The first sport for which I had the opportunity to sit behind the microphone at Wake Forest University was men’s basketball. Women’s hoops was a close second.
THEN… I had to tryout, AGAIN, to get the football gig. (Some kind of convoluted story about somebody wanting “their chance” to audition, so, “we have to make it look good.”)
Whatever, y’all. Whatever.
I won the gridiron showdown at the spring game and… TA DA! I was welcoming the Demon Deacons to the field at then-named (and, forever in my mind) Groves Stadium.
What folks don’t know is that it was never “just me.” There was already a spotter in place.
A spotter?
“Yep. Sean. Sean will be right beside you, calling the numbers and names of the players. You know, who carries the ball, who scores, who tackles – that kind of thing.”
Sean Bennett.
I could say, “Sean was my spotter.” That would be inaccurate. I was his announcer. Any success I enjoyed with the Old Gold and Black is merely a reflection of how superbly magnificent Sean was with the binoculars.
Over time, I’ve had occasion to work with LOTS of spotters. Many of them, were VERY GOOD.
Chase Vaden. Emmett Page. John Rushton. Vikki Griffin. (She didn’t like it, but, she did it.) Sophia. Miles. It REALLY does take a village.
Sean. Sean is the one. He is, by far, the gold standard. If I ever have the opportunity to announce a “big” game… the Rose Bowl. The Super Bowl. THAT kind of “big” game, I wouldn’t dream of getting behind the mic without Sean Bennett sitting to my immediate right.
Along the way, we became friends. He taught at the Career Center. Me, too. He is a FABULOUS biology teacher. He is the science expert “on call” for the Griffin children. He was assigned to be my teaching mentor. An extraordinary educator.
His family. My family. Children. Spouses. Vacations. Adventures. Funerals. Health worries. Celebrations. Hopes. Dreams. Wins. Losses. The Orange Bowl. We shared life. His. Mine. Ours.
Sean has an extraordinary awareness of the rhythm of the game. When to let the crowd roar. When to listen. When to crank the music. Sean gets it.
He is also the one that stood between me and the universe on game days.
During a collegiate football broadcast production, a great many people (too many) think they have the right, and the responsibility, to tell the announcer what to do. Really. Everybody has an opinion.
In reality, one, perhaps two, individuals have the authority to be in the conversation. During a game, I hear everything. I listen to the one, or two.
For 22 seasons, Sean was the one.
I spoke when Sean told me to speak. His rhythm. His eyes. His information. His understanding of the moment.
Director. Chief Of Staff. Confidant. Right-Hand Man.
Sean handled everything and, in doing so, gave me the chance to bring to life the hopes and passion and enthusiasm of the Wake Forest faithful for Demon Deacon football.
All I had to do was talk. Sean did the work.
It’s not often that you get to work with “the best in the business.” I did. There is no doubt. Sean Bennett is the best spotter in all of football. Any level.
It was an honor to announce his games. I trust Sean. Always.
Sean Bennett. He’s the one. In Sean I trust.
Jeffrey Griffin 