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I sat alone in the audio booth at Broadcast House as the seconds ticked away on the BYU basketball season.
It ended just like it started, with Greg Wrubell's voice reverberating in my ears--the voice to which I had become so accustomed this season, while interning at KSL Radio.
Although BYU had been on the ropes for weeks, it was a surreal moment realizing I would not be coming back to the booth and recording the highlights for another game. I packed up and shut the lights off, not just on another BYU basketball season, but on my experience as "The Clintern".
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As a BYU student and a basketball fan, I was always asked by people if I had seen the latest Cougar ball game. I would answer with a yes, not wanting to explain that although I was very familiar with the games, I rarely would watch the game with my eyes. Most seasons I had watched the games on TV but this year, starting in January, I had the unique experience of interning for Greg. I have grown fond of listening to Greg and Mark Durrant so much that I rarely turned on the TV to watch the games, even though it was available.
And so I experienced this season through my ears and it was an enjoyable change for me. I would like to recap this year with my top ten experiences of the season I had while sitting in "the booth" as I call it.
10. Dunks - Always a fan favorite, BYU dunks were extra exiting hearing Greg and Mark go berserk with excitement over the latest Cougar to posterize an opponent.
9. Bronson Kaufusi - The big man/defensive end had a bruiser mentality to the game and nothing brought a smile to my face quicker than Bronson lowering the boom and bringing a whole new meaning to physical play.
8. The passing of the torch - My first two games were with Skyler Hardman and Jake Edmonds, the previous interns. The only two times I wasn't screaming alone in the sound proof booth. They taught me well and so the torch was passed.
7. Cleon and Shep - Cleon Wall and Jason Shepherd were the other two guys making the broadcast work back at the mother ship. They always had an open ear to my many radio questions and bestowed words of wisdom, even on such subjects as my hilarious single-life predicaments.
6. The Wrubell Wizard - Gaining experience from Greg really opened my eyes to the radio world. The tips and pointers on writing, as well as just being able to learn tricks of the trade made the internship worth its weight in gold.
5. Haws The Scoring Machine - Tyler is a straight-up Scoreboard! Grab a calculator if you want to count his points. He is a stud, a baller. 'Nuff said.
4. Hosting #2 Gonzaga - It was a game of huge proportions, hosting the highest ranked team to ever grace the Marriott Center floor. The hype and buildup made it that much more incredible. Although it ended in defeat, the Cougars fought hard and kept it close through most of the contest. The energy was electrifying.
3. The Big 3 - It didn't happen very often, but when Haws, Brandon Davies and Matt Carlino all put it together, it left you in awe of the power of the Cougars. They really turned it on in the NIT, putting together dominant performances versus Washington and Mercer. I still believe that when the three got going at the same time, the Cougars were nearly impossible to beat.
2. Brock Zylstra unconscious versus Southern Miss - Not 3, not 4, but 5! Boy went off from beyond the arc in the first half to the tune of five 3-pointers. To add to his performance he blew up the stat sheet with his first double-double at 23 points and 10 rebounds. I just remember picking my jaw up off the floor after his fifth 3-pointer.
1. Haws/Dellavedova Moment - Absolutely the craziest moment of the season, hands down. After BYU and St. Mary's went neck and neck the whole game in Provo, Tyler Haws and Matthew Dellavedova exchanged blows with under a minute to go. With the game still tied Haws made an unreal turnaround jumper and only two seconds remained; 'ball game,' or so I thought. Dellavedova had other ideas, taking the inbounds pass and sinking the unbelievable prayer from half court. I can still hear Greg and Mark's reaction of disbelief. The saying "it's not over until the fat lady sings" then became real to me.
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When the final horn sounded in Madison Square Garden, I sat back in my chair and briefly thought about the wild journey on which the Cougars had taken all of us. The road traveled from high expectations after last year's NCAA tournament victory, to the low of losing six conference games, to surviving game by game in the NIT and being so close to the championship. So ended the topsy-turvy season, with all of its aspirations and some unmet expectations; fitting that it would be to a familiar foe not yet conquered.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of basketball coupled with learning from great people about the wonderful profession of radio. And since great things always have to end, sadly I am wrapping up my internship. But as I finish I will always remember the great times I had while being "The Clintern". Thanks to Cleon, Jason, Mark, and Greg.
In the meantime and in-between time...
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Photo: Courtesy Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
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