Know your broadcaster: Chris Blackshear
October 21, 2008
We’ll start with Chris Blackshear, the fourth-year sideline reporter for the Troy radio team. Since most of you won’t be in Denton, Texas on Saturday, you’ll hear his witty banter from the sideline. If your kid gets hurt (God forbid), Chris is right in head trainer Chuck Ash’s earhole to find out the latest.
1. How long have you been calling games (or sideline reporting) for Troy?
15 Years, I started in 1993 calling Central High School Football Games on the radio in Phenix City.
2. How did you get the job with Troy?
Roger Shultz and I were friends from his time in Columbus and when he got the job at Troy I told him to keep me in mind one day if a job came open and he was true to his word. He called me after the 2004 season and told me there might be a chance for me to do sidelines and it went from there.
3. What is your normal preparation for a game? How early in the week does it start?
I normally look through all the scores before going to bed on Saturday Night so I know where we are heading into the next week. I get my game notes from the SID Dept. on Monday’s regarding Troy, that week’s opponent and the Sun Belt notes. (I must say Ricky, Travis and Jason make my job a cake walk. I have more than enough information to get ready for each game!!!) I get into the details on Tuesday Night. I normally start about an hour before the Coaches show and work straight on through the show. It gives me a chance to hear from the coach about the week so far and his thoughts about the upcoming game. After about 3 good hours on Tuesday Nights I have all of my topics for the Round Table segments during the pre-game show. The rest of the week is getting some of the players numbers in my head from the opponent and reading their blogs and websites to see what’s going on from their end….and of course reading your Blog Drew!!
4. What made you get into this business?
Well Just like Jerry I do this as my “moonlighting” job. I work full-time at TSYS in Columbus Ga. where I have been employed for 14 yrs. I got into the business back in 1990 when I was in school and started interning at WRBL-TV3 in Columbus, Ga. I had the chance to work with Rece Davis as his “get-it boy”
during football and it really gave me the itch. After about 6 months I was hired as a camera operator for the 6 & 11 Newscast, then after another 6 months, I was moved to news where I worked weekends as a photographer and reporter. This is where I learn real fast, that as much fun as the job was, I better finish school and get into the real business world. I was not to fond of the $5.25 a hour pay. So I got a job at TSYS and they have allowed me to do what I do every
year since I started working for the company.
5. Best thing about calling Troy games
This is pretty easy….it’s the people! I have never worked with a group of people that were more like a family than this group. From Coach all the way to Steve Dennis to Dr. Hawkins. They welcome you with open arms and give you everything you need to be successful. I never felt like I
was the “new kid on the block” 4 yrs ago. Also, working with Jerry, Barry, Mike and Michael is a real treat. All of these guys are better broadcasters than myself, so they force me to get better every week and I hope that’s making me better!
6. Most memorable on-air moment
I got 2: 1. In 1993, which was my first year on the radio, Central Phenix City went 14-1 and won the school first and only state championship. In the semifinal round we were playing host to Enterprise in Phenix City. Coach Bacon had an amazing team that year and they jumped out to a 14-0 lead heading to the 4th Qt. Central rallied with 2 late scores and forced overtime. Enterprise scored on their first play, but Central blocked the PAT….Central got the ball down 20-14. After 3 failed attempts at scoring we were faced with a 4th and goal from the 10. We threw a TD pass from Griff Gordy to Shedick Dixon to tie the game…we made the PAT and won 21-20. It was the best high school game I ever saw in person…not to mention it was about 15 degrees! Central beat West End from Birmingham the next week 12-7 to win the 6A title.
2. Troy 2006…Middle Tennessee (The Troy Miracle) When we scored and needed the recover the onside kick I was right at the 40 yrd line of MTSU….when Greg Whibbs kicked it and got the perfect bounce and we recovered I started yelling…“we got the ball….we got the ball….we gotthe ball. I was like a 3 yr. old at Christmas that just got a new bike….Barry and Jerry…sorry for yelling over you!
7. Most embarrassing on-air moment
This is a hard one….I tend to get tongue tied on names quite often. But I will tell you that one time during the 1996 high school season we were on the air…so I thought and I was talking away for about 6 minutes and my wife kept calling my cell and I would turn it off….when I finally looked at it she had sent me a text saying I was not on the air. I had the broadcast playing back through the cell cast unit but I forgot to plug the phone line in the jack!!!!
8. Best place you’ve called a game (or roamed the sideline)
The best place ever would have to be Ohio State and few weeks ago, for the exception every time I had the toe of my shoe over the media line they threaten to throw me out and Nebraska. They were great in Lincoln…I got to thinking the best job in college football might be the guy who holds the rope around the players box in Lincoln. He stands at the 25 yd. line all game with a rope tied around his waist and watches the game…not too bad considering when most security has to face the crowd the entire time with no clue of what’s going on behind them
9. Worst place you’ve called a game (or roamed the sideline)
FIU and FAU, this is a toss up. FAU makes me think there should be a fair taking place around the football field. I was actually looking for the bumper cars
last week! FIU is just the pits, it looks like their old stadium was built out of Legos.I can see why they are upgrading their facilities. Not to mention the food outside of the Knife in Miami is TERRIBLE…We went to place outside the Orange Bowl last year to eat prior to the FIU game and when we parked their was a sign on the wall that said, “Please DO NOT Remove Rodent Trap)...needless to say I was wondering where the meat was coming from..( I will not tell you who picked the place, but his car tag is TDMOT!)
10. How does Troy’s setup compare with the rest of the conference?
The BEST….I cannot even think of a close second. If I had to put someone behind Troy it would be Arkansas State, not due to the ease of getting there from Troy!
