Point of View

Super Bowl XXXIX was a baptism by fire into the big leagues for Jacksonville and for many of its natives like me.

I participated in the Super Bowl Media Day Feb. 1 at Alltel Stadium thanks to my internship at the Florida Baptist Witness. Rubbing shoulders with national reporters and covering football, a sport I follow somewhat religiously, was a surreal experience.

I graduate this summer with a journalism degree to presumably enter the high calling of reporting. Thus, this brief media circus – an annual reporters’ ritual – was an invaluable crash course in impromptu interview techniques and a glimpse at the deadline writing precision of professional reporters.

Equally fortuitous was the coaching and coaxing by my internship supervisor, Joni Hannigan, managing editor of the Witness. Some Media Day tools of the trade we utilized were digital cameras, tape recorders (preferably with ample microphone area), “professional reporter notebooks,” and trustworthy pens.

After picking up our press credentials, we huddled in a spacious second floor lounge with numerous national media. We prepared for the one-hour sessions with Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots’ players and coaches by circling names and numbers of practicing Christians on the rosters, as researched by Art Stricklin, a veteran sports writer the Baptist Press wire service tapped to cover the Super Bowl. This faith angle set us apart from the majority of reporters, allowing us to hone in on specific players rather than coveting quotes from anyone sporting a jersey and an imposing stature.

As the floodgates opened to the first session with the Philadelphia Eagles, I noticed New York Giant superstar Michael Strahan reporting for a sports show. This was the first of many double takes.

We kept an eye out for kicker David Akers, kick returner Roderick Hood, offensive linemen Tra Thomas and Hank Fraley, and others. Professing Christians Corey Simon and Brian Westbrook were at podiums reserved for head coaches and more popular players.

We first spotted John Harbaugh, the special teams’ coach. We waited for our turn, as others – a common occurrence – were grilling him. My first question was probably a little too direct. Among Mrs. Hannigan’s suggestions for the day were to ease into interviews with small talk, to maintain eye contact, to ask open-ended questions, and to transition into questions. Following these guidelines tends to allow for more spontaneous and comfortable dialogue. The more open-ended the questions, the more of an opportunity there is to follow-up on intriguing anecdotes that invariably arise.

The most memorable interview was with Tra Thomas, a mammoth Eagles offensive tackle from Florida State University. We found him right as the session time expired. Thomas tried to shake us, but Mrs. Hannigan asked if she could talk to him as he walked off the field. She persisted by sharing that she was with the Baptist press. His countenance changed with this revelation. Thomas then animatedly discussed something more important to him than football: his faith. In summary, he considered the playing field his pulpit – a sentiment echoed by other players throughout the day.

After the first session, reporters were herded back into the lounge for a two-hour brunch break. The food was great and free – even more delicious. I overheard a member of the “national sports writer aristocracy” grousing about the lack of a salad bar, among other complaints. A photo-op with Michael Silver, a Sports Illustrated columnist, surfaced. I think he was tickled that I was familiar with his work. He struck me as unassuming and genuine. Broadcasting celebrities Tom Jackson, Chris Mortenson and Chris Berman made their rounds, along with international crews from France, Germany, and Mexico. Local sports anchors Dan Hicken and Jeff Prosser also were in attendance.

Following lunch, the reporting free-for-all converged on the Patriots, a more subdued bunch. However, conversations with spiritual players, such as linebacker Don Davis, a future seminary student, and defensive back Je’Rod Cherry, a mentor at a youth detention center, were compelling. An embarrassing lesson occurred when I asked wide receiver Bethel Johnson to elaborate on the influence of his father, “a Southern Baptist pastor.” Johnson gave me a puzzled look and disclosed that his mother raised him. I apologized for mixed up information; he was nice enough to politely answer my other questions.

All in all, Media Day was unforgettable training. I snapped dozens of pictures and talked to several players on both teams. The downside was transcribing all the conversations from the tape recorder. But that was a breeze thanks to a nifty device with a foot pedal to instantly stop and restart the tape. The volume and speed were adjustable. A tour of the media workroom at the Prime Osborn Convention Center later in the week, from Radio Row to endless tables with laptop access, was icing on the cake. I snagged copies of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Boston Globe, and souvenir press releases and pamphlets.

I was truly at the right place at the right time due to the Super Bowl’s correlation to my internship stint and the generosity of Mrs. Hannigan.

Waters is a senior at the Univeristy of North Florida where he is majoring in journalism and minoring in religious studies. He is active in the Jacksonville Baptist Campus Ministries.