Commenter Clarke
Updated: Nov 15
By Gwen Carroll Nov. 13, 2024
For 15 years, at each home football game, the same familiar voice has boomed over Pat Tillman Stadium: that of Gary Clarke, Math Department. Although he is currently taking time off from announcing at the school’s football games, it is but a blip in his lifetime fanaticism for sports.
Clarke first played football at eight years old. He was immediately hooked and played each and every season from then on. In high school, he also tried softball, basketball and baseball, but no sport has truly captured his attention quite like football.
Rather than continue playing football in college, Clarke turned to coaching the school’s team, when he began to take an interest in making announcements during games. The head coach at the time, however, refused to let just anybody into the commentary box. He put Clarke through a four-week crash course, where he found that there was much more to making announcements than just knowing the game: he had to learn assorted voice inflections and the do’s and don’ts to announcing. Since then, years of experience helped Clarke pin down how to best support the school’s players, both in and out of the commentary box.
“For the players, hearing their names called out is a huge morale boost. I spend at least an hour per week learning to pronounce each player’s name and put in lots of practice to make sure none of them have to experience having their name butchered over the loudspeakers,” Clarke said.
Clarke enjoys watching sports on all scales, not just at the school—namely at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although he was in Paris for a separate trip, he attended the U.S. vs. Japan soccer quarterfinals, where the U.S. made the first and only goal during the second overtime. Despite not knowing much about soccer, Clarke was caught up in the crowd’s infectious excitement.
“Soccer is not my sport, so I did not expect to be so into the match. Even though I had to constantly ask the people around me to explain what each call meant, I was swept up in the adrenaline. I cannot put into words how incredibly proud I was when the U.S. finally scored. It may have been the greatest experience of my life,” Clarke said.
Whether in Paris or at the school, from the stands or in the commentary box, Clarke’s passion for sports has been a constant throughout his life. Although he is sitting out announcing for the 2024-25 football season to recover from a surgery, his dedication to the school’s team and intense love of the sport are far from diminished.
About the Contributors
Gwen Carroll is the page editor for community news and last word. It is her third year in journalism. She likes playing rhythm games and taking naps when it's warm out.
Comments