Live Oak — corey.davis@gaflnews.com



LIVE OAK-Since 1958, fans have been tuning into 98.1 FM every Friday night to listen to Suwannee High football games. And for the the 52nd consecutive year, the Big 98 will once again serve local fans with coverage of football.

After various talks and discussions between the school, the school board and the station, 98.1 was given the rights to air the games again for the upcoming season.

However things could be changing at the conclusion of the upcoming season.  

WQHL “will be airing the games again this season,” Hunter Abercrombie stated. “However, after next year at the end of the season we will sit down and work out what the best route for us and our broadcasts is.”

Talks have been concentrated on getting better clear and precise broadcasts something that continues to be a problem.

“We want to have clear accurate broadcasts, when they go on the road they don’t always have access to press boxes,” Abercrombie said. “We’re not going into the situation blind and get burned, we will think about all our options with all of the info and do what’s best for the fans.”

The Big 98 was elated to hold onto the rights for the upcoming season again.   

“This is really big for us, its been a tradition over the years from WNER to WQHL to have the games,” General Manager Dean Blackwell said.

Blackwell confirmed that play-by-play announcer Andy Day, color commentator Tom Daniels and special assignment reporter Dale Allen will all be back with the commentary.    

As far as addressing the broadcast’s problems Blackwell went to say, “we are not doing anything different, they will just have to get there earlier and find the best cell spots.”

Using only cell phones, the crew relies on precise cell coverage area and has no problem at Paul Langford Stadium. It’s when they step outside the area to cover games in towns like Fort White, Alachua, Madison that problems can arise.

“Out of town we have to use cell phones and the cell service is poor at times, its at the mercy of the service,” Blackwell said. “Even with getting a laptop and a USB you’re still fighting for quality service.”

Sometimes the broadcasters are able to get into press boxes, sometimes they aren’t -- and sometimes they can’t get a landline, either. For now fans will have to bear with them as they try to fix the problems.

“We have Verizon cell phones and sometimes we have marginal cell coverage in other towns, but we do the best we can,” Blackwell said.     

Fans won’t have to wait much longer as Suwannee kicks off its season August 27 at home against Chiefland in the annual Kickoff Classic.