Sports editor Craig Anderson e-mailed questions to Glenn Frazer, the Middletown native who is a radio color analyst for University of Delaware football and basketball games:
Q: What’s are the keys to having a successful, long-term career in radio?
A: Well, I have been doing this in a “part-time” capacity. However, I would say the keys are the same as any business or relationship: be accurate, don’t be too opinionated (you are there to describe an event to people without giving personal opinions), be prepared, treat everyone the same, admit when you are wrong, and always remember that some information should remain private. In other words, when I have been told things in confidence, I have to decide if the public needs to be told or if it is information that should remain private. More often than not, I keep such information to myself. I value my relationship with a coach or player much more than the so-called “Public’s right-to-know.”
Q: I’ve heard that radio play by play is tougher than it seems. What are the challenges?
A: Every sport has it’s own pace. Baseball is probably the easiest sport to broadcast. Basketball can be an extremely fast-paced sport. You have to be able to interpret what you have seen into the spoken word very quickly before the next play occurs. Football has the time between plays that allows for more detailed commentary.
I have a great amount of respect for announcers that call different teams every week. By broadcasting games of one school (or team) you become familiar with the home team and players.
Most of the preparation goes into learning the opposing players. We have one week to prepare for the opposing players, pronouncing names properly & memorizing numbers, stats and background information.
For basketball, we sometimes have as many as three opposing teams to prepare for weekly. Thank goodness basketball has fewer players than football!
Q: How about color commentary?
A: I have always been a play-by-play announcer until two years ago at UD. Play-by-play is primarily the actual call of the play while the color commentary announcer needs to expound on the action, and possibly pick up on something the play-by-play guys can’t focus on. For instance, play-by-play announcers are normally following the ball, like the quarterback, running back, point guard. A successful color analyst will try to watch the play and at the same time look for a good block by the line, or a pick away from the play in basketball that allows an open shot.
Both play-by-play and color commentators” prepare the same for a game. There is an enormous amount of time devoted to research, and you never know when you might have to step into the others role.
Q: What’s the buzz about the UD football team this season?
A: The obvious buzz would surround Penn State transfer quarterback Pat Devlin. The Blue Hens really struggled offensively last season, understandably after losing Joe Flacco and Omarr Cuff.
The defense should be very deep at every position and returns a very talented unit that could be one of the best in the CAA.
I am looking forward to seeing tight end Josh Baker return after serving a one-year suspension. He appears to be in great shape and has all the tools to be an excellent target in the Hens passing game.
My biggest concern is the offensive line. Due to graduation and injuries there is a lack of depth and experience. Hopefully there will be some pleasant surprises in preseason drills in August.
Q: You grew up in Middletown. What were the best things about that?
A: I was born and raised in M-Town. It was a very different atmosphere then. A graduating class was normally around 125 and you knew everybody. The grocery stores were downtown ... well, everything was downtown!
I remember getting a quarter from my parents to go to the Everett Theater on a Saturday afternoon for the matinee. I also delivered the newspaper on my bicycle when there were two editions of the News Journal (morning & evening).
I also recall not having a winning football team until coach Billings showed up in 1961. Then he put the town on the map by winning his first 53 games (still a Delaware record).
There are still quite a few people in town that I grew up with. I think the mayor and council are doing a great job of retaining the small town atmosphere while managing the tremendous growth. I still see some of the Middletown I knew every time I visit.
Q: Do you get much feedback from the listeners?
A: The listeners are fantastic. I receive numerous calls and e-mails after every game from friends, and Delaware fans. Most of the feedback is positive.
Q: Growing up, who did you listen to?
A: My favorites were Keith Jackson (college football), Pat Summerall and Al Michaels (NFL), Jim McKay, Jack Whitaker and Jim Simpson for the variety of sporting events they covered.
Bob Kelly was a very passionate broadcaster of UD football and one of my local favorites. When it came to major league baseball there wasn’t a better team than Harry Kalas and Richie “Whitey” Ashburn.
Middletown, Del. —
