My Thoughts…Exactly

My Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience at the Albany/Vermont Game March 22, 2006

Even if I wanted to, I would be unable to pretend to be a beat writer or sports journalist, though I had aspirations to be one for as long as I can remember; however, somehow I managed to pass myself off as one for the Vermont America East Conference Tournament Championship Game. 

The week before the championship, I pitched the idea about a March Madness section of our Ezine to professor Washburn; I never expected to get an opportunity to see our team up close and personal as they attempted to get to the NCAA tourney and win a conference tournament for the first time in school history.  As a part of the assignment we were to be assigned personal photographers from the photo-journalism class.  Though we were not supposed to meet the photographers for another week, the time-specific aspect of my assignment required fast action.  Through discussion with the other class I was assigned a photographer practically the same day. The only thing preventing us from getting access to the game was media credentials that I would need to get permission for.

Washburn suggested I email the Director of the America East Conference asking for media credentials and permission to get into the game.  He rejected me almost immediately suggesting I “try to do such class projects during the regular season.”  Discouraged, I contacted the professor again and told him what happened, he managed to get in contact with Brian Depasquale, the Assistant AD/Media Relations of SUNYA.  He asked me to be at his office on Saturday at 9:00 AM sharp.  There he offered me a media pass, the key to my first ever experience not only being part of the sport journalist fraternity for a day, but also to experience being on the floor for a once in a lifetime experience in school history.  I was present the first time
Albany ever won any significant game.

Aside from just being in the game I got experience what accomplished journalist see on a regular basis.  I sat in the media room examining press kits, studying statistics, making notes to ask players after the game.  I may not have had, the experience, but on that day, no one could have told me otherwise.