Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Jake Snelgrove
Here at Belmont Abbey College, we pride ourselves on academics and athletics. There are over a dozen different sports under our athletics department. Countless games are played, home and away, throughout all teams’ fall and spring seasons. Most people love to attend our sporting events on campus, but for those who cannot make it, there is the BASN.
The Belmont Abbey Sports Network (BASN) broadcasts as many games as possible for fans to enjoy, no matter where you are. Geoffry Chiles is the network’s head play-by-play announcer, working as many games as possible. His job is to provide the viewers with color commentary throughout every match, whether soccer, baseball, basketball, etc. I got the chance to sit down and watch him work for a few baseball games and also had the opportunity to help run the live broadcasts.
It was amazing to see the production’s behind-the-scenes and what goes into it, as there is much more to it than you think. First, Chiles has to know everything that goes on throughout the games he covers, so he always carries a giant stat sheet with him to help him with his commentary. Regarding the production, there is a producer and at least one camera person at each game. The BASN prides itself on having a student-run production team, thus generating valuable experience for students looking to go into the field of broadcasting. They communicate with each other to get the best camera angles, as the producer also seems to clip highlights, ensure the correct graphics are showing at the right time, and ensure the broadcast runs as smoothly as possible.
The BASN is still young, only in its 11th season, and looks to grow every game. The viewers can expect great games with great production and commentary on top of them. It is only a matter of time that the production value of the BASN reaches the levels of division 1 programs, as I’ve seen firsthand how good the network is already. If you are looking to have the opportunity to help work for the BASN you can take the class (Practicum Digital and Sports Media) if you are a sports management major. You can watch any game for the rest of the semester on the BASN at abbeyathletics.com.
This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
