[BC] GDC Program

[Fred Morton]

    Having read some of the posts regarding the GDC program, I wanted to chime in with a couple of thoughts of my own...

    The league, SBE, the individual coordinators and the media which cover the game all benefit from the program. Yes, it's true that the GDCs receive a per diem for each game, and they are supplied with various tools (scanner, radios, laptops, etc) with which they perform their job. The per diem is a small amount compared to what most of us would;d charge for the time and effort invested in coordinating each game. Nevertheless, we all learn something from each game, and dealing with whatever coordination crisis happens to rear its ugly head makes us better in the long run.

       Personally, I've learned a great deal from folks like Karl Voss and Jay Gerber, as well as talking with my fellow GDCs throughout the league, both during the season and in our meetings held at NAB each year. I have also had the opportunity to meet those who do game remotes for a living, something I would have probably never done, even living in the Houston metro, since none of my clients are involved in sports broadcasting at this time.

    Sure, I give up most of a Sunday (or Saturday, as the case may be) to coordinate a game, to say nothing of the hours I spend during the week sending emails back and forth, helping out of town media make sense of what we have going on in the Houston area. But I enjoy it, I get something out of it, and if I can play a very small part in making the game experience better for my neighbors, and visitors, then that's all right with me.

    As to the SBE subsidizing the NFL? I don't agree with that assessment at all. It is a win-win situation, IMHO.


Fred

Fred R. Morton, CSRE
Advanced Class WB5KRD 
Houston, Texas
281-923-7100 Voice
281-403-6314 Facsimile
Game Day Frequency Coordinator for
the Houston Texans NFL Team (starting season #4 in August!)