NBC to film Pirates' football game for NFL halftime show
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By Christopher Haraden 27.SEP.07
Local high school football games are usually broadcast on Hull Community Television, but the Pirates are about to go prime time.
Camera crews from the company that produces the halftime show for NBC Sunday Night Football are scheduled to film Hull’s home game against Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the high school field. The segment will be broadcast during a future National Football League matchup on NBC.
“This is a great, great thing for Hull,” Hull High Athletic Director James Quatromoni said this week.
The company contacted Hull because producers wanted to highlight high school teams from the Northeast, he said, and “they were looking for an interesting story to tell,” not just a game to film.
Wear Pirates’ gear to the game! Hull High is hoping for a great crowd next Friday, Oct. 5, when NBC Sunday Night Football comes to the Gut to shoot game footage. Show your true colors by wearing a Pirates hat, sweatshirt, or other blue-and-gold apparel. To get genuine Pirates’ clothing that’s being stocked by the Hull Boosters at the snack shack at Hull High during games, call Sindye at 781 925-1077 or Nancy at 781 925-9294, or email njs33@comcast.net or Sindyebellecreat@aol.com
Quatromoni said he responded to the solicitation with a package of information about the town, including photos of potential camera vantage points he took from the roof of the school.
“We don’t have a 10,000-seat stadium, but we have a view that’s unique,” the athletic director said. Another factor that may have worked in Hull’s favor is that the ocean plays a role in both communities. Camera crews will start filming the Vineyarders as they prepare for the game, riding with them on the ferry across Vineyard Sound to the mainland.
“This is great for our community,” said varsity football coach Jerry McGrath. “I think it is an excellent opportunity to show how committed our school and our community are in supporting our teams.”
The high school football segment of the halftime show is hosted by Markuss Rossi, 21, of Kansas, and Joey Thorsen, 22, of Mississippi. The two were selected by the show’s sponsor, Toyota, to drive a Tundra pickup truck across the country “on a tour of American gridiron culture,” according to promotional material for the broadcast.
“Through their experiences we’re going to see amazing games, passionate fans, unique traditions, cheerleaders, bands and all the communities that make up one of the greatest sports you’ll find anywhere,” according to the show’s website, www.lineofscrimmage.com.
"I'm very excited that our schools, our athletic program, and the community will be shown in such a positive light to a national audience,” said Superintendent Kathleen Tyrell. “Hull students deserve such wonderful publicity.”
“Coming from a small, secluded town, it is nice to know that you're part of the world, and that what we do down here matters,” said senior football captain Jake Shea.
“This publicity for the team is really going to get things going,” said co-captain Alex Chase, also a senior. “It is a great spark to help us reach our full potential.”
Quatromoni said the camera crews will probably travel to other parts of the community, in addition to the high school.
He said he was unsure when the segment on the Pirates would be broadcast on NBC. Quatromoni said producers told him that the final footage will likely consist of about five minutes of airtime, but that extra clips and other material could be posted on the website.
“I hope that the entire community turns out on Oct. 5 to show its support,” said Tyrell, who plans to attend the game. “Additionally, I would like to thank Jim Quatromoni for working with NBC to make this happen for our community.”
“Our fan support is always outstanding,” said McGrath, the Pirates’ coach. “It will be amazing to see what this coverage does for our home crowd.” |
