Jags go to G-Day

On April 20th, 12 Cedar Shoals student attended the annual University of Georgia football G-Day spring game as members of the press. Sponsored by Grady Sports Media, the event aimed to expand experiences for students in Cedar’s live sports broadcasting crew.

“We realized that, in order for students to be excited about the world of sports media and sports broadcasting, it helps for them to have some experience doing it and some exposure to what that might involve,” said Carlo Finlay, Grady Sports Media Assistant Director. “That was kind of our idea. If we helped get a program going, and students can see how enjoyable broadcasting games and doing that is, then they might see this as a possible academic and career path.”

Finlay and his team of student volunteers helped Cedar students with their live sports broadcasts throughout football and basketball season. The partnership with Cedar has also helped UGA students as well.

“It’s been great for them too, to serve as mentors and to help kind of teach you guys. I think that really is something that’s really valuable for that is a positive experience,” Finlay said.

At the G-day game, Cedar students had the pleasure of observing from inside the press box as well as getting a tour of the Sanford Stadium control room to see how student workers produce the live experience of attending a Georgia football game. After the game, three students, Sachio Goodie, Tristan Lankford, and Denton Redmond, attended the post-game press conference with players and Head Coach Kirby Smart.

“The experience at G-Day at will definitely help me with my journalistic and scholastic endeavors,” said Goodie. “The opportunity to not only observe, but interact with real professionals in the field was awesome. Also, I’ve grown up going to G-Day, so the chance to experience it in a new way, in a journalistic capacity was amazing.”

The experience gave these students more access to the players and coaches, but also more access to the sports broadcasting profession.

“My favorite moment from G-Day would have to be watching the interviews of all the players after the game. I sat in on D’Andre Swift’s interview, and also watched Jake Fromm, (Rodrigo) Blankenship and (Richard)LeCounte,” said Goodie.

The students also had some chance interactions with on-air personalities.

“I also got to talk with Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback and announcer on SEC Network, a guy I watch on TV a lot. He gave myself and Tristan some advice for great football commentary. We just looked up at halftime and he was standing there in the press box, talking to some other media guys. We walked up to him and introduced ourselves, and ended up getting some great insight from him,” Goodie said.