The JMU men’s soccer team has been doing well this year, so I decided to go to the next big game to see how our JMU Duke’s team would fair against the Georgetown Hoyas. I arrived about an hour and a half before the game, with no expectations of what I would be doing. I made my way to the press box and met Milla Sue Wisecarver, the men’s soccer SID. The press box at the new University Park was very small, compared to the spacious luxury of the Bridgeforth press box. She had me sit in the second row behind her and her team, next to a writer from the Daily News Record. Her team on the front row consisted of her, her assistant, a marketing student, and a student announcer. Before the game started we were allowed to talk quietly with one another. I asked her a couple of questions about the software, the press box, and a couple of personal questions about her job. When she told me about the new press box at the field, she replied, that although it was new, she misses the old field’s press box because,” you could hear the crowd more.” When in the press box, everyone is supposed to be silent. There is no cheering allowed. She explained that while they still had to be quiet in the old press box, at least they could get energy from the crowd. The new press box was sound proof, and eerily quiet when the game got started. This atmosphere continued throughout the game. The silence of the box bothered me, and I found it difficult to not talk to the reporter or to my friend from class. Besides the silence, the press box is easily the best seat in the house. It was a perfect view of the field and the score board. Understandably so, because throughout the game Milla Sue and her assistant were constantly watching the game for penalties, shots on goal, and everything else in between and logging statistics into her computer. The walkie-talkie with Milla Sue’s other assistant on the field, notifying of substitutions, and verifying player numbers for stats were some of the only noises in the press box. When the game was over Milla Sue finished up game stats and arranged for the reporter to go onto the field to meet with some of the breakout players of the game.
I found out that Milla Sue’s job is a little less exciting then I had imagined. She doesn’t get to cheer or get to enjoy the atmosphere of a sporting event. I believe I would enjoy her job, but it would take some getting used to all of the rules and protocols of the press box. Being in charge at the game, making sure everything goes smoothly, gathering stats, and writing up a recap, would be interesting and fulfilling job for me. I would get to have the best seat in the stadium, enjoy a great game and, get paid to do it.