Blogcast w/Chris Graham: Soccer, ahead of football

Priorities: And missing the UVA football season opener

I won’t be in the press box for the UVA football season opener on Saturday when the ‘Hoos host Richmond. That’s because of work.

Specifically, I’ll be calling VMI women’s soccer for ESPN+, as the Keydets host American University at 2 p.m.

I could, probably, technically, do that, then make it up the road from Lexington, and over the mountain to Charlottesville, for the 6 p.m. kickoff, assuming that there’s no OT in the soccer match.

But … it would be a long day.

I’m on site by 12:45 p.m. to tape my open. Game starts at 2, is over just before 4, again, assuming no OT, and then I have to record a minute-and-a-half recap for ESPN.

That gets me out the door by maybe 4:30 p.m., back to Waynesboro by 5:15 or so, and, quick math, I could dash off the media van and into the box by 6.

But then: that game goes to 9 p.m., postgame stuff keeps me on site in Charlottesville until at least 10, 10:15, and then it’s back to the home office to produce video, story content, the rest.

That’s being on the go until past midnight, which I will be anyway, because I’ll cover the game from the home office, coordinating with Scott German, who will be in the press box for us in Scott Stadium.

I’ll have to miss the second UVA football home game, on Sept. 15, because of my job duties calling VMI football.

These are exciting things for me. I’ve been hoping to break through in some way into the broadcast world for years, and now it’s starting to happen.

I’ll trade being given a live ESPN mic over sitting in a press box watching a game any day.

Still, it’s hard, because I’d like to be able to do both, but physics, unfortunately, don’t allow for that.

Column by Chris Graham