The pressbox at Stewart Field in Solon (home of Solon Comets football, soccer, track and lacrosse) felt like home to me during my high school years. I had spent so much time working a camera during broadcasts my freshman and sophomore years in high school and spent the remaining years as a play-by-play announcer in that pressbox for a lot of Solon Comets football games. I had seen so many games and had built up so many incredible memories from that pressbox in just four years.
The last football game I announced back in that stadium was 2003 and I wondered if I would ever call a game from that pressbox again. The far left hand side of the box is where I called home during those broadcasts and I always wondered if I would ever get an opportunity to call a game from there again after I graduated high school.
Several years went by and while I didn't return to the pressbox, I managed to find my ways to the sidelines as a photographer. Photography is a passion of mine and being able to take photos of the games brings joy and excitement to me. It is my way to stay in the game and follow a team I grew up watching.
One day before the 2012 season was to begin, I received a phone call I always wondered if I would get:
"Jeff, we need someone to help announce the Solon football game on Friday. Can you help out?"
Right in front of me, the opportunity to return to the pressbox was there. I took the job as quickly as I could and could not wait to return to the booth the following night.
After doing a pregame spot with my broadcast partner, Dan Henderson (who would do an awesome job doing play-by-play in the game), both of us headed back up to the left side of the pressbox that had been my home for Solon Comets games during my junior and senior years of high school. Some of the items I remembered had been rearranged but I couldn't help but smile when remembering the great times I had in that area of the pressbox.
I ended up doing color commentary for the broadcast and calling the game with Dan was a lot of fun. His enthusiasm came through during the broadcast and it was such a joy calling the game with him. I couldn't help but have fun analyzing the game with him and feeling happy to be calling a Solon football game again.
The game ended in a comeback win for Solon and seconds after we signed off, I took off my headset and told Dan he did a great job. He mentioned to me he learned a lot from me during the game and he appreciated the help I provided. I was glad he learned a lot from me during the broadcast and that I could help him out.
The following week, I was back on the sidelines and a few fans and friends mentioned to me that they thought I did a good job. I was happy to hear they tuned in and was grateful for the kind words.
