Remembering Ernie Harwell: John Kreger

Note: This is the first in a series of remembrances of the iconic voice of the Detroit Tigers, Ernie Harwell, by broadcasters for and journalists who cover MSU. John Kreger is the voice of MSU Volleyball and the 2008/09 AVCA broadcaster of the year.

Ernie Harwell is the reason I became a broadcaster. Simply put, he is the epitome of what everyone in our profession should aspire to be, and what one or two people per generation actually are.

As a young boy, I would sit with my grandfather Walter and listen to Ernie on a mono Philco radio and be transported through the gifts he possessed to wherever Detroit's boys of summer were playing. A spring training broadcast from Lakeland Florida in March offered the promise of spring when winter wasn't ready to release Detroit quite yet.

Ernie's genteel Georgia manner and friendly delivery made his listeners believe that his broadcast was meant exclusively for them. His signature calls shaped a generation, and forever left an indelible mark on not only the lives of most everyone who heard him call a game, but on the fabric of baseball itself.

I had two interactions with Ernie that speak to the kind of person he was for every day of his 92 plus years on this planet. When I was 14, and a first year reporter at WSDP Radio in Plymouth, I attended a card signing of Ernie's at a hobby shop. I took my tape recorder in hopes of capturing a few words from my Idol. I sat for two hours, trying to work up the courage to approach my larger-than-life idol. As the signing concluded, he looked at me and said "Son, you've been waiting a long while, what is it you'd like to ask me? What followed was a 20 minute interview covering topics from his start in the business at southern megastation WBZ in Atlanta, to the booth at Tiger Stadium, and his advice to a young man in the business. Afterword, he took a photo with me, wished me God's blessing, and left.

Three years later, as a senior in High School, I was featured in the Detroit News. I told reporter Jeff Barr that Ernie was my idol, and the reason I'd become a broadcaster. Ernie read the article, and called me from Lakeland to offer congratulations. Ernie was that kind of a person. His status as one of the game's greatest broadcasters was overshadowed by his status as one of this earth's finest people.

I am deeply saddened at the passing of Ernie Harwell. I have lost an idol, the game of baseball has lost a champion and ambassador, the cities of New York, Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Detroit have lost portions of their living history, and his wife and family have lost their father and husband. I am redeemed, however, by the knowledge that the suffering the Lord asked of this great man in his final days has ended, that the Christian manner in which Ernie lived his life will now be rewarded, and that he has well and truly earned his reunion with Jesus Christ and the rest of a faithful servant in God's kingdom.

I pray that I learn from the lessons he taught all of us, and that I may aspire to be the man he was. I will keep him in my heart and miss him always.

MSU unveils new uniforms, Nike-inspired branding

By James Hensley, Special to The Other Side of Spartan Sports

The unveiling of the new Spartan uniforms started in much the same manner that the public first learned about the branding campaign—with a leak on the internet. The Facebook group “The Old Spartan Logo” released a link approximately an hour and half before the beginning of the official press conference. The link was taken down within minutes of being posted, but the commentary on the new age of Spartan jerseys had begun.

By the time the press conference started there were already many different opinions about the jerseys posted on Facebook.

The opening presentation of the press conference had MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis stating that “MSU is a sleeping giant and we’re waking up the sleeping giant” to create a uniform identity for MSU Sports. Mark Vanhorn from Nike said his mission was to “respect the past, represent the future.”

Hopefully, you agree with his vision of MSU’s future.

Hollis commented that a driver of this mission was that at one point there were nine different greens in the uniforms of MSU’s 25 teams.

MSU has now trademarked green, silver, bronze colors, as well as typography, that cannot be used by any other school or organization.

Implementation and Olympic sports

The Athletic Department unveiled the uniforms that will start being used in Fall 2010 with models from the Football, Basketball, Hockey and Volleyball teams. When questioned about the implementation schedule for the teams, he responded that only the five teams shown today will be sporting the new uniforms next year.

MSU and Nike will continue to design and roll out the same template designs to other non-revenue teams as the teams need new uniforms. This will limit the implementation cost of the uniform changes to regular asset purchases already budgeted for by the departments.

Football

The basic rundown on the football jersey is that the jersey has been updated with the new green and the font has been standardized.

The rear pant legs for the uniform now feature a splash of green. Already, the football jerseys have sparked a bit of a backlash on Facebook, with a majority (but not all) comparing the design to a toned-down version of the over-the-top Nike uniforms of the University of Oregon.

Hockey

Considering that this branding mission was designed to present a unified Spartan Image with national recognition, it is hard to miss the white elephant in the room: The two home and away jerseys do not have similar base designs.

The home jersey features the traditional Spartan head logo, but lacks the traditional hockey lettering of “Spartans” or “Michigan State.” The return of the Spartan head to the home uniform marks an end to a 40-year-old absence from the hockey uniform. The away jersey may be the first in the ice hockey world to include the players number on the front and lacks conformity with its home jersey mate by using the traditional “Michigan State” across the top.

When asked what he thought about the new bronze in the hockey uniforms, goalie Drew Palmisano responded that he really liked the accent color and was looking forward to repainting part of his goalie helmet to match. Torey Krug said he felt that the two different jersey styles for hockey would not detract from the team’s image when playing road games.

Men's and Women's Basketball

The uniforms for the basketball teams drop the last Nike branding attempt of “State” in italics and replace it with “Spartans” in the new font with the new trademark colors. Given that MSU basketball seems to change uniforms every three years, these changes will likely be well received by the Spartan basketball community.

MSU basketball stars Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas modeled the basketball jerseys, with Lucas sporting a foot brace as he recovers from recent surgery.

How the decisions were made

Both Nike’s Vanhorn and MSU’s Hollis said that community values and focus groups had consisted of MSU administrators, the Athletic Advisory board and student athletes. This effectively means that no alumni and only one non-student athlete was allowed input during the design phase of the project.

This lack of community involvement was one of the causes of the logo scandal that led to over 80,000 Spartan fans to protest changes to the logo.

Since the Athletic Department and Nike kept much of the design process under wraps, the change could provoke some initial resistance about the addition of the bronze color and the changes to some of the jerseys, especially football and hockey.

Finances

The department has continued to say this was not a financially motivated project, but the hockey uniforms not having a base design seems to contradict the consistence attempt. Nike’s fingerprints of “over the top” design are hard to miss on all but the Volleyball team’s uniforms.

According to Hollis, the design process has not cost the university any revenues or money, but an interesting fact to consider is that Nike will be the only authorized replica jersey vendor. Since the colors and front are trademarked with MSU and Nike, there will be no cheap replicas for fans looking to save money and show team spirit during these economic hard times.

Something to look forward to is that Mark Hollis commented that sales of old used team jerseys could go on sale to the public as early as this fall, but would not rule out a garage sale before the 2011 Spring Football game, as has been done in the past.

First peek at MSU's new uniforms comes and goes

MSU posted a photo gallery of the new uniforms for football, basketball, hockey and volleyball, but quickly pulled it after it was linked to on a number of MSU sites.

We'll let MSU unveil things for itself, and we'll have a full report from the press conference later today.

Broadcasting at the Breslin Center

I don't need to tell any Michigan State fan just how magical a venue the Jack Breslin Student Events Center can be. The banners in the rafters attest to the iconic players and teams that have graced its floors. And for broadcasters, calling a match at the Breslin Center is as sure a sign as any that you've officially made it.

The MSU volleyball team will take to the hallowed floor of the Breslin Center tonight at 7 p.m. when they face arch-rival Michigan. It's likely to be the largest home crowd volleyball crowd this year - and no wonder since anyone with an MSUFCU membership or credit/debit card gets in free, while the first 500 fans get a free "Bust Breslin" shirt.

With all that in mind, we asked the nation's best volleyball broadcaster, MSU's own John Kreger, what it's like to call a game at the Breslin Center, and what it means to be doing so for a game involving the always-hated Wolverines. His remarks are reprinted below.

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I'm very excited to get the chance to broadcast another match at the Breslin Center. As someone who has a great respect for the traditions at MSU, to be able to call matches from a building that has seen so much success makes the Michigan-Michigan State match mean even more. I'm also at the scorers table, as opposed to in the upper deck at Jenison, so I'm right on top of the action, and I feed off of that. It makes for a fun night.

The Michigan-Michigan State matches are the highlight of my broadcast year. This will be my 17th State Pride match (The annual competition between the two schools) and the energy I get from being a part of these matches is unlike any other. I think, however, that's because I get to enjoy them as a fan. When I've asked the two coaches I've worked for about their feelings on the match, they've told me that playing Michigan presents unique challenges. It's important to do well against your rival, and understand the tradition that goes with competition between the two schools. That said, they do their best to keep the routine as normal as possible. Athletes sometimes rely on routine to get them ready for a match, and so they keep things relatively static no matter who is on the other side of the net.

Last year's UM-MSU match was one of the top 5 matches of my nine years behind the Spartan microphone. When you factor in the fact that MSU had just lost Jenilee Rathje for the season with an ACL the night before, the heart showed by Cathy's team as they won in four sets ranks as one of the all-time grittiest performances I've ever seen.

The crowd at the Breslin will be key. Last year a school record 5200 plus fans packed Breslin, and believe me, they had an impact. You could see the players being lifted by the crowd all night. The student presence was HUGE, and we need that again this year.

What does Michigan State-Michigan mean to me personally? When it comes to sports, If I could only watch two teams play against each other, in any sport, for the rest of my life, I'd choose Michigan State-Michigan. I have been on both sides of this rivalry. One of the reasons I got in to broadcasting was listening to longtime Michigan football play-by-play man Bob Ufer. My Grandfather on Mom's side lived and died with the Wolverines, and my mother has three Michigan degrees. On my dad's side, eight members of our family, including my father and myself, over three generations, have called MSU home. To have the rivalry I hold most dear also be a part of my profession is a true blessing.

Michigan brings the #11 team in the nation into Breslin tonight. They are the second of three straight ranked teams we'll play, and they present a stern challenge. The Wolverines were within 3 points of ending Penn State's 80 plus match win streak this past weekend, and are the only school to take the Nittany Lions to 5 sets this year. They say though, that when these two teams meet none of that matters, so the only thing I'm sure of is that both sides will leave everything on the floor.

I can't wait.

Budget Cuts End Volleyball Away Game Broadcasts

Today in Cleveland the Michigan State volleyball team will take the court against Syracuse for the first game of the Cleveland State University Invitational. The volleyball team is looking to expand on a perfect 3-0 start in a tournament filled with teams MSU should handle easily.

But it will be a sad day for many Spartan fans who, for the first time since 2002, won't be able to hear the voice of the Spartans (and reigning volleyball broadcaster of the year), John Kreger, call a road game.

Budget cuts have forced the elimination of all road broadcast coverage, MSU officials confirmed in an e-mail to TOSSS.

"A combination of the cost to send John Kreger on the road plus the number of listeners we had per road contest, led us to make the decision to only broadcast home contests," said Jim Donatelli, assistant athletic communications director. "As an athletic department, we have been under the directive to cut back our budgets in all areas. Due to these budgetary issues, combined with the number of listeners, it was deemed an area where we could cut back."

Olympic sports are particularly vulnerable to impactful cuts for two big reasons. First, their budgets are smaller so cuts are easier to notice than similar sized budget reductions in larger sports. Second, MSU is unlikely to cut something that makes money and Olympic sports just don't make money.

I asked Kreger for comment on the situation and he said that while he was disappointed to not be on the road with the team, he understood that "times are tough and everyone has to make sacrifices" and that he was "honored to still be a part of the volleyball program."

Kreger praised athletics officials and Coach Cathy George for keeping home broadcasts given the pressures on budgets throughout the department. "It says a lot about Michigan State and its commitment to women's athletics that they were able to find the money to keep broadcasting home games given the tough economy," he said.

True enough, but this is a sad day for all Spartan volleyball fans, and all those who continue to enjoy the game calls of the best broadcaster in all of college volleyball.

TOSSS Hot Seat: John Kreger (Part Two)

The second part of our exclusive interview with the best volleyball broadcaster in America, MSU's John Kreger, is below. For part one, click here. Once again, his responses are brought to you unedited and in full.

Who's your favorite player, past or present, and why?

I can't give you an all time player, but how about an All-Time Team. Some qualifiers here, I'm only listing players that I have broadcast matches for, so that removes anyone previous to 2001. Also, Only players who have appeared in two or more seasons are eligible. There are players who transferred, and some younger players on this team who were and are very good. I like to look at a multi-year body of work. Rules aside.....here we go!

Setter:

Nikki Colson (class of 2003): The only player that has started at setter for more than a single season while I've been behind the mic, Nikki would get a nod even if that were not the case. One of only two three-year captains for the Green and White, Colson was a leader in every sense of the word. She gave 110% every match, and demanded nothing less from everyone else. In 15 years as a professional journalist, Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings is my all time favorite leader of a team at any level. Nikki Colson is number two.

Right Side:

Erin Hartley (class of 2001) EH was capable of taking over a match. An All-American,and the most dominant opposite I've seen in Green and White. Coaches in the conference STILL talk about the shots she pulled off. What solidifies her place on this list is the heart she played with. I'll forever remember her being consoled by coach Todd Dagenais after we lost to Wisconsin in the second round of the NCAA's that year. That was an unfair seeding (three top 25 teams, MSU, the Badgers, and Notre Dame were in the same 1st/2nd round site, in the name of saving money on travel) and the Badgers were supposed to win. Hartley, however, tried to get the W on her own, almost did, and was despondent at not pulling the upset. When you see a kid with that much heart....it's....special

Outside Hitters (3)

Katie Johnson (class of 2007), Ashley Schatzle (Class of 2007) Kyla Smith (class of 2002)

When Cathy George came to East Lansing in 2005, she named Sophomore Katie Johnson as a Captain. Johnson had shown signs of ability, but was still growing into her game. I'll admit, I wondered if it was the right choice. I do not wonder anymore. KJ was the heart and soul of Spartan Volleyball for three seasons under George, and was one half of the best 1-2 left side punch the school has ever seen. One of two Spartans to play professionally during my tenure, KJ has to her credit countless matches won by putting her team on her back, one of the more fun serves I've seen, and is the only Spartan to break an opponent's nose with a shot. She grew more as a player and person than almost any Spartan I've watched, and is one of my favorite people, too.

Ashley Schatzle sat in Cathy George's office at Western Michigan and was told she had the talent to be an All-American. Four years later at MSU, she was one. She made the jump from MAC to Big Ten Volleyball, and proceeded to become one of the conferences best. Schatz was quiet, and mild mannered....until she stepped on the court. She had every shot in the book, and the intelligence to choose the correct one. Schatz had a look I'll never forget when she was determined. It said, plainly, "I'm not losing today" When I saw that look, I knew it would be a fun night. I hope someday I see a left side team as good as the Shatzle-Johnson duo at MSU, but they've set a standard it will take top-class talent to match.

Kyla Smith, a native of Comox, B. C. had one of the tougher roles ever asked of a player by Chuck Erbe. As injuries cropped up on the 2002 team, Kyla played Left, Right, and one match at Middle for the Spartans. When she was told of these changes, Smith didn't complain, just shouldered the load, and got the job done. An integral part of the sweet 16 run of 2002, Kyla had the shots needed to win, and the mindset of a champion. Coach Erbe relied on her to be steady, and she responded. She's a player that was cut from traditional cloth. When adversity arises, don't ask why, just figure out how to defeat it. She did.

Middle Blockers (2)

This category was the toughest for me to pick, there are so many good players at this position, Jenny Rood, Megan Wallin, Brook Langston, and Jess Hohl all had great moments, and are wonderful people, but the two in my tenure that stand above the crowd are:

Angela Morley (class of 2002), Vanessa King (class of 2009),

A-Mo is the All-Time school leader in blocks, and the ovation she received at Jenison when she broke the mark in 2002 against Illinois was thunderous. She had both the quick, and the slide in her arsenal, and she was a force at the net. When Morley was a blocker, she'd handle 2/3 of the net on her own, and it felt like any shot hit near her was either altered by her block, or easily funneled to passers because of it. When the Spartans went in to Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament, there was much said that Notre Dame's big middle attack might be too much for her. Morley settled the argument by doing what she did best: feeding off of opposition errors, and getting into hitters heads. When it was all over, Morley and the Spartans were off to the Sweet 16, and the vaunted Irish.....went home.

Good athletes help the team with their skill. Great athletes help the team by making others better. That's what makes King special. She is talented in her own right, with every weapon that a middle could possibly possess at her disposal. The force with which she can control the net is second to none. Player of the week accolades aside, and talent non withstanding, what puts this current Spartan on the list before her playing career is done is the way she handles herself as a leader. On every championship caliber team, there is an athlete or two who have the ability to command respect on the practice floor, and in the huddle. Through solid play and leadership by example, King has the ability to be an anchor in a close match, and focus the Spartans. Some of her best moments came playing through injury, in both of the last two seasons. In the 2007 NCAA tournament and the 2008 match against Illinois in Champaign, King played through the pain. To quote the famous movie title, that's True Grit.

Defensive Specialists (3)

Emily Engel (Class of 2002), Nicole Colaluca (Class of 2006), Miken Trogdon (Class of 2007)

Engel was the first Spartan of my time with them to truly use her serve to turn a set. She holds the Spartan invitational record for aces in a match, and for a single tournament. Her jump serve could pull a team ridiculously out of system. She was a fiery competitor who took it upon herself to handle some of the conferences best attackers singlehandedly. Between Morley's block at the net, and Engel on defense, a great many hitters left a match with the Spartans frustrated. What I'll remember most about Emily however, was something she did as a senior Captain in 2002 before the 2nd round NCAA tournament match with Notre Dame. At pregame meal that day, each of us had at our seats a cardboard cut out caricature of us. Emily got up, told us that these figurines represented us as members of the Spartan Family She noted that if we were to beat the Irish that night, it would take the effort of the WHOLE family, from players, to coaches, to.....broadcasters. The message hit home, and we got the win. For Engel, the name on the front of the jersey meant more than the name on the back.

Nicole Colaluca can be summed up in one story. In 2005, Cathy George's first year, Colaluca had 45 digs (a school record) in a five set loss to Sacramento State. The Spartans, however, dropped the match. When I congratulated her on the record that night, she simply said "I'd rather have 20 digs...and a win." Cola rewrote the MSU single season record books for digs, and would hold the MSU career mark no question had she played for four years in East Lansing instead of two. A relentless competitor, she was an anchor for the Spartan defense, and could almost patrol the space behind the three meter line by herself. Cola's defense, I believe, was one of the things that allowed the MSU offensive stars to take more risks and grow into the George offensive scheme. Nicole was gone when the Spartans reached the sweet 16 in 2007, but the spirit she showed got the Spartans to the dance in 2006,and helped lay the groundwork for defensive stars to come.

Although her career numbers aren't at the top of any list, Trogdon was special in that she came to compete every night, even in 2004 and 2005, when the transition between Chuck Erbe's final year and Cathy George's first meant nearly 2 losses for every Spartan win. Miken was fearless, and played with an energy that had the potential to lift her teammates. Her dig total in 2007 ranks among the all-time best at MSU, and she was a source of calm in an otherwise very young Spartan defense. One of the more accomplished students in the history of Spartan Volleyball, Trogdon juggled the demands of an athlete with those of TWO degrees, criminal justice, and Spanish. Above all else, however Trogdon gets a place on this list for her efforts the second half of her senior year. Halfway through the season, Trogdon hit a bit of a wall. That can happen to athletes, and Cathy George sat her starting Libero for a match. As a journalist, I'm faced every day with professional athletes who when put in a similar situation whine, moan, and mail the season in. Trogdon did the polar opposite. She dedicated the rest of her season to her teammates, refocused, embraced her role as a leader, and had 13 matches that she'll not forget. She saved the best for last, posting a career high 23 digs in her last match, the Sweet 16 loss to Nebraska. She learned her lesson, and in the end, taught us all one on what it means to be part of a TEAM.

What are your observations on the state of MSU's volleyball program now? Are we headed in the right direction under Cathy George? I've worked for two coaches in my eight seasons at Michigan State, and I've interviewed many more. If I had my choice of any volleyball coach in the country, I'd choose Cathy. The time I've spent with her has been some of the most rewarding of my career. What impresses me most about the work that Cathy and her staff are doing, is the national respect that Michigan State has received on the recruiting trail. In the 4 years that Cathy's been in East Lansing, there is a definate improvement in the caliber of athlete committing to Michigan State. Top athletes now are considering MSU more than ever when choosing where to play in college. When an MSU coach walks into a gym, people take notice, and MSU is on track to claim its place among the top programs in the conference, and the country.

Equally as impressive is the reaction that the community has toward the team. Cathy and her staff have not only quality athletes, but leaders in the community. I see hundreds of young women, aged 5-15 who look to MSU Volleyball players as a group of people that serve as role models, and an example for young women everywhere. The work that Cathy, her staff, and her players are doing deserves commendation, and I couldn't be prouder of all that they've done.

TOSSS Hot Seat: John Kreger (Part One)

Fresh off his award as the nation's top volleyball broadcaster, MSU volleyball play-by-play man John Kreger sat down with TOSSS for an exclusive interview. His answers, unedited, are reprinted below.

Is MSU volleyball your full-time gig, or do you do other things as well? While it is a large time commitment during the season, I am also a producer/reporter for WDFN radio 1130AM in Detroit. I cover Detroit area sports for them, as well as for national radio networks (I am the Detroit Lions reporter for ESPN Radio, for one). I also work as a broadcast engineer for teams that come into Detroit to play, that do not travel engineers on their own. In that capacity, I have covered the NBA finals, the Major league Baseball All Star Game, the NHL playoffs, and the American League Championship series.

What's your dream gig? It really has been a dream to work for MSU for nine seasons. As a child growing up in Detroit, I had the pleasure of listening to some great broadcasters. Bruce Martyn and Paul Woods calling Red Wing Hockey, George Blaha calling Detroit Piston Basketball, and of \course MSU Football, and the Great Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey as the voices of the Tigers. For me, to serve any of those teams would be a high honor, but I'd have to pick Red Wings or Tigers Play By Play in a tie for number 1. That said, Football Saturdays in Spartan Stadium are magical, so I wouldn't mind that as well!

How did you get started in broadcasting? Unofficially, Mom has tapes of me calling games into a tape recorder at age 9 or 10, Officially, I got my start at WSDP-FM (88.1) radio in Plymouth MI. It's a high school station out of the Plymouth-Canton District. I was the sports director there for two years, and learned a great deal as a young student. Working high school sports with my good friend Denny Kapp still ranks as some of the most fun I've ever had behind a mic.

How did you get to be MSU's play-by-play volleyball guy? In the fall of 2001, I was approached by Scott Moore of the Spartan Sports network, who let me know of the opening at MSU. He encouraged me to submit a demo to Will Tieman, President of the network, and I was hired for what was then a 7 match package. We went full season in 2002, and have been ever since. I'll broadcast my 250th match with MSU November 21st at home against Minnesota. Coincidentally, the match I called as a demo match to get the job in 2001 was MSU-Western Michigan. The Broncos that day were coached by current head coach Cathy George.

Are there a lot of volleyball play-by-play guys in the Big Ten? There are nine, of which I have the third longest tenure. Eight of the schools have full season packages, Penn State has home only, and Ohio State and Norhwestern have no professional broadcast. It's here that I have to credit the Michigan State Athletic Department, lead by Mark Hollis and Shelley Appelbaum, and The Spartan Sports Network and Will Tieman. While there are 9 full season broadcasts NOW, when we went full season in 2002, we were just the third school in the conference to do so. Web streaming media was not as common as it is now, and MSU was out ahead of the crowd on that. Their decision to adopt a full season package showed a real commitment to Women's athletics, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

What's it like traveling with the team? I've gotten to see some great volleyball in some great places. The on-court action is great, and attending games at powerhouse schools like USC, UCLA, and Nebraska, not to mention the big ten has given me some great memories. What's most special, however, is the time I get to spend with our athletes and coaches behind the scenes. Whether it's the team singing in the back of the bus after a win (with "creative" harmony from some members), observing intense cribbage games between assistant coaches (Mike Gawlik is a pro), or just shooting the breeze on a bus ride. I've gotten to get to spend time with the Spartans when the pressure of competition is off. When you get the chance to know people beyond jersey numbers and statistics, you realize that what makes them great as athletes and coaches is that they are even better people. That's what makes my time on the road so special.

What's your favorite arena to broadcast from on the road, and why? OK, I've got to split this up into conference, and non-conference. My favorite non-conference arena is by far the Nebraska Coliseum. That is by far the best volleyball crowd I've ever seen, and the broadcast position is great, elevated at the end of the floor. What makes the place so special, though is the respect given to other teams. We went there in 2003, and Nikki Colson was our setter. She was from Lincoln, and when she was introduced, they gave her a standing ovation. I've never seen that for a visiting player ANYWHERE else, EVER. That gave me chills. Best Big Ten arena is a tough one. The two front runners are Penn State and Wisconsin. The positions for me are great views (although they're both in the rafters and require quite a hike to get there) The crowds are huge, and outstanding. Wisconsin gets the win for 3 reasons. 1. Live stat monitors 2. Jen Armson-Dyer is no longer with Penn State Sports information, giving Diane Nordstrom the edge in what was a stalemate between two SID's who have ALSO won Burger awards. 3. The Wisconsin band. They're just that good. Honorable Mention goes to Purdue, since Wendy Mayer does an outstanding job as their SID, and I love telling war stories with Kim Cook, who has been calling Purdue volleyball for the better part of TWO decades. It loses out though because Belin Court has the toughest broadcast position in the conference. On the floor, behind the end line, so I have to look THROUGH one team to see the other.

Walk us through a match day for you. On the road, I'm up at about 8AM, to meet the team for breakfast. I usually will interview a player for intermission after the meal. I like to help our fans get to know them on, and off the court. While the team goes to practice, I'll read over game notes, and prepare for that evening's match. Around 4, we meet for pregame meal, and then head for the gym. Usually by 5 I'll have set up my gear. At five, or as near as possible, I interview the opposing coach, and then meet Coach George to tape the Farm Beaureau Insurance pregame show. We're on the air 15 minutes before first serve, and the Spartans take care of the rest. After the match, we head to our next city on Friday, and home Saturday night. At home, I arrive at Jenison around 4PM for our 6:30 starts,and the routine is pretty much the same.

What's your favorite road trip story (aside from calling the 25-8 game during a tropical storm in Delaware, though I know that's got to be up there)? Can I give you two? First, in 2001, we went in to Penn State and won at Rec Hall. It's the only time I've ever broadcast a Spartan win there, and not many teams beat the Nittany Lions at home. Erin Hartley, who was an All American, had a great match. Our bench was electric, and I've never seen a Spartan team happier on a plane ride home. More recently, the Sweet 16 appearance in 2007 at the Wisconsin Field House. We were up 2 sets to nothing on the defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers. We didn't win, but in 15 years as a reporter, I've never seen a team at any level, in any sport, fight harder, and play with more heart. They FORCED the college volleyball world to take notice of how special they were. That was a magical night.

How does Jenison stack up against other volleyball venues from the broadcaster's perspective? Simply put, Jenison Fieldhouse is a special place. The history of that building, of the magical (no pun intended) things that have happened there, It's fun to call that home. We have some of the best fans in the nation, and they give our athletes a lift. The energy in that place is spectacular, and I've had some of the best calls of my career there. Rick Adkinson and his event management staff are top notch, and with the Athletic Communications staff, A broadcaster's job gets a lot easier. The location for me to do games is one of the best in the conference, Elevated, and on the end of the floor. In a sport with lateral movement like volleyball, it really helps to see plays develop. There are other venues in the conference that have some perks that are nice (Wisconsin and Purdue have live stat monitors, and that REALLY helps, Penn State is really good at updating out of town scores) Overall, though, in the words of Judy Garland...."There's no place like home."

For Kreger's all-time Spartan volleyball team, as well as his thoughts on Cathy George and the state of the Spartans, come back Tuesday for part two.

Kreger Named Best Volleyball Broadcaster in America

Michigan State volleyball play-by-play broadcaster John Kreger was named best college volleyball broadcaster in America today by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Kreger, the voice of Spartan volleyball since 2001, was picked as a finalist for the association's Grant Burger award, which honors the top person in volleyball media that year. The top sports information director, print writer, broadcaster and online writer in the land vie for the award - with Kreger picked to represent broadcasters.

"Obviously, we are very excited for John, he is an avid Michigan State volleyball fan, but more importantly he truly cares about the game of volleyball at all levels," said head coach Cathy George. "I have had the privilege of working with John for the past 4 seasons and am amazed at his ability to depict such a vivid and accurate image of our sport with his words."

Anyone who has listened to Kreger call a game via MSUSpartans.com would likely agree with that statement. The awards committee clearly does - AVCA officials cited Kreger's play-by-play precision when announcing the award:

"There is never a moment during a broadcast where listeners are left without details of where the ball is, who recorded the kill, who posted the dig or even what play was run," AVCA officials said in a statement. "Kreger also institutes detailed interviews with both of the matches head coaches in to his match-night broadcasts and is an avid blogger, all helping to take the promotion of the sport of volleyball to new heights."

Will Tieman, president of the Spartan Radio Network and voice of MSU basketball, agreed.

"John possess a passion for the sport which he artistically conveys during his broadcasts," Tieman said. "He is more than deserving of this award."

Full disclosure here: Both TOSSS authors know Kreger on a personal and professional level, but I'd be singing his praises even if I'd just heard him on the radio.

My favorite Kreger broadcasting story comes from this past year, when Kreger covered MSU's historic victory over the University of Delaware live from a creaky old fieldhouse in Newark, Del., the roof of which couldn't stop the rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna that was raging around outside. Water dripped from the roof so much that play had to be halted after every few points to mop up the floor. His commentary bench was on the floor, set off to the left of one of the court sides and partially behind a team bench. Easily the worst spot one could have to call a game.

Yet Kreger didn't miss a beat, his voice crescendoing with every Spartan point as he masterfully narrated Michigan State's most dominant set win ever - a 25-8 shellacking to cap a straight-sets victory over the Blue Hens on their home court.

"He is passionate, hard working, and carries a genuine excitement for MSU and Big Ten Volleyball," George said. "He is an integral member of the Spartan family, but to say that he only represents our conference would be an understatement."

Amen to that, and our hearty congratulations to one of MSU's finest.