Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 1981)
Covering the Ducks Continued from Page 6B uregon, mere isn i an uregon team beating UCLA in Los Angeles and Washington in Seattle and tying USC " For many writers, one of the most rewarding aspects of the college football beat is the exci tement of game day itself "I enjoy game day, the festivi ties. the celebration of a game,” Newnham said "It's the climax of a week's worth of work for both the players and the sports writers ” That week is usually filled with interviews of players and coaches, statistical updates and previews of the game on Satur day One big help to the writers who cover the Ducks is the Oregon Sports Information Department "They are really invaluable to sports reporting,” said Steve Spatz, sports editor of the Oregon Daily Emerald "They'll do just about anything you ask Without them, I think it would be hard to get an accurate picture of Oregon sports " According to Ron Paradis, assistant Sports Information Di rector at Oregon, the purpose of the SID is "to help the media get the information on University of Oregon teams and athletic related sublets from the Athle tic Department, and to assist in statistics, publications, and other related areas " That job begins long before the first football game with the publication of a media guide containing statistics and other facts about the Ducks These are handed out to the media for quick reference During the week preceding a game, the SID sends out press releases detailing injuries, updating statistics, and relating any other data involving the football team The department also helps line up interviews of players and coaches with both local and out of town media On the day of the game, Pa radis and Sports Information Director George Beres usually arrive at their office in the Ath letic Department before nine a m They gather up programs, typewriters and other office equipment they will need during the game They, along with the rest of the SID staff, meet at the Autzen Stadium press box by 11 30 a m to prepare for the arrival of the media The writers, some 25 or 30 of them, start arriving around noon After a quick lunch com pliments of the Athletic Depart ment, they're ready for the 1 00 p m kickoff Following the game comes the assault on the locker rooms Normally we try to have the writers go down to the locker rooms with about three minutes to go on the clock so they can get ready to go in," Paradis explained "They cannot go in, usually, for ten minutes after the game is over during what is called the "cooling-off period," where the coach can yell at the team or compliment the team or do whatever he wants Once the locker room doors are opened, reporters, televi sion cameramen and radio per sonnel surround each team's head coach "Our locker rooms are so small that in the home locker room you just have to crowd all the writers around the coach right near the front doors," Pa radis said "The visitor's locker room is a little bit better because they've got stairs that go up above the home locker, so their coach can just come out to the stairs and the writers can all stand on the steps and talk to f hirn. "I really enjoy going down in the locker room after the games,’’ says Spatz It’s hot and crowded and steamy, but that’s where you really find out what happened out there on the field I like to let the people who played tell the story.” Once all the quotes have been gathered and final statis tics obtained from the SID, it’s time to write the story Most local writers head for their re spective newspapers, but many others return to the press box to work In an hour or two the stories are completed and sent off to be printed via a telecopy machine Finally, somewhere around 7 pm, the last race against a deadline is won and the writer and SID staff can go home And, like the rest of us, they can look forward to having the morning paper with their breakfast Photo by Bob Bafcer After the fans have left and the players have showered, reporters pound away at their typewriters, preparing the story for Sunday morning. rr n r~ 3aaaaaatfMMbaaat i aaoaooooaocmL uoaooocoooo fiJLUQ Mandarin aoaaoaaaaaaaooaaaoaoaaaooo liSWJUijrr The one & only real Northern and Canton Chinese cuisine in Eugene LUNCH & DINNER Orders to go Private banquet room Monday-Friday 11-10 Sat & Sun 11 30-10 1280 Hilyard • Eugene 343-6234 3E i COUPON Just for you at all Jeanery locations 20 OFF Regular Selling Price all mnviiUhL =. IN STOCK (otter good with this coupon only expires Oct 10. 1981) Moving’ On Jeans Movin' in your direction with the look you want right now A look that combines great fit with great styling Movin' On Jeans Choose from our wide range of the latest fashions For the look that'll make ’em stop and stare, try on a pair of Levi's* Movin' On Jeans this week. QUAUTY NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE iriA VALLEY RIVER CENTER ^— SPRINGFIELD MALL (2090 Olympic) ( EUGENE DOWNTOWN MALL (77 W Broadway)
