Click here for a picture of the 2003 Stat Crew.
I re-got a part time job supporting 5 laptop computers the NFL has in the press box during all Cowboys home games here in Texas Stadium. When you see the guy in the black shirt, that is my normal place. My job is to set up the computers and get them connected to NFL HQ in New Jersey. Then I just kick back and watch the game, check that the computers are doing what they are supposed to be doing now and again. After first quarter they serve a buffet dinner. It is a nice one too. Last week was Chicken Cordon Blu with all the goodies. All the cokes and popcorn I want. At half time they serve Chili Hot Dogs. They look great but I'm usually stuffed from dinner. After the third quarter they break open the free beer. All that and $100 pay a game. When the game statistics are done and all the reporters have all the information they want, I power down the 5 laptops and store them in the cabinet till next home game. All the local TV and radio sports reporters are all in my area. I don't know their names but I recognize them. I think the national news casters are in the next area around the 50 yard line but I'm not to sure on that one. Beyond the next block are all the visiting press. The first movie is from the corner of my area at the far end of the press box. The first guy you see is inputing data on one of my laptops. The guy next to him is the caller. You will hear him call out numbers and plays that the imputer is typing into the laptop. The next guy in the black shirt is a lawyer. He is temporarily there to watch the new system. He is actually sitting in my spot. Beyond black shirt are the time keepers and score board keepers. There are three of them. Moving up the stairs on the far side is the FBI. He controls the radios in the quarterbacks helmets. Next to him is the press box announcer. He takes the numbers the caller is calling and converts them into names. His voice goes down the press box and into the box seats if they want it. He has a real nice sounding voice. Next to him is the typer. He types on a typewriter what the caller is saying. Next to him is the guy who is hand writing what the caller is saying. The guy in the striped shirt is the auditor. He is auditing what the first guy inputting data is the correct info. The girl is a visiting caller. She is hooked up to a telephone and is announcing play by play to their own press box in the opposing city. Going down is a AM radio reporter then the movie shows the press box corridor. It's big. Finally you see my view of the game. Movies are about one 1 minute long and may take some time to download. It's worth the wait!Click HERE for the first movie.
In this movie I try to get a better shot of the imputer. A third of the way through you get a better shot of the FBI, the press box announcer, the typer, the hand writer and the auditor. Once the auditor is satisfied with the data, the printer spits out a play by play with all the stats for the quarter. A runner gets the printout and goes to the copy room. Minutes later the whole press box has a copy. Each booth down the line (except ours) has it's own sort of stewardess who serves the press food, drink, handouts, stats, what ever. No one is allowed to cheer for the team which I find is hard.
Click HERE fro the second movie.
Here I show you where the cheerleaders are. We are on the 20 yard line. Right across the stadium is where Gerry Jones, the Cowboys owner, has his box seats. I'm sure it is more extravagant setting than ours but we see just as much.
Click HERE for the third movie.
