Aug 18, 2008
Football Friday with Tom Suiter airs at 11:35 p.m. on WRAL-TV.
Earlier this month I called my friend Steve Purvis to find out if he was set for another season of Football Friday. We joked that it seemed like the last season had just ended. I will tell you that as you get older time, does move at a quicker pace. Yes, another season is here as we start our 28th season of Football Friday on Aug. 22.
Big Steve Purvis has helped me on Football Friday since 1991. And when I say big, I mean big. The former Campbell basketball player is all of 6-8 and 280 pounds.
I first met Steve in 1987 at a function at South Johnston High School, where he was a teacher.
A couple of years later, he was placed in charge of starting South Johnston's student television program. He called me and asked if he could come and hang out with us at the station and hopefully learn a few things that could help him with his class. We were, of course, glad to have him. I'm not sure if he learned much, but we all had a good time.
The first few weeks into the 1991 season, Steve called me and asked if I needed any help on Football Friday. Of course I needed plenty but I said, "Purve, are you crazy? Are you sure you want to spend your Friday nights out here with all our madness?"
He said he was sure because he felt that being a part of a television show would help him learn more about the business and become a better teacher. He learned a lot very quickly that first night.
One of the games that night was a big one, Millbrook at East Wake. It was part of a doubleheader that one of our best people, D.J. Kazmierczak – also known by his Football Friday moniker of the Polish Prince – would be covering. D.J. was a long-time producer for me and is now living in Charlotte and doing very well in business.
Now, our goal every Friday night is to send camera crews to 28 high school games. The only way that can be done is for one photographer to shoot two games. The first half of one and the second half of another. Games, of course, have to be within reasonable driving distance. And it's a must that scores be called in to us.
That night, D.J.'s first game was Millbrook at East Wake. He taped highlights into the second quarter and then took off for his second game.
Well the scores, as usual, started to come in fast and furious at 10 o'clock. Back then we didn't have a lot of help, so I asked Steve to assist my good friend Davis Bradshaw (he was a valued part of Football Friday throughout the '90s) with taking in the scores.
The Millbrook-East Wake game was called in with Millbrook winning it 21-12. So D.J gets back into the station about 10:30. He has about an hour to get his story done. He asks if we had the scores of his games. We told him that Millbrook had won 21-12. With all the confusion that was going on (and it was more so in 1991 because I also did the sports in the 11 p.m. news), I can still hear D.J. telling Davis and Steve, "That score doesn't seem right." Remember, he left that game in the second quarter.
Man was D.J. right! He was my producer and always sat next to me on the set. His job was to hand me late scores, to watch the game highlights to see if anything was wrong, etc.
We had what I thought was a good, fast-paced first segment. D.J.'s doubleheader report, which included the Millbrook-East Wake game, was the first reporter package in what we call the first block.
During the first commercial break, one of our reporter-photographers, Scott Cooper, runs up to the set. "Coop-man, how's it looking?" I said." Not too good," replied Scott.
Scott, who later became the Sports Director at WBT in Charlotte and is now the public relations director for Lowe's Motor Speedway, had come to tell D.J. that the phone was ringing off the hook telling us we had the East Wake score wrong. It was East Wake 21 and Millbrook 12.
That is one of those Football Friday moments I would like to forget but never will. I immediately had the Richard Nixon sweaty upper lip as that nervous fear of failure began to set in. I'll be long retired and D.J. will be visiting me in the old folks home, and we'll still recall that Millbrook-East Wake night of 1991.
Anyway, D.J. rushed off the set, confirmed that the score was indeed wrong. It was too late for him to re-package his report, so he edited some quick East Wake highlights and later in the program, apologized and corrected the score as we talked over the re-cut video.
After the program, I went back to my desk feeling very much like I was in the losing locker room and asked what happened. Both Davis and Purve said the score was reported several times that Millbrook had won. Obviously, some idiots who thought they were being funny had called in the score in reverse while no one had called in telling us that East Wake had won. That would have certainly raised a red flag.
East Wake was the home team that night, and that's why I always stress that it's the home team’s responsibility to make sure the game is reported, win or lose. Our photographers always leave cards with our number asking people to call in the score, but it does fall to the home team to make sure that the score is called in – not just to us, but to all media outlets.
We've come along way since that night in 1991. We have more people who help. We have more college-age note-takers to accompany for our great photographer staff, and we are much more sophisticated in taking in scores and making sure they are right. But I still ask that famous D.J. Kazmierczak question many a night: "Are you sure? That doesn't sound right."
Oh, there are still mistakes. As much as you want it to be perfect, it's hard to do on a show as frantic as Football Friday. And as long as I've done the program, I can honestly tell you I don't forget any of them. But I will say I've learned from them.
And speaking of Steve Purvis, he didn't let that first night get him down. Friday night, he will start his 18th season with us. He's now my associate producer, and I couldn't do the show without him.
Football Friday is here for another season. Shows in television often come and go, but I'm proud to say that Football Friday, going on 28 seasons, is still alive and well.
Bob Holliday, who helped me invent Football Friday along with Jay Jennings, has already sent me a list of possible games to cover this first week. Bob and I have been doing this ritual for a long time.
Our WRAL graphics department has been hard at work on our set and putting together a new graphics package. Just about our entire news photography staff has said they would like to work the show. They have more fun than anybody. Yes, another season is very close.
High school sports has always meant very much to me. I have so much admiration for those who coach at this level. High school coaches put in so much time and so much effort, and the influence that they have can last forever. I don't think they even realize the impact that they have.
I do hope that the players who begin this season realize how lucky they are. To be a part of a team is something very special. Win or lose, the chance is there to build the memories and friendships of a lifetime.
And I always wish for a season of sportsmanship, that teams and individuals will win with humbleness. Be proud and confident but never boastful. A lot can be learned by how people handle success
As much can be told about a person by witnessing how he or she loses. The true indicator of what one is made of is to be able to handle the hurt of losing with class and dignity. So very much about what's in store in the future can be learned on high school playing fields.
Yes, football season is here. I know it will be stressful. I know I'll go home at least 12 of the 15 Friday nights that we do a show wishing we had done this or that better.
Please forgive us for any mistakes, for there will be some. None are ever intentional.
We'll do our best because I know every team in our viewing area will be doing the same.
Football Friday. 11:35 p.m. It starts Friday night.
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