The Response
The Response
Ok so here is what I got back from him... It sounds like we will have to follow the script...
Thank you for your email. I agree wholeheartedly with your interest in
keeping the crowd in to the game, especially during key runs. As a
former basketball coach myself, I understand the importance of this to
the team and our ability to win games; that is always my desire. I do
want to explain to you the need for a script. At the Civic Center, no
less than 7 different groups of people are integrally involved in making
the game a success. From the PA announcer, band, cheerleaders, and dance
team to the video board operator, the audio control room, and the
lighting technicians, everyone must be on the same page in order for us
to have a cohesive show. My job, as the 'producer' of that show, is to
ensure that not only everyone is on the same page, but that we also are
able provide that show to the fans. In order to provide the show we
solicit corporate sponsors to provide funding for our athletic
department. This funding allows us to pay for not only staff, but smoke
machines, intro videos, band funds, and many other things that help make
things go. My very difficult challenge each night is finding a balance
between honoring the needs of our sponsors to get their name and product
in front of the 10,000 or so fans at our games, but also to make sure
that our atmosphere creates a competitive advantage for our team. I can
assure you that I am not tied to the script...however, it is necessary
to have a set script and have announcements, commercials, presentations
and acts all built in to the script. While these items sometimes seen to
encroach on the game, the script allows everyone to know when they are
coming and be prepared to make them as little of a distraction as
possible. I strive each game to make these items an unobtrusive as
possible to the game. Some games it works better than others.
Again, I appreciate and agree with your concern. I hope that you can
appreciate my position and the requirements that I need to follow. The
band has been an outstanding part of our game management thus far, and I
look forward to your continued spirit and energy at the games. Your
promptness into :30 second time-outs has been awesome and we keep all
announcements off of those time-outs so that you guys can really keep
the energy in the building going. Please pass on to your fellow band
members my gratitude for the part that you play in our production. I
look forward to a great season.
John Searby
Asst. AD - External Affairs
Bradley Athletics
.......................
so unless the script shows that we play during the next timeout, we will have to wait until after the announcements.