Saturday, September 1, 2007

Jay Walker perfect for MEAC/SWAC Challenge


By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Jay Walker came down from his hotel room to meet a visitor, with a clipboard clutched in his hand. Among the pages were football rosters with players' names circled. Notes were jotted next to each one.

"Right now this is my lifeblood," said Walker, a former quarterback at Howard University who later played in the NFL. "This separates No. 80 from me knowing No. 80. We all know that No. 80 is Gerard Lambert from Southern University, but do we know he's been out for a couple weeks and do we know he is big, strong and powerful?"

Walker spent the past week getting to know every player on the rosters of Southern and Florida A&M. He'll do the same throughout the season as he works a slate of games that ESPN will televise, especially those involving black college teams.

It hasn't been an easy task, though. He gets what information he can from each school's sports information staff. The rest he collects from the internet and through conversations with players and coaches.

Today's game is special. ESPN is treating it as it would a bowl game with several high-profile events as a prelude.

This third edition of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge revives the second longest rivalry series in FAMU's history. Both schools will cash in big with each getting a portion of an estimated $300,000 that includes expenses and a portion that will go to both leagues, said Pete Derzis, vice president and general manager of ESPN's regional television.

ESPN also has renewed a three-year agreement to promote and televise the Challenge through 2010, Derzis said.

"We have tremendous commitment to continue building the event; putting together all of the partners that make an event like this really work," he said. "There is a lot of people committed to this event and it really provides and initiative for our diversity program.

"With the MEAC-SWAC Challenge reaching a constituency, that's an extremely important fan base for our network. We see a very bright future as this continues to grow."

Having Walker, a product of black college football, as analyst is part of the push for ESPN to reach its targeted audience. For Walker, working as analyst when the Challenge is broadcast on ESPN Classic, is also part of his development.

He's learning from some of the veteran analysts and play-by-play figures such as John Madden and Keith Jackson, he said.

"I actually study the broadcasters more than I study the X's and O's," Walker said. "Football is football. The different broadcasting styles and techniques; I'm studying those consistently. I find myself watching John Madden anytime he's on TV because I love his pace. He talks so that you can always understand him."

Walker has become a fixture with the Challenge, as much as ESPN since its inception two seasons ago. The Challenge is gaining popularity among television viewers and Walker is getting valuable on-the-job experience in his fledgling role as an analyst.

But as brief as his career has been with the network, Walker is still the best for the job, Derzis said.

"There is no question that he can provide a unique insight that other analysts that we have in our stable of analysts would not be able to provide; a much greater appreciation and understanding," Derzis said. "That's what makes this weekend special."

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