Latest producers' logs ...Nov. 21, 2009: Ara ParseghianReflecting on the Oklahoma contest of 1959 originated from an interview with Mr. Musburger. When Brent talked about that game with the reverence that he did, I knew this was something that I wanted Coach Parseghian to address. His memory is as sharp as ever, even if he is in his 80s. His courageous fight against Niemann-Pick Type C disease which has tragically touched his family remains in the forefront of his mind. To lose three grandchildren to the disease is just mind-boggling to me. I'll never forget his statement: No grandparent or parent should be burying his children. I mean, that has been a traumatic thing for all of us. Here's hoping that his work can eliminate that disease. Nov. 21, 2009: Chic Harley Harley was a quadruple threat. He could run. He could pass. He played defense with the best of them. And he was Ohio State's star place-kicker. In our bonus coverage, you'll see how Chic's feet helped propel the Buckeyes to their first-ever victory against Illinois, a win that led Ohio State to their first conference title. Chic Harley set the stage for the modern game we love today. His speed, grace and intelligence preceeded Grange, Thorpe and the Heisman Trophy. But his battle with mental illness came before society knew how to treat its patients. And there in lies the quiet tragedy of Harley's tale. If he had never gotten ill, would our memories of Chic be so faint? --> Nov. 17, 2009: Land of Lincoln Now that I got to see the process and see all the steps involved I have a new respect for those who do the castings and for the artists who created the models. I don't know which stage of the process was most impressive: The creation of the model and all the detail involved in creating it, or once that model is completed, actually turning it into the bronze statue itself. In the bonus content, you will see the unedited pouring of the liquid bronze into the mold of the hat. The process is similar to what would happen if you were to pour water into an ice cube tray that was molded to look like a hat. You pour the liquid in, it hardens, you break it out, and you have a hard copy of your subject. After it is poured, Artistic Director Don Reed, walks us through what he just did. Nov. 14, 2009: The Toon family What stands out to me about all of them is their character: very humble people. What I wanted to focus on with this story is the strong sense of family and legacy that exists with them. By the way, next year another daughter is entering college, but will turn the "W" into an "M," as in Michigan. Stay tuned for that feature in 2010 on the Big Ten Network. Nov. 7, 2009: Blair White My first thought after finishing production on the Blair White feature was this: Blair is what Notre Dame's "Rudy" wished he could have been. Like Rudy, Blair was a walk-on who had to earn respect over time and is an inspiration to the competitor in us all. Unlike Rudy, Blair earned enough respect to get his first shot as a redshirt sophomore. In his first game, September 1, 2007 against UAB, Blair caught three passes for 25 yards and continued to progress from there. Blair admitted to me that he is not the quickest, fastest, strongest or most athletic receiver out there, but the edge he has over his opponents include his intelligence, work ethic and meticulous nature. Blair's mom told me a story that when Blair was a little boy he used to get frustrated when the seams on the toes of his socks didn't line up perfectly straight. He used to tell her not to put his shoes on until he made sure the seams were perfectly straight across his toes. A funny story that gives us a window into his success on the football field. Blair and his coaches would both say he is one of the most precise route runners out there. As a true student of the game Blair says he knows the tendencies of all of his opponents - he told me giving a corner a quick head fake and a precise route makes up for his lack of speed and quickness. What also impresses me about Blair is that he carries approximately a 3.8 GPA as a human biology major and has already been accepted to dental school. You want to talk about a guy who has his head on straight?! My hope is that this story about Blair White serves as inspiration to anybody doubting their own ability. I don't know what kind of NFL career he is destined to have, if any, but I can tell you I'll be watching his future closely and whenever his NFL experience is over - I may just look him up for a good teeth cleaning. Nov. 5, 2009: Tony Moeaki I found it sort of ironic that when Tony Moeaki showed up for the interview he was battling a really bad cold. Here we are ready to do a piece on him finally being healthy and he shows up sick. However there's one thing you can always count on when you are preparing to do an interview witha Hawkeye football player: They are always dressed appropriately, wearing collared shirts, ready to represent the program appropriately. The same goes for the coaches. Kirk Ferentz put on a tie specifically for the interview, which I think really speaks to the culture of the football program at Iowa. If one ever wonders why a team might be so consistent over so many years, I believe little things like wearing a tie and the attention to detail that the coaching staff at Iowa seems to have clearly make a difference. Appearance aside, it is hard for any player to come back from a series of devastating injuries and not be worried about getting hurt again. Coach Ferentz addressed whether he feels Tony plays with any kind of hesitation or doubt, fearing he might injure himself again. Oct. 17, 2009: Buck-I-Guy The Buck-I-Guy is very secure with who and what he is: a devoted fan of Ohio State University. John Chubb was born and raised in Columbus, didn't attend Ohio State, but is still a HUGE FAN of the team. Why? Because the Buckeyes ARE Columbus! You can't knock his love of the Buckeyes until you experience the excitement that comes with being at an Ohio State football game and meeting all their fans. Is he over the top? That depends on your level of fandom. But if you look down upon fanatics, be prepared to say the same thing about Fireman Ed of NY Jets fanfare, the Dawg Pound at Cleveland Browns games, and Robin Ficker back when the NBA's Washington Wizards were the Bullets playing in Landover, MD. Buck-I-Guy's energy is one hundred fold, and is tough to match. When you see him on the street and how he interacts with everyone, he's a modern day Pied Piper. The little kids aren't the only ones that flock towards him, but adults as well: just to get a picture. I must give credit to his car; the footballs on the wheels are an amazing touch. It's a great sense of detail as far as pointing out how beautiful the car is. But what I will always remember is that I had the pleasure of seeing is John Chubb, devoted father of three, as well as a grandfather. Bottom line: the Buck-I-Guy is his thing, and there could be a lot worse things he could be doing with his time. Enjoy this ""tour"" of his customized Buckeye vehicle! Oct. 6, 2009: Arthur Ray Feature Arthur Ray really taught me how the game of football is so much more than just 60 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The game of football gives Arthur a goal that helps him so many facets of his life. It motivates him in the classroom, it motivates him to get healthy, and it has really strengthened his relationship with his family. But the reality of Arthur's situation comes with a sense of uncertainty. It is still too early to tell if he will indeed get cleared to play football again. The Michigan State coaches addressed this, and what they think Arthur's future holds for him, if he can not play football. Oct. 6, 2009: Isaac Anderson/Kim Royston Battle for the Axe The idea I originally had in mind was based on the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe based on a father-son perspective. Isaac Anderson, the Wisconsin wide receiver who scored two touchdowns during the Badgers first game this season, and Melvin Anderson, the split-end/kick return specialist for the Golden Gophers from the mid-1980. The story evolved during an interview with Isaac, he explained that during his early years in Madison, his roommate was Kim Royston, a former Badger defensive back who is now starting for the Gophers. After interviewing Isaac's family and discovering that Isaac's mother Lisa went to high school with Kim Royston's father, I was truly amazed. Add on the fact that the family use to carpool and tailgate together when the families went to Madison for their son's home games, the story had a life of it own. The Battle for the Axe meets Six Degrees of Separation. Both players were measured with their answers, but it was easy to detect their fondness for one another, and how important the game was for both of them. Isaac's parents are loyal Golden Gophers, however when it comes to family, its all about Isaac, so they will be rooting for him and the Badgers in next year's border battle. After that, be sure that the Wisconsin red will come off. Sept. 21, 2009: Go Blue Banner Tradition I have to admit, while I have watched My first clue of the banner's significance came when I found the footage from 1973 when the banner was torn down and stomped on by the Ohio State Buckeyes. Then when I discovered that Syracuse stole the banner in 1998 I really started to understand just how sacred a banner could be. 110,000 strong come out to support the tradition and pageantry of Michigan football for every home game. The exclamation point on that tradition for Michigan Wolverine's fans is the team running under and touching the banner. Now I understand why when we went in search of the banner's whereabouts on non game days it was like trying to solve a mystery Keeping the banner hidden and safe has less to do with losing a piece a cloth and more about allowing others to rob Michigan of a piece of its identity and tradition. I just hope Zoltan Mesko isn't too upset about us showing his fall three times. Maybe that part of this feature will serve as a reminder to all of those lucky enough to touch the banner in the future - Safety First! Sept. 19, 2009: Mike Hall, Part II One of the unique things about this Fantasy Camp… was that it was a role reversal. I put on the shoes of an athlete and got to see how challenging/draining it is. I also know that if you are not 100% thrilled with how you performed (like, oh, lets say for example if I happened to blow our chance at winning by throwing a costly interception late in the game) you may not want to be interviewed that very second you're leaving the field. The role reversal continued as Jay Paterno took over the role of reporter. -Mike Hall Sept. 12, 2009: Sam Maresh interview Sam Maresh was recruited by multiple football programs including Wisconsin, Iowa and Miami (FL). Faced with a tough decision and a lot of schools to visit, the way Sam ended up informing head coach Tim Brewster was a little unconventional. Sam consulted his high school football coach extensively. After all, his coach was his father, William Maresh. He also sought council from his older brother, Michael Maresh, who played linebacker at North Dakota State. While the three of them, ironically named Sam, Mike and Will, talked extensively, it would be Sam's father who would gave the advice that hit home to Sam. Sept. 12, 2009: Jim Tressel travels to Iraq What struck me about interviewing Mr. Tressel was how sincere a person he is. I could immediately tell how much Coaches Tour 2009 touched him when he explained in detail what football means to our soldiers. These men and women are just as rabid about the game as we are at home. I must admit, when I saw Mr. Tressel chest bump a soldier after a wonderful catch, I ALMOST LOT MY MIND!! I think fans have an image of coach NOT being that way, that when he did it, it shows him as a regular guy who gets excited for plays just like the common person. Sept. 6, 2009: Northwestern Leadership Council The Northwestern Football team from the coaches on down take the Leadership Council very seriously, but we were able to see several different sides of the players during more relaxed events like "Meatfest 2" and their dodge ball tournament. What we discovered is that these are guys just like the ones we all grew up with and considered friends - a laid-back, fun bunch of guys who happen to be division one athletes, smart, funny and really good cooks (over an open flame anyway). My crew and I could tell how proud they were of their culinary creations. They kept asking us if we were going to eat. Finally, before we left for the dodge ball tournament we gave in. I've got to say, the food tasted even better than it looked. When we arrived at dodge ball we realized just how much fun these guys liked to have. Several of the players dressed up in costumes, but hands down the funniest guy on Northwester's football team is Senior Offensive Lineman Kurt Mattes. Look for him in this piece. He is the guy wearing the tuxedo t-shirt and American flag pants at "Meatfest 2" as well as the one in the Nacho Libre mask during dodge ball. We hope you will have as much fun watching this piece as we had throughout the production process. Sept. 5, 2009: Mike Hall plays football And I did learn. I walked away with some knowledge that those who played the game have known forever, and some knowledge that even the most veteran players may not have known. I gained a ton of respect for quarterbacks. Somehow I rose to the QB position for my team. I learned quickly the value of the short pass. Kenny Jackson pumped it into me that the most important thing is to not screw things up. Managing the game is what separates a bad QB from a good one… he said. I also realized how hard it is to avoid the blitz. In our game the other team blitzed the heck out of me after I had some early success. I did ok, save for the consistent verbal warning to my teammates as I ran for my life of ""Danger! Danger!"" Plus, I was given the benefit of the coach of our team standing in front of the huddle and holding up a picture showing which route is run by which player. You're telling me these QBs have to to just know that all? Yikes. I learned that Larry Johnson has a great voice. I mean great. He should retire and do voice over work the rest of his life. I learned why Joe Paterno is such a great recruiter. If you wonder how he gets players to come to his program at his age, you wouldn't wonder it once you met him. In just a few minutes you were charmed by him and struck with the aura that is the winningest coach in college football history. He's still got it. I learned that even though I'm only 27, my legs, back, and really whole body felt old after a weekend of playing football. I also learned that my idea of a homemade ice bath in my hotel room was not a good idea… as I lasted a good 25-30 seconds before leaping out. I learned that Beaver Stadium, even with only a couple hundred people in it, can be a rather intimidating place. But mostly I learned… there probably is a reason I was never recruited by Penn State. -Mike Hall
Sept. 3, 2009: Jane Hoeppner Jane continues to be active with both the football program and Bloomington community after Coach Hep's passing. It's pretty amazing that she maintains that connection, especially with such energy, passion, and enthusiasm. It's pretty remarkable; she stops by practice, she's involved with the community, and continues to be an inspiration to many. One thing I enjoyed learning about Jane was that she was referred as Coach Hep's Associate Head Coach. She was such a part of the program once they arrived in Bloomington, and she has remained that way and her presence at practice and involvement at different University events has spread more each year. Most of all, the time and efforts she has put into the Coach Hep Cancer Challenge has touched many lives affected by cancer. Her involvement has impacted thousands of people because she follows her late husband's motto – don't quit -- to perfection. May 2nd, 2009: Shining Stars feature A harsh reality of this job is inevitably, there will be times you work with people who don't like being on camera. There are times, however, when our subjects truly thrive on camera, and this shoot was a prime example. On all shoots, we tell our subjects to try to pretend the camera isn't there, in an effort to capture people in their most natural environment and comfort zone. But on this particular story, some of the best moments we experienced while shooting, happened when members of the Shining Stars went out of their way to be on camera. As a Producer, I had fun seeing the faces of the athletes light up when the crew arrived, and the athletes really embraced not only the cameras and the microphones, but the people behind them. March 30, 2009: Allie Southard feature After having the opportunity to attend practice and conduct interviews with Allie, Head Coach Steve Shephard and Nittany Lion teammate Brandi Personett, I learned that her recovery was no miracle, rather, it was a result of perseverance. Her skills that look effortless at gymnastic meets may appear natural but in reality they entail hours of grueling practice and repetition. Listen to this bonus clip from Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and Nittany Lion teammate Brandi Personett who explains why she listed Allie as her favorite athlete in this years media guide. March 27, 2009: Purdue basketball anniversary feature One player stands out in particular: guard Tiffany Young. Four months after Purdue's title, she was killed by a drunk driver while in Gary, Indiana. During the celebration dinner for the 1999 team, their championship video was played for the audience. In this 16-minute presentation, you see Tiffany acknowledging the crowd and her teammates while breaking down at the same time. That was 10 years ago. A decade later at the reunion, there weren't many dry eyes during that moment. Watch the Tiffany Young tribute. The 1999 team only had one loss that season. Coach Carolyn Peck remembered that defeat as though it had happened last night. The loss came at Stanford on November 22, 1998. The Boilermakers lost by one point with no time remaining. According to Coach Peck that one loss was an essential focal point for keeping them hungry for the rest of the season. Watch Coach Carolyn Peck talk about her basketball memories. March 25, 2009: Jessie Vetter feature On the ice, Jessie was laughing throughout most of practice. Her light-hearted attitude, ability to relax, and positive attitude on the ice explains her mentality as a goaltender. When I asked Head CoachMark Johnson and Goalie Coach Mark Greenhalgh about Jessie's goaltending ability, the first thing they noted was her athleticism. In a society where single-sport athletes are becoming the norm, Jessie came from a family background organized around athletics and athletic traditions. One such tradition takes place on July 4. The Vetter family - including her grandfather - stage a family golf tournament and Jessie, not surprisingly, does fairly well. March 4, 2009: Travis Busch Web Show Having the opportunity to attend a taping of the "What Else?" show provided a chance to see what life is like away from the court for a Big Ten basketball player. Watching Travis Busch co-host the Internet talk show in front of a live studio audience gave us a chance to see his personality off the court. Busch has a wry sense of humor and relishes the opportunity to talk about eclectic subjects that have little to do with basketball. While the production level of their show is quite a bit different than what we are used to doing in our jobs – it was still fascinating to see some of the similarities. Here is an extended clip of the beginning of the show – where you get another taste of what the show is like. Enjoy. I was asked one question over and over throughout the production of this feature: "Was he a nice guy?" The answer is, "Yes, Brock Lesnar was a nice guy." He was a pleasure to work with, and I think that came across in his interview. He is a very private guy, and he was definitely reserved when we first met him and started shooting him train, but Brock really opened up when he got into the interview chair and got a chance to speak about his Minnesota wrestling career. He does a lot of interviews and I think he found it refreshing to be able to talk about wrestling at the University of Minnesota because he feels it was an extremely important aspect of his life. But he's rarely asked to talk about it. That being said, I'm very glad we were able to do the piece focusing on his Gopher career and how it has directly helped him achieve his goal to be a UFC Champion. Hear Brock Lesnar's thoughts about defending his heavyweight championship belt against interim champion Frank Mir scheduled for this spring. This is a rematch of Lesnar's UFC debut in a controversial defeat to Mir. For two and a half days in January, the Big Ten Network followed the Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball team as they prepared for their battle against their in-state rivals – the Indiana Hoosiers – a game that was for sole possession of first place. The motto of for the Boilermakers is "NO EXCUSES." That was still the case even though they were playing without their starting point guard FahKara Malone. Even though Purdue lost, it was an extremely close contest until the last four minutes of the game. My favorite moment from the all-access experience that didn't air in the feature was a film session at Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp's hotel room. The inspirational message she used for the team moved some players to tears. The point: "It isn't how you fall - its how you get back up. It's how you finish." To see the team's fixation with that video by Nick Vujicic, along with seeing them put the student in student-athlete, working on class assignments five hours to game time was quite memorable. Their biggest game of the year, against a state rival, and they were able to compartmentalize it enough to work on the academics. |
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