Entering the press box, high above Battlin’ Bear football stadium, you will find a group students controlling the television above the scoreboard. These students scrupulously watch the game, while simultaneously working the video board.
Seniors Marshall Vaught, Lane Braus, and Michelle Bradley, along with junior Wyatt Wilson control the media, graphics and advertisements on the TV for Friday Night Lights. They sit in the press box above the stadium.
“My computer science teacher, Mr. Morris, creates and edits the media during the week before the football game, while I control all of that media live on Friday nights,” Vaught said.
Preparing the computer science students for Friday Night Lights is imperative. The busiest part of the year is in August. They must sound level and convert any new commercials as well as create the player scroll that plays during pregame. Then they build all the new files into the computer in the press box. Each home game week they get an itinerary on Wednesday and then add and update as needed.
“The best part about computer science is being able to make full use of the technology around me,” Vaught said.
There are no pre-requisites that computer science students have to take to be apart of Friday Night Lights. The students that help in the booth at the football games are all in UIL Computer Science. Working the video board on Friday night allows them to fund trips to Hewlitt Packard Cods Wars, as well as summer coding and math camps.
“I would just like to thank the students who participated for their dedication and effort,” computer science Terry Morris said. “They work hard and are constantly striving to improve. I don’t think the students realize how much teachers appreciate their hard work and effort. They are amazing kids and working with them is truly a pleasure. Go Bears!”
