I haven’t officially met Christopher, but I was aware of his work with www.texashsfootball.com, and somehow we started following each other on social media. He ended up selling that website in 2013 and I wrote for them in 2015.

Name: Christopher Lyke
Job: Writer

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A WRITER?

I started writing in high school when I was part of the school papers at Clear Creek High in League City, Texas from 1992 to 1994 and then at Hallandale High in Florida from 1994 to 1996.

I continued on in college as the sports writer for the TC News at Texarkana College in Texas. In fact, I actually won several statewide awards for my work. While I was at Texarkana College, I was fortunate to travel and work as a student assistant with the baseball program. Future MLB All-Star Hunter Pence was part of our team at the time. During that time period, I did board operations work for the ESPN Radio station in Texarkana and also served as a Media Relations Intern for the short lived Border City Bandits minor league hockey franchise.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CRAFT AN ARTICLE?

It really varies on what the circumstances are. Normal write ups I tend to take my time, let my creativity kick in. If there is a deadline, it is basically focusing on the most critical details of what you are writing about.

To me, preparation is all about passion. If you have the passion to write, preparation is second nature.  

WHAT WRITERS DID YOU LOOK UP TO?

Peter King of Sports Illustrated, Peter Gammons from ESPN on a national level, Ivan Maisel of the Dallas Morning News on a regional level. People forget that before they were prominent on TV, they were elite sports writers. 

HOW DID YOU COME WITH THE IDEA FOR WWW.TEXASHSFOOTBALL.COM?

The idea actually came from a short-lived Texas based information site I created while I was at Texarkana College. I did a test run in 2000 before the site was even an idea by covering high school football and I saw a gold mine.

Then while I was doing baseball and hockey at Texarkana, I launched TexasHSFootball on April 13, 2001. It was a slow gradual build over the years. One of the things that made it successful was my ability to be creative and follow the trends of the internet. People forget that the site itself was created before the existence of the social media age and before there was a Twitter and Facebook. While all that was gaining traction, I had to use the tools that were out there to keep up with the times. 

WHY DID IT END?

I was suffering from severe burnout. I had run the site non-stop for a decade and a half. I worked hard in the off-season to keep eyeballs on my content and refused to take a break. Even when I went to Florida every January for the Under Armour All-America Game, I did very little to rest. You can even ask Josh Wilson of FloridaHSFootball.com about that. There was always something that needed to be done and I wanted to compete with the best of the best.

Looking back, I would’ve done a couple things different and probably would still have the site to this day. It was the single biggest regret of my life. 

HOW MANY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES HAVE YOU ATTENDED?

The number was pretty high and I tended to keep a low profile on purpose because I did not want to put the attention on myself. At least a thousand games if I did my math right.

WHAT ARE SOME YOUR FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUMS?

Shotwell Stadium in Abilene because of its historic ties.

Eagle Stadium in Allen because of its distinct awe along with the Allen band and fanbase.

Lobo Stadium in Longview because of its vibe and atmosphere.

You can’t go wrong with any of those three. 

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE GAMES AND ATHLETES YOU HAVE SEEN?

There’s actually two that stand out above the rest.

The state quarterfinal game that featured two of the greatest quarterbacks in Graham Harrell from Ennis and Jevan Snead from Highland Park in 2001. It was the first season I actually went full time with TexasHSFootball. I remember Highland Park having their way with Ennis and led the game by a couple touchdowns in the fourth but Graham and the Ennis Lions never relented. Ennis won and they also won the state championship. Even the coach’s, Randy Allen and Sam Harrell, was a chess battle at the most elite level. 

The second is actually my own personal assignment after I left TexasHSFootball. It was the Grand Final of the Australian Football League (AFL) in Melbourne, Australia between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorne Hawks. Man what a treat!

The AFL Grand Final is essentially the Australian version of the Super Bowl. The game was a blow out win by Hawthorne but the memory I have from that is basically shadowing the Australian sports media that entire weekend. Everything from the setting of the game, the organization and venue.

It was just magical in my eyes but that was not the only thing that stood out to me. In that stay down there, I also got to tour the official headquarters of Carlton FC with one of the Carlton FC players and then walked the grounds of Rod Laver Arena, where the Australian Open is played. I also met with people who run Gridiron Australia, the governing body of Australia’s American Football activity and spent time with the Melbourne University Royals junior (high school) gridiron team. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO BE A SPORTS WRITER?

Don’t be afraid to be creative. Think outside the box. Writing everyday can only help. It doesn’t have to be about sports. Keep your own journal and goals in life. Learn something new everyday. Research is probably the single biggest asset you will have. The more research you do, the more prepared you will be and the more creative you can be.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

I am in the middle of writing a very detailed and heavily researched book about the NBA and the some of the greatest players to play the game but I am tying it all in together to a point where every player discussed has one common and unique element. The book should be close to completion by end of the year.  

Name: Greg Dockery
Job: Instant Replay Technician for UTSA Football and the Alamobowl

In 2012, I did stats for a high school football game between the Brandeis Broncos and the Warren Warriors. I was only a year into my writing as I shared photos, stats, and my thoughts on the game itself. Greg Dockery was one of the officials, and I did the worst thing I could possibly do, and that was, I criticized the officiating crew in my article about the game. Don’t worry, I learned my lesson and have never done that again.

Well, he read my words and emailed me. I won’t spill any details, but I will say that after a few exchanges, I learned he worked in the replay booth for UTSA Football and I worked as the statistician for the Spanish Radio broadcasting team which was next to the replay booth. A few weeks later, I met him at a UTSA Football game and we had a very pleasant chat.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL OFFICIAL?

I got started in my early 20’s.  I went to watch my old high school play, and for the first time I noticed the officials.  My father was my high school principal and was still the principal when I went to watch my old high school play that time and he knew several of the officials doing the game.  My father introduced me to them and for the first time I thought, wow, that would be fun, so I asked one of them how to get involved.  That official called my father the next week and gave him the details, so the next week I went to a meeting and started.  That was around 1987.  My father was also a former coach so he knew a lot of officials.

I had many big games. The coolest stadium was working the old Cowboys Stadium since I grew up watching many Cowboys games as a kid.

I retired from the field 2 years ago after 35 years officiating on the field. 

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH UTSA FOOTBALL AND THE ALAMOBOWL?

I started doing UTSA Football in 2011, the inaugural season.  A guy on my high school officiating crew was an Assistant Athletic Director at UTSA at that time and asked me and another guy on the crew if we wanted to work UTSA as instant replay technician and communicator.  Actually, the guy that started with me as the communicator was taken in the NFL as a replay communicator this last season, so he’s moved up as high as you can get. 

I have done all of the Alamobowl games since about 2012 because I was already doing game at the Alamodome for UTSA and the company that provides all of the equipment for replay, DVSports, knew me and knew I did a good job so they called and hired me that first Alamobowl game I worked and every year since.  They don’t have to fly someone in and pay for hotel, etc, so it was easier to just get me.

The replay technician is the busiest person in the replay room; where there are three people – the replay technician, the replay communicator, and the replay official.   

I set up all of  the equipment before the games, the replay monitor on the field, the headset for the field level replay person, the video feeds from truck, and makes sure all of the pagers given to each official is working. 

During the game, I mark each play with down, distance, yard-line, hash mark, play type and queue the play upon the ball being snapped.  I also record all fouls, I start the start replay recording of all angles when there is a replay stoppage, I start the timer, I provide input on the best angle for the replay official, and I enter any pertinent data the replay official wants on the recording. 

After the game, I collect all of the equipment and return it to the replay room. I make sure the recording of the game and related reports are completed and uploaded and sent to the DVSports website so the officials can watch the games.  There’s more, but that’s about all that comes to mind.  We have to be at the game site 3 to 4 hours before the games to make sure everything is up and running.  

DID YOU HAVE ANY TRAINING FROM THE NCAA ON BEING A REPLAY TECHNICIAN?

There’s no special training.  It is essentially on the job training with a DVSports person the first time you do it, then you are on your own to makes mistakes and learn from them.  I’ve been doing it a long time and still mess up at least once a game.  There’s just way too much to keep track of to be perfect.  

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL?

The best way to get started is to call the local officiating chapter over the summer.  July is when they start meeting for the new guys.  There is a weekly class for new members to go over all of the rules and mechanics, and pointers on how to move up and get better.  The TASO web site has all of the chapter by chapter contact information.

From 2003 to 2014, I was the statistician for Judson High School football games on the Texas Sports Radio. Network, and during that time, is when I first met Milton Hope.

Name: Milton Hope
Job: Public Address Announcer

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A PUBLIC ADDRESS (PA ANNOUNCER)?

I got started as a PA announcer being in the right place at the right time. I was working at KTSA radio in San Antonio from 1992 to 1997. One of the talk show hosts was the PA announcer for Judson football. He came into the newsroom sometime around 1995 and said he was having to give it up and would any of us like to take his place. Four or five of us were sitting there and we all looked at each other and I said “Well, I’ll give it a try.”

WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOUR PA SKILLS? 

I do high school football games for Judson, Wagner and Veterans Memorial. Basically anybody that plays at Rutledge stadium.

I do Judson baseball, some Judson softball and fill in at Veterans Memorial for baseball. I also do the player introductions and run the scoreboard for Veterans Memorial boys and girls basketball.

I do the All-American Bowl football All-Star game each January and I recently picked up the last few years of San Antonio high school all-star football game.

The last two years I’ve also announced the high School boys basketball semifinal games in the Alamodome for the UIL.

I help out with Texas State softball periodically when they need a fill-in announcer.

I do UTSA men’s and women’s basketball, football, and softball.

I also announce at a racetrack. The name of it is Cotton Bowl speedway. It’s about 15 minutes outside Bastrop up in Central Texas.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?

My first gig was working at a dirt track down off highway 16 on the South side called Texas Dirt Speedway. It no longer exists. But that was kind of where some things got started.

DO YOU GET TO ENJOY THE GAMES OR ARE YOU TOO BUSY WORKING?

I really don’t get to enjoy the games as a spectator too much because I don’t go to a lot of them, because I’m normally announcing! It’s really hard for me to go to a game and sit there and watch because I end up critiquing the announcer. When I do go to a game and as soon as the tackle is made, I just say that’s second and seven, third and two.

One of the most exciting games I ever announced was the 2002 state championship game in the Alamodome, which had Judson taking on Midland high school. Midland scored to take the lead with less than 24 seconds left. Judson was 75 yards away and, the quarterback threw a bomb down the middle of the field to a wide open reciever for the go ahead and winning touchdown.

The other one was the first conference USA championship title for UTSA football. It was a dramatic ending and everybody was just going crazy including me.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE?

I really don’t do anything special. I don’t know if it’s just natural or what. I know some announcers use honey and water and all sorts of concoctions but I don’t do anything specifically to take care of my voice.

DID YOU HAVE ASPIRATIONS OF BEING A PA ANNOUNCER AS A KID?

No, I didn’t have this announcing calling as an aspiration or a thought when I was younger. Even though I was really involved with sports in my teenage years, my father always tried to say I should be a sportscaster on tv. I told him you had to have the looks for that and I lacked what they were looking for.

So, really it was just something I accidentally picked up fell into it and enjoyed it. I mean I wouldn’t be doing it this long if I didn’t enjoy it and certainly it is led to some great opportunities. I’ve been able to announce several sweet 16 and elite 8 games for the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. I’ve also announced suite 16, elite 8 and semifinals for NCAA Women’s basketball when they all came to San Antonio during the covid year. The biggest game I got to do in that tournament was UConn versus Baylor. That was quite the experience.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SLIP UP ON THE MICROPHONE?

Yes, I think every announcer has.

One was at a Judson football game, a defensive player for the other team was injured and on the ground. He was probably 6’4 – 6’5. A female trainer came running from the sidelines and she was probably about 4’8. She tried to pick him up and help him off the field and as she was running out there I turned to my spotter and said what’s that little girl going to do? “Milton your mic’s on,” somebody told me. Oops!

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO BE A PA ANNOUNCER?

The advice that I would probably give somebody that wanted to get into PA and announcing would be to practice speaking clearly. And volunteer to help out maybe at a middle school or a high school just get your feet in the door anyway you can. Every thing you do in the beginning might not be a paid gig but it can lead to bigger and better things if you prove yourself. People take notice of the person who’s speaking over everybody and if you can do it clearly and concisely and properly someone may tap you on your shoulder and say hey I may have a job for you.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE FREE TIME?

I play a lot of golf as it’s my favorite thing to do when I have the opportunity and some down time. Because my announcing runs from the last week of August until the second weekend of May, I don’t have a lot of opportunities to travel during that time frame. So, as soon as I get to the middle of May until the middle of August, I try to travel out west and go on several Golf Road trips at least one a month. It could range from 5 days to 2 weeks.

Golfing started because my father was a golfer. We lived in France at one time and he played an awful lot. He would take me to the golf course, give me a ball and one club, and I would just follow behind them hitting the ball while they played. One thing led to another and I picked it up as a sport as well.

I don’t have a favorite Golf course. But, the best place that I have found so far are the golf courses is St George, Utah. It is absolutely beautiful out there. Tons of great golf courses with scenic views and red rock formations all around. It is absolutely gorgeous out there.

I’ve also had the opportunity the last couple of years to go up to Central and Western Colorado which is equally as beautiful. Great golf courses, trees, mountains, and valleys. It’s very nice.

TELL ME ABOUT NEW RESTAURANT SATURDAY’S?

I try to go out to a new restaurant when I don’t have anything on Saturday night. I call it new restaurant Saturday. I just got tired of going to the same places all the time and I would just try to find a new place that I had never been to before. And there’s a lot of them.

I think the worst place I ever went to was a 24-hour diner which is now closed. I just wasn’t impressed with their food.

But, most of the time I have been very fortunate to go to good places. I look at Yelp reviews and I watch a local television show on Saturday mornings to get some ideas on where I should go. Also when I’m driving around and I see some place that I’ve never been before, I make a note of it.

I limit myself to either burgers, Mexican food or barbecue. Once or twice I’ve slipped in like an Italian place or a pizza place.

The best one I ever went to was in Brownwood, Texas. It’s called Underwood’s cafeteria. You walk down the line with your tray and they hand you your food and the little dishes. Unlimited rolls and unlimited drinks. And then while you’re eating, a lady pushes a cart around the dining room asking if she can refill or replace something. The food was outstanding and the service was great. Some friends of mine went up there for a basketball game and I told him about it they said it was the best thing they’ve ever found up there. It’s so good I would make a special trip just to go back up there and eat.