Swafford: Ask and ye shall receive
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Sports
Face it, when 23 percent of your readers want to see more from your section, it's hard not to take notice.
In fact, it's enough to make me write a column.
To say that I was excited when the results of last week's Question of the Week showed that the majority of you wanted better sports coverage is an understatement.
To be honest, you've just made my job a lot more fun.
If there's one lesson I've learned from my previous jobs of waiting tables and working the bar, it's that you always give the people you serve what they want.
Toni Merriss brought me back for my second tour of duty behind this desk for one specific reason - to do this job better than it's ever been done before.
That means we have to give you better content.
You want it? You've got it.
From an obvious glance, you can already tell that we've made more than a few visual changes to the way we look. That's only the beginning.
Look for more in-depth coverage from us starting this week. After each football game, you'll find a report card where I grade the JSU offense, defense and special teams.
Yeah, I can already hear the angry screams coming from Jack Crowe's office.
I've given you a bigger sports staff.
If you ask me, I've got some of the best damn sports writers this campus has to offer.
Jared Gravette and Jered Staubs are two guys that I've worked with in the past, so bringing them on board was a huge addition.
You'll probably find Gravette at our home volleyball games, including the home opener this Sunday.
Staubs covers soccer for us this fall. He knows the sport and can probably cover it better than either Gravette or myself.
Will Payne is new to the game. He came here with a love for sports and a desire to learn how to write about it.
I'm not done with the improvements around here. Just bare with me, it's a work in progress over here.
Don't just take my word for it. Read what we write and form your own opinion. That's what we're here for.
Whether you like what you read or not, I want to hear from you.
E-mail me and let me know what you think. Give me your opinions. Tell me what you'd like to see us do or write about. Ask me questions. I may even use some of these emails in an upcoming column or a blog.
Just remember this: 23 percent of you wanted better sports coverage.
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
A huge weekend for sports
Man, this is a big weekend on campus. Everyone is at home.
Soccer plays Friday night and Sunday afternoon in the first-ever Gamecock Soccer Classic.
Volleyball plays host to Albany Sunday and the girls are getting their OVC championship rings before the game.
Cock Rugby even kicks off Saturday at noon.
By the way, in case you didn't know, you can get into all JSU athletic events for free with your student ID.
As you've probably seen while driving or walking past Paul Snow Stadium, we've got a new video scoreboard that will make it's athletic debut this weekend when we host UT-Chattanooga.
I, for one, am kind of excited about all of this. I spoke with JSU's Sports Information Director Greg Seitz Monday and got a small idea of what we might be seeing this weekend on the big screen.
The athletic department has recorded a video entrance for the football team, as well as video mug shots of all the players for the starting lineups.
Yes, before you even ask, there will be everyone's favorite part of a video board - instant replays.
Some people have been a little critical of the upgrade. Personally, I like it.
Paul Snow is about as old school as a stadium can get without those metal bleachers that you see at little league baseball fields.
Just like this paper, the stadium needs an upgrade every once in a while.
However, I have just one problem. Why didn't they ask me to record anything?
Wait, don't answer that.
I'll see you on gameday.
Patrick Swafford is the Sports Editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-5703 or at chantysports@gmail.com.
In fact, it's enough to make me write a column.
To say that I was excited when the results of last week's Question of the Week showed that the majority of you wanted better sports coverage is an understatement.
To be honest, you've just made my job a lot more fun.
If there's one lesson I've learned from my previous jobs of waiting tables and working the bar, it's that you always give the people you serve what they want.
Toni Merriss brought me back for my second tour of duty behind this desk for one specific reason - to do this job better than it's ever been done before.
That means we have to give you better content.
You want it? You've got it.
From an obvious glance, you can already tell that we've made more than a few visual changes to the way we look. That's only the beginning.
Look for more in-depth coverage from us starting this week. After each football game, you'll find a report card where I grade the JSU offense, defense and special teams.
Yeah, I can already hear the angry screams coming from Jack Crowe's office.
I've given you a bigger sports staff.
If you ask me, I've got some of the best damn sports writers this campus has to offer.
Jared Gravette and Jered Staubs are two guys that I've worked with in the past, so bringing them on board was a huge addition.
You'll probably find Gravette at our home volleyball games, including the home opener this Sunday.
Staubs covers soccer for us this fall. He knows the sport and can probably cover it better than either Gravette or myself.
Will Payne is new to the game. He came here with a love for sports and a desire to learn how to write about it.
I'm not done with the improvements around here. Just bare with me, it's a work in progress over here.
Don't just take my word for it. Read what we write and form your own opinion. That's what we're here for.
Whether you like what you read or not, I want to hear from you.
E-mail me and let me know what you think. Give me your opinions. Tell me what you'd like to see us do or write about. Ask me questions. I may even use some of these emails in an upcoming column or a blog.
Just remember this: 23 percent of you wanted better sports coverage.
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
A huge weekend for sports
Man, this is a big weekend on campus. Everyone is at home.
Soccer plays Friday night and Sunday afternoon in the first-ever Gamecock Soccer Classic.
Volleyball plays host to Albany Sunday and the girls are getting their OVC championship rings before the game.
Cock Rugby even kicks off Saturday at noon.
By the way, in case you didn't know, you can get into all JSU athletic events for free with your student ID.
As you've probably seen while driving or walking past Paul Snow Stadium, we've got a new video scoreboard that will make it's athletic debut this weekend when we host UT-Chattanooga.
I, for one, am kind of excited about all of this. I spoke with JSU's Sports Information Director Greg Seitz Monday and got a small idea of what we might be seeing this weekend on the big screen.
The athletic department has recorded a video entrance for the football team, as well as video mug shots of all the players for the starting lineups.
Yes, before you even ask, there will be everyone's favorite part of a video board - instant replays.
Some people have been a little critical of the upgrade. Personally, I like it.
Paul Snow is about as old school as a stadium can get without those metal bleachers that you see at little league baseball fields.
Just like this paper, the stadium needs an upgrade every once in a while.
However, I have just one problem. Why didn't they ask me to record anything?
Wait, don't answer that.
I'll see you on gameday.
Patrick Swafford is the Sports Editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-5703 or at chantysports@gmail.com.
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