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BEHIND THE SCENES: MUSTANG SCOREBOARD

By Anthonia Edgren (RPTA '12), Editor

"GOAL" OR "TOUCHDOWN"! These are the words we all love to see flash across the Mustang scoreboard at Alex Spanos stadium at athletic contests. Yet, how do these celebratory words, flashing lights, instant replays, and special effects all end up on the new video screen? The answer, of course, is RPTA students Robert Cooper ('12) and Ryan Swearingen ('11). When Cal Poly Athletics was deciding whether or not to invest in a new multimedia scoreboard for Spanos, they approached Drs. Hendricks and Brian Greenwood to see whether the department and RPTA students would be interested in assisting with the gameday experience. Hendricks and Greenwood jumped at the opportunity, so RPTA students are the first students contacted when students are needed to help manage the scoreboard and gameday experience.

Cooper and Swearingen both manage the videoboard operations at the Football and Men’s and Women’s soccer games. Cooper stated, “I took it for RPTA 330 credit last year, but this year I came back because I love doing it and the perks of the pre-game BBQ, tickets and working with the Athletic Department are awesome. I also love that I get to work with professional level equipment.” Cooper who now has two years of experience working with the videoboard says that,”prior sound and tech systems experience is recommended. I learned how to use similar computer and sound systems when I was in high school.” Working the scoreboard requires working with sound and graphics that are pre-programmed and syncing with the cameramen on the field for instant replays.

Want to sit in the skybox and be a part of the gameday Mustang Athletics experience? Be on the watch for emails from Drs. Hendricks or Greenwood via Cal Poly Athletics.

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