Class:COM352 - Group Dynamics - Spring 2008/UMASS Sports/Sports Broadcasting/The Voice

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An aerial view of Mcguirk Alumni Stadium

April 13, 2008 - 6 months later Mike Walsh remembers it all. Saturday afternoon October 13, 2007. UMASS vs Villanova. 4th Quarter, 6 seconds left on the clock. Game tied at 14. Chris Koepplin walks onto the field turf of McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Cesar Rosario will snap it, Scott Woodward will hold it, and Koepplin will attempt a career long 48 yard field goal to win the game for the Minutemen. High above all the action UMASS Junior Mike Walsh feels the pressure in a much different way. "I remember my color commentator Zach Claudio tapping me on the shoulder, smiling, and moving away from me as if to say its all on you now." In this day in age where great plays are defined as much by the broadcasters call as the play itself, Walsh knew there was no room for error here. "It was a situation I dream of in my sleep, in the shower, in the car, in front of the mirror. It is a lot easier when you don't have to make up the scenario." Walsh said. Koepplin's 48 yarder to win the game clanked off the left upright and the game headed to overtime. "As a UMASS fan and a UMASS broadcaster, I obviously wanted the field goal to be good. But I won't lie, there was part of me that wanted the game to continue, I didn't want to stop broadcasting. I felt like a nine year old at a baseball game on a school night, hoping for extra innings so I could stay up later."

The game went on, and on, and on...overtime after overtime. "I was so excited with what was going on I forgot to go to commercial break after the first overtime" said Walsh. He would have plenty of opportunities to redeem himself as the game went into a historic fourth overtime. UMASS got the ball first in overtime number four and took advantage by scoring a touchdown and converting the two point try. It was now Villanova's turn. After a couple first downs, the Wildcats found themselves with a fourth and goal from inside the UMASS 10 yard line. As the crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of one final defensive stop, Walsh recalled a similar circumstance. "I remember Villanova took a timeout, giving Zach [Claudio] an opportunity to speak. As he was talking, I remembered sitting in that very press box last November witnessing something eerily similar." UMASS had a 7 point lead over UNH in the 4th quarter with 18 seconds on the clock. The winner advanced to the national semifinals, the losers season was over. It was 4th and goal for UNH. "That broadcast won an Associated Press award for best broadcast in New England in the college division. It was during the Nova timeout that I first realized something special was happening." Walsh was right. The playoff game vs UNH ended with the Wildcats throwing an incomplete pass to end the game. These Wildcats (Villanova) came out of the timeout and like their counterparts from the north, threw an incomplete pass that ended the game. UMASS had won in quadruple overtime. "It was a game we were supposed to win" Walsh said. "I didn't scream and go bonkers as if we had just won a national championship, but obviously there was excitement in my voice. It's not everyday your team wins a game in 4 overtimes."

Walsh was rewarded with his outstanding broadcast by winning his second straight Associated Press award for best broadcast in the college division. With the many achievements by the 21 year old from Allston, MA you would think at such a young age the success would go to Walsh's head, but the junior knows theres a long way to go. "I just take everything with a grain of salt. Will I end up broadcasting sports for a living? Who knows. I just really enjoy and appreciate the opportunity given to me here at UMASS. I never take for granted how fortunate I am to be able to do what I love."

Speaking of doing what he loves, when Walsh isn't broadcasting UMASS sports, you can probably find him down on Yawkey Way. Now in his 6th year, Walsh spends his summers working as a food vendor at Fenway Park. "It's an amazing job. I look forward to going to work every day. The environment is awesome, the people are great, and with so many night games it gives me a chance to sleep in a lot." When asked which he prefers broadcasting or vending, Walsh smiled and said, "They are both great in different ways. Vending helps pay the tuition, but my heart is in broadcasting. I don't dream of vending at the World Series, I dream of calling a walk off home run in the World Series."

Maybe he didn't dream of vending hot dogs at the World Series, but that is something Walsh has done. His actual dream will have to wait, but in the meantime Walsh says he is very happy living in what he considers a fantasy world.