Behind the voice

Sophomore John Willmott waits for the ball to be snapped and the play to start. As the game's final minutes approach, beads of sweat roll down his cheeks.

Willmott has not only started every Blair football game this season, but he has also called every play.

Willmott is not the starting quarterback, though, nor is he even on the team. He is Blair's football announcer and play-by-play commentator.

This season, Willmott and the Blair Sports Network (BSN) allowed the Blair community to enjoy almost every game on Info Flow. The BSN team plans to continue announcing Blair's current basketball season. "[The BSN is] waiting for a good time for the basketball team," Willmott explains. "When that time comes, we'll be there to announce it."

Willmott has always been interested in sports. Already watching football at age five, he dreamed of having a role in sports journalism. "It's a childhood fantasy of mine," Willmott says. "I love sports, and I always paid attention to everything that happened in sports."

The BSN, and Willmott's career in sports broadcasting, started by coincidence. While attending the first Blair football game of the 2002 season, technology education teacher John Kaluta approached Willmott and sophomore Joe Martin, Willmott's friend and co-founder of the Blair Sports Network, with the idea to film every game. Willmott started calling the plays and never stopped. "We just ran with it," he says.

Kaluta, who oversees and sponsors the BSN, sees the potential Willmott has in sports broadcasting. "He can make it as a sports announcer," Kaluta explains. "As time goes on, he'll get better, but I think his future looks bright."

Many staff members and students, including sophomore Jack Eisen-Markowitz, heard Willmott and were impressed by his "unique" approach to commentary. "Willmott's got his own style, like John Madden," Eisen-Markowitz explains. "He's got the perfect sports voice."

Although many Blazers may not know what John Willmott looks like, those who do make sure to show their appreciation. "People who knew it was me would come up and say congratulations," Willmott says. "They say that I'm very good at it."