Jay Kersting's Blog

Here is my story of yesterday's game between Kansas and Missouri.  I think some of you might find this interesting, others will not.

So, I left my brother's house at around 7:00 am for a 7:00 pm kick off.  NO, not because I am a hardcore fan, but rather because I was thinking there was a lot of work to do.  And, of course there was...but also a lot of down time in between. 

It was snowing.  My first thought was, dammit, twelve hours too early.  That was the one thing this game needed to make the scene even stronger.  Anyhow, after grabbing some high quality and healthy drive-thru breakfast, I headed to Arrowhead Stadium.  I got there at 7:45 and went to the offices to find out when I could get in to setup for out show.  The people were polite, but had no information and just told me to come back after 9:15. 

I met up with the rest of the "On A Football Saturday" crew at around 8:00.  Jet, Spencer, Bryan and I then went over to check out the crowd that had gathered for ESPN's "College GameDay" in the East parking lot.  Rather impressive crowd actually.  About 55/45 in favor of Mizzou and tons of really funny signs including "Magino Ate My Other Sign" and "Missouri Girls Aren't Trash, Because Trash Gets Picked Up Occasionally" but my favorite was "Chuck Norris tells Chase Daniel Jokes"....and yes several in the crowd knew that it was five o'clock somewhere.  (The SEC could teach these guys to pace themselves.)  Anyhow, all of that said, it is fun to go see the show done live once.  I did that back in 2000 or 2001.  But, the best way to get the information off of the show, is to see it on TV.

We left there and went inside Arrowhead Stadium to set up for the show.  Had to haul a few cases of equipment up and unpack, etc.  Then do a test run.  Got done with that and we left the parking lot before we got kicked out. 

Next stop was lunch, I suggested Arthur Bryant's.  But since we had to get the truck I was driving parked somewhere else, I was driving separately.  So, they chose Gates.  Hey, not a bad option.  (The amateurs all got two Beef Brisket on Bun sandwiches....silly boys...I got the Combo on 1/2 with a side of onion rings...and dipped them in the sweet and mild sauce.  No, it wasn't heaven.  I was good barbeque.) 

We had to wait to get back in to the parking lot at Arrowhead until 3pm.  So we parked at Gate 6 and talked with a bunch of the folks who were coming to the game. 

Finally, we got in, and gather information (media guides, programs, stat packs, releases, etc.) and got ready for the show.  The show was good, rather uneventful, but good.  At one point, Brent Musberger walks by.  Jet and Spencer were talking about what a big game it was, "Brent Musberger is here."  To which I added, "It's the last regular season game of the year.  Can't hold anything back."  Never did see Dan Fouts.  Dammit.

This was also the time when I was watching my Tennessee Volunteers playing Kentucky in overtime....four of them.  Luckily, we were on a break when the Vols finally put Kentucky away. 

As for the game, it was interesting.  I did not have a seat, but I found a stool in the back row of the press box.  I was seated near the rest of the crew and right behind reps from the, left to right, Holiday, Orange (2), Cotton (2), Fiesta (2) and Sugar/BCS National Championship (2) Bowls.  Chatted with several of them throughout the game and halftime. 

Anyhow, back to the game.  Who would have expected FOUR consecutive punts on the first four drives of the game....from these teams?  And 7-0 after the first quarter?

Not to bore you with the details of the game, more of the story of what we did.  At the start of the fourth quarter, I ask a rep from the Chiefs and from KU about field access at the end of the game.  In the SEC, you can go to the field in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.  I was told, no go.  Oh well.....but if you know me, you are waiting for...as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Spencer and I decide to head down to the ground level media rooms.  On our way to get our coats, I had to ask George Brett if I could squeeze by to get back in to the Press Club.  I would have loved to chat with him more, but he was with his family and I respect that.  And then I did follow the Brett clan down the stairs. 

So I set up my recorder for the postgame and then Spencer and I notice that Pat Forde from ESPN.com and a guy from CBSSportsline.com, who have the same passes that we do, are headed for the field.  So, we go too.

So there we are, biggest game of the week, arguably the biggest game of the year so far, and Spencer and I are on the sideline.  Next to Chris Fowler...to whom Spencer informed that, "the word in Columbia is that Chase is Danielicious."  Not sure what that means...but I started laughing hysterically as Fowler chuckled and shook his head.

If you watched the game, you are aware that Kansas threatened late but after a safety, it was over.  Oh, and I did predict during the show that KU would win.  I guess I am the Lee Corso of the group now.  Crap.  Anyhow, I snap a bunch of photos for the KFRU and KLIK websites.....and enjoy the experience of walking on the field at Arrowhead Stadium...just my second time on the turf there, my first time during and following a game played there.

Next thing I know, I am behind the impromtu set on the sidelines for the post game interview that Fowler and Corso did with Chase Daniel.  No idea if my ugly mug was on Sports Center or not, but based on the camera angles, my coat definately made it.

Finally, it was time to go to the coaches interview.  Damn equipment problem on their end, so I had to hold my microphone up in from of Coach Gary Pinkel to get the comments.  All the while, aware of getting my KLIK mic flag on as many TV cameras as possible.  Yup, got to pimp my station.

After it was all said and done, we walked out of Arrowhead Stadium.  I finally got to meet Coach John Kadlec, aka Mr. Mizzou.  He one of those guys like Gus Manning and Heywood Harris at Tennessee who has decades worth of stories.  Worth listening to, even if you are not a Mizzou fan.  Then we waded through the aluminum cans, bottles, both intact and broken, the other trash and refuse to get back to the car.  Then a short ride out of the parking lot to get me to the truck.  And then back to my brother Dan's house. 

Again, you know what happened in the game.  This is the story of my experience behind.  Enjoy, and comment.  Thank you for reading and allowing me to share it with you.