Broadcasting rookie was step above WPXT, WABI veterans

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There were plenty of memorable moments from the television coverage of the high school Class A and B state championship football games Saturday by WPXT-TV in Portland (Channel 51) and WABI-TV in Bangor (Channel 5).

And some announcers would just as soon forget a few of them.

IN FOX 51’s CLASS A BROADCAST, it was the Monday Night Football-style of broadcasting as three people were in the booth.

Tom Caron, the voice of the Portland Pirates, handled play-by-play while WPXT sports director Dave Eid and South Portland football coach John Wolfgram shared color commentary duties.

Wolfgram is a new face on the local sports broadcasting scene, but he handled game analysis and color commentary like a pro.

The high school coach offered concise and clear descriptions The high school coach offered concise and clear descriptions of various plays and formations before, while, and after they occurred; offered opinions on plays called; and showed good personal knowledge of players, coaches, and even officials.

Caron called the action capably, giving the game added excitement during big plays and identifying players quickly and correctly.

Eid was somewhat restrained, confining much of his analysis to replays. He also asked Wolfgram what coaching moves he’d make during certain game situations.

Overall production was good, but viewers missed seeing a key first-down play late in the second quarter when WPXT’s commercial break ran into game action. A replay was later shown.

IN WABI’s CLASS B TELECAST, a more traditional broadcast approach was used. WABI’s Mike Hale handled play-by-play and Winslow Athletic Director Harold “Tank” Violette did color. WABI sports director Tim Throckmorton did sideline interviews and halftime features.

Hale had a good broadcasting style, but neglected to follow the action closely enough. Many plays developed and finished without Hale even identifying the ball carrier or tackler.

Violette did an excellentjob identifying defensive and offensive formations and plays, but didn’t always explain the terminology he used such as “trips,” short for three wide receivers.

WABI’s use of replays after almost every play was excessive, but production quality was top-notch despite that drawback. The graphics were very eye-catching, especially the player bios with each player’s picture, height, weight, and 1994 statistics.

As for the weekend’s memorable broadcast moments:

Best lead-in: Goes to WABI’s intro-teaser for the Mountain Valley-Orono game. It traced the history of both schools’ football programs back as far as 1936 (Mountain Valley, then Stephens High School) and 1932 (Orono) and included color film of the teams from the 1950s.

Inauspicious start – “Winslow won the toss and they deferred, so Orono will be receiving,” said Hale. “We wish Winslow was here Mike but that’s Mountain Valley,” Violette corrected.

Cliches anyone? – The cliche trophy goes to Eid and Wolfgram for describing an early botched play as “shooting yourself in the foot” and for later saying “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Sorry I asked – “The Biddeford mystique. When does that start to set in?” asked Eid. “It doesn’t. The Biddeford mystique doesn’t mean anything in this game,” Wolfgram shot back.

Terrific trivia – After a WPXT graphic listed the game’s officials, Wolfgram noted that the experienced crew had at least 85-years worth of combined experience.

Best feature – Throckmorton’s piece on Orono’s 48-game win streak from 1977-81 included interviews with players from those teams and film footage from some of the games.

Who were those guys? – Eid’s halftime feature interviews with the principals of Biddeford and Waterville High School were enlightening, but neither man was ever identified during the feature.

Is there an echo in here? – Caron asked Wolfgram what Biddeford Coach Brian Curit might have told his kids during halftime even though Wolfgram had already answered the same question from Eid minutes earlier.

Best replay – Goes to WABI’s shot clearly showing Orono receiver Eric Poulsen catch a pass and get one foot down before running out of bounds in the second quarter. The play was initially ruled a completed pass for first down but was later ruled no catch.

If my English teachers could hear me now – They probably cringed when Eid said “They have taken the ball, and they have ran with it” early in the second half.

Best observation – “When Minho Choi kicks off, he uses an old football that’s more like a rugby ball than a football. He booms that ball because it’s soft and big,” said Wolfgram.

Which league is this again? – “Well if Biddeford can punch it in here, they’ll have the two-minute warning and, I believe, all their timeouts,” said Eid. “We don’t have a two-minute warning in high school football Dave,” Wolfgram said. “Well, there you go. I’ve been watching too many Fox NFL games,” Eid replied.

The dreaded “oops” award – “Kevin Brown makes a big reception for first down,” said Caron. “But he didn’t get the first down Tom,” corrected Wolfgram. “He did not get the first down. I’m sorry,” Caron said.

How prophetic (or just call me Nostradamus) – “It’s not over yet,” cautioned Wolfgram with Waterville up a touchdown with one minute, 10 seconds left. “We’ve got an exciting finish to look forward to.” Forty seconds later, Biddeford’s Steve Tardif returned a punt 74 yards for a game-tying score.

Dewey beats Truman award – Caron and Wolfgram win hands down for the call of Biddeford’s field goal attempt with eight seconds to play: “Here’s the snap, it’s down, Choi kicks it up, IT’S GOOD! (pause) No good!… wide left!.”

The Bruce Hurst World Series MVP award – Goes to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame for jumping the gun and naming the game’s MVP – Waterville’s Brian Scott – with six minutes still left to play in the game. After the miracle finish, Tardif was named the game’s “outstanding” player.