There is a lot of work that goes into a Warren football game, especially a home game. The initial instinct might be to think about all the work the players put in every week in hopes of beating their opponents or the time the coaches put in to prepare the team, but there is a lot more than just that when it comes to football games at Warren Central.
Along with the game itself, the Warrior Sports Network broadcasts the game simultaneously, the color guard and marching band put on their halftime performance, media outlets and college representatives come out to the game, and students pack the PIT to cheer on the players.
“First and foremost, we want all of our students and staff to be at our games,” Athletic Director Derek Moyers said. “There is nothing better than playing in front of a packed house. Our teams and players feed off the energy and enthusiasm of the PIT. We want the PIT packed for every game.
According to Moyers, the marching band and color guard’s performances add to the Friday night experience, and the Warrior Sports Network makes the games more accessible.
“It gives our community members the opportunity to see the Warriors if they cannot attend live,” he said. “All in all, we want and need all of these entities at our games.”
High up in the press box, the WCTV broadcasting team livestreams the game on the Warrior Sports Network YouTube channel. This production includes a team that controls a total of 11 cameras or more that are either recording or taking photos at all times from both the box and the field, along with a team editing the livestream with instant replays and updating the score, and finally, the commentary team calling the action.
“I have the pleasure of working with some of the smartest and hard-working students in the building,” broadcasting teacher Andrew Matchett said. “They are at the broadcasts until 11 p.m., working together, running up and down the field with cameras, punching buttons and doing their absolute best to give the community a show worth watching.”
When halftime hits, the action on the field doesn’t stop there. Halftime is a chance for the color guard and marching band to showcase their performance, with this year’s theme being “Howl.” This also gives the performers a chance to perfect their skills and settle their nerves in front of a live audience, helping them prepare for competitions later this school year.
“I always believe that the most nerve-racking performance is when you are in front of people that you know, and halftime is full of family and friends so it can be quite nerve-racking,” senior Kendra Cooley said. “This helps the team and myself by being able to learn how to control our nerves in front of peers so when we get to comps in front of strangers, it’s a piece of cake.”
Not only is the Warrior Sports Network covering the game, but several media outlets and many student photographers come out to the game to capture it. Channels like WISH TV, FOX 59, WRTV and WTHR have all covered at least one of the home games this season. Along with them, many different colleges and universities have asked to come see the team for potential recruits.
“We get requests from college teams [and] social media personnel [from] IU, Purdue, Alabama,” Moyers said. “We also have college coaches come to watch our games so they can see the players they are recruiting live. You name the school, they've been here.”
Even fellow Warren students play a crucial role when they pack the PIT every home game, showing off their outfits that match that game’s theme. Located in the middle of the stands, the PIT, otherwise known as the student section, is where many students go to cheer on the team and to watch the game from the most exciting place in the stands.
Senior Byron Baltzell, one of the leaders of the PIT, does his best to elevate the energy in the crowd.
“I try to bring the energy up with my school spirit, strongly following the themes,” Baltzell said. “My favorite part of the PIT is when it is loud and obnoxious. I’m a loud and obnoxious person, and I like to feed off of that energy.”
So, there is much more than just the game when it comes to football than many may realize, whether it be WCTV broadcasting the game, the color guard and marching band performance, photographers and media covering the game, and even packing the PIT. This just shows how important football is to the school and how much time and work it takes to have a home game at Warren Central High School.