The scene at a USM sporting event may not seem that complicated to the average fan.
The players take the court for warm-ups, their introductions are made and the game is played. But diving deep into the ins and outs of the anatomy of an athletics event at USM reveals itself to be more complex than you would expect.
In fact, so much goes into one of these events that the full-time athletics staff would have a difficult time running them in a professional manner without some help. At each game, there are the admission workers, concessions staff, merchandise sales people, the play-by-play and color announcers, the video coordinator, the official scorer, the game and shot clock operators, game management and more.
All of these positions are filled by either part-time workers or volunteers who dedicate time during their week to contribute to the athletics department; as you might expect, it’s extremely appreciated.
“What our per diem and volunteer workers bring to us is truly invaluable to our overall operation,” USM Athletic Director Al Bean said. “We are very fortunate to have the people we do helping us.”
Starting on March 29, there were 100 events scheduled over the next four weeks including double headers and away games, according to Christina Cracolici, Assistant Director for Athletic Media Relations. This type of event-load calls for a huge demand of assistance, and the athletic department’s part-time and volunteer workers do more than enough to get the job done.
Among these workers includes public address announcer, scorer and statistician Greg Jordan, who has been involved in USM athletics for close to 40 years and, according to Bean, “bleeds the Husky colors.” Jordan is the public address announcer for all of the men’s and women’s basketball and baseball games, and sometimes softball, soccer, and field hockey games. He also has announced at historic Fenway Park for the DII/III New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Game and at the NCAA DIII Baseball College World Series.
Bob and Cora Stewart, both USM alums, have been a tremendous help over the years manning the merchandise table at every men’s and women’s home basketball game. Bob was on the first ever Huskies’ men’s soccer team, and according to Bean, both he and Cora spent their time graciously behind the merchandise table over the years without accepting any money. They retired last year from their volunteer position.
Gorham residents Vic and Noelle Neuwirth aren’t any different. After being dedicated USM fans for years, the Neuwirths became directly involved in the athletics department. They shot pictures at games for them, and Noelle played a role in helping develop the USM Athletics web site.
Roger Plant, the father of former USM women’s basketball player and ’99-’00 LEC Player of the Year, Julie Plant, runs the game clock and scoreboard for every men’s and women’s home basketball game. Bruce Glasier, the Sports Director for Portland based WCSH 6’s News Center does play-by-play with color commentator and former USM baseball standout Collin Henry, for very little money.
It doesn’t stop there. Administrative Assistant Melissa Rowe runs the gates at basketball and hockey games, and student-athletes commonly lend a hand in game management, with some receiving work study. Head Athletic Trainer Matt Gerken and his staff and students commit much of their time before, during and after events, and facilities supervisor Bill Lamont and his crew of Robert Schroeder, Tim Cronin, Glenn Curtis, and Brad Cordiner do a tremendous job of getting the facilities prepared and clean after events. The list of dedicated workers goes on and on, and many of them work late on week days and even Saturdays.
It’s these individuals and many others that help keep athletic events at USM running, and they do so with such profound passion and pride. Because of this, they have formed a tight-knit community with the full-time staff and everyone else involved in Huskies’ athletics.
“These people are like family to us. I can’t emphasize it enough” Bean said. “They enjoy being around sports and they are great people. Our relationship over the years with them has grown into a truly special thing, and we feel like we’ve been very lucky.”