This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Staff writer

High school football fans will be able to watch more games than ever thanks to a partnership that resulted in multiple games being streamed live on the Internet.

Nov. 21, Andover High School students worked straight from 6:30 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. preparing for and covering three consecutive Minnesota State High School League semi-final football games at Metrodome.

The first game was a nine-man semi-final game between Nicollet and Ada-Borup. The second game was a Class A game that featured Blooming Prairie and Minneota. The last semi-final game was a Class 4A match-up of Mankato West versus Totino-Grace.

The free Web streaming option will be available for the Prep Bowl games today (Friday, Nov. 27) and tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 28) on 45.grandstadium.tv, although the Andover students will not be covering any of those games.

The web streaming option was made possible through the efforts of the Minnesota State High School League, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. and GrandStadium.TV.

Tom Lapping, chief executive officer of JDL Horizons, LLC started GrandStadium.TV so students could tap into their video production talent in a real-world situation in real-time. He also started Eduvision.TV, which is essentially like YouTube without all the questionable content.

Both of these Web sites make education relevant to students who are accustomed to new technology, he said.

The Andover students took the lead in the unique educational experience of covering football games at an NFL stadium.

High school senior Joe Glapa directed the production, made decisions on what camera shot to use at a given point and made sure everybody was in the right place.

According to Glapa, the students showed up at Andover High School just before 6 a.m. and arrived at the Metrodome at 6:30 a.m. to help GrandStadium.TV set up and learn how to use its specific equipment.

Before the games started and before halftime, sideline reporters interviewed coaches and players to get the scoop on the teams that were part of the state semi-final games.

The five sideline reporters were responsible for interviewing coaches and players days before the game for feature stories.

While interviews are nothing new for these students, a live interview near screaming fans during a state tournament game was a whole different experience.

Seniors Erik Olson and Natalie Kellogg embraced being in front of the camera in this situation. Olson said being a sideline reporter builds confidence and helps with speech skills.

“I like being in the spotlight and how comfortable I am in front of the camera,” Kellogg said.

The dozen other students like ninth-graders Taylor Hedin and Taylor Zaudtke preferred to work behind the scenes. Hedin operated the video switcher and Zaudtke shot footage with a professional camera.

“I’ve always liked how TV works,” Zaudtke said. “Obviously I think everybody sees what’s happening on the TV, but I always thought about what’s happening behind it.”

The Andover students, along with students from five other high schools, sat through a one-day training seminar at the KSTC-TV Channel 45 studios to learn tips and receive hands-on training from professionals that cover Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild games.

Sideline reporters were told to be themselves instead of imitating a famous person. Having confidence and coming up with questions on the spot based on the game rather than preparing questions was another important tip Olson, Kellogg and the other three sideline reporters learned.

For any of the students and especially the director, adjusting on the fly was an important attribute that they learned at the Channel 45 training session.

“They said a lot of decisions can’t really be pre-planned,” Glapa said. “When you’re filming a movie there’s a script. With a sports game it’s the exact opposite where anything could happen, so you have to be prepared to stay on your toes and look for things that you could see happening to prepare for them later.”

Now that the students have had this Webcast experience, Pamela Andrusko, adviser, hopes that the students can work at Andover High School home basketball, hockey and volleyball games and wrestling matches this winter.

There is an option of streaming games on GrandStadium.TV for free. Schools that produce home regular season games get 20 percent of the pay per view revenue generated, according to Lapping.

Andover students could also end up working at other Minnesota state tournament games because the only other high schools that have students volunteer for this are Eagan, New London/Spicer, Pelican Rapids, Rosemount, Wayzata and Roseville. Crown College is also involved with GrandStadium.TV, Lapping said.

According to a Nov. 9 press release from KSTC-TV Channel 45, which is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., state tournaments for dance teams (Feb. 12-13), girls’ hockey (Feb. 24-27), boys’ wrestling (March 3-6), boys’ hockey (March 10-13), girls’ basketball (March 17-20), boys’ basketball (March 24-27), girls’ fast-pitch softball (June 10-11) and boys’ baseball (June 17-18) will also be streamed live for free at 45.grandstadium.tv.

The 45.grandstadium.tv streaming games started a couple of weeks ago with the girls’ volleyball state tournament from Nov. 12 through Nov. 14. The Prep Bowl will also be streamed live today (Nov. 27) and Saturday, Nov. 28.

There is no cost for a school to become involved with GrandStadium.TV, according to Lapping. GrandStadium.TV has its own equipment.

For this year’s state championship football games at the Metrodome, Lapping said Bloomington Educational Cable Television is providing the equipment.

If your school would like more information about GrandStadium.TV, call Tom Lapping at 612-208-6650 or toll free at 888-406-7073.

You can also visit info.grandstadium.tv/minnesota for more information.

Eric Hagen is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it