me…OMG, it is really happening. Jessie and Gil remained at the main entrance chatting.
When I was done snapping pictures, I proceeded to the area where Jessie and Gil were and it was time for my TV interview. I was a bit nervous, but also excited at the same time. Jessie made me feel really comfortable. Next up was Gil for his TV interview and after that Jessie grabbed me again for some final questions. WOW!!! ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!
In case you missed it on TV, here is the link: http://www.ksat.com/news/photographer-documents-alamo-stadium-renovation/-/478452/22161582/-/u9uo7sz/-/index.html
I had all intentions of using my digital camera but either I have a bad battery, a bad battery charger, or the part of the camera where the battery is located is bad (I ordered a new battery and charger so hopefully that will fix it; if not, I will be in the market for new digital camera). So, I had to use my camera phone which itself is a pretty good camera!!
A few minutes before the shoot, it poured!!! But, once we got inside the stadium, the rain stopped and the humidity took over and it made me sweat (this was not my nerves)!!
I never even imagined that when I took my first renovation photos of Alamo stadium that just 6 months later, I would be on television talking about it…WOW!!! This is great publicity for me, my blog, and of course my photos. Now, if I can only get my writings to get more awareness?
On Thursday, I will be at Gustafson stadium another District 27-5A game between the Warren Warriors and Holmes Huskies.
On Friday, I am probably going to be at Farris stadium again for yet another District 27-5A game between the Marshall Rams and the O’Connor Panthers. The Judson Rockers are off.
And, on Saturday, I will be attending a St. Anthony Yellow Jacket football game at the University of the Incarnate Word. I was invited by Diana Rybczynski, the mother of running back Marc Rybczynski. Marc was on the basketball team last season and I attended several games and wrote about it. The starting quarterback, Brandon Armstrong, was also on the basketball team.
You know something, I am really looking forward to this game as I am not planning to use my TSRN media pass to gain free entry nor am I going to do stats. I want to be a fan and experience it as a fan. Oh, it is also homecoming for St. Anthony so that will be fun to see.