Fame and stardom await the Tufts men's basketball team, now that Somerville and Medford residents will be able to see their games on local cable channels. Tufts University Television (TUTV), which began broadcasting the games on campus two weeks ago, debuted the off-campus feed last night.
"This is extremely big for the image of Tufts," said executive producer and play-by-play announcer Tommy Calvert. "In addition, it will be a boost to the men's basketball program, which will get exposure to tens of thousands of people in the greater Boston area." He said that permanent time slots should be finalized by next week.
Athletics Director Bill Gehling said that the larger audience would increase support for Tufts sports but would not affect attendance at games.
"People come to the game to be at the game," he said. "I do think our team plays an attractive type of basketball."
Calvert said that he's already seeing the campus get into the televised games.
"I think students have already begun to watch it on the Tufts campus," he said. "I've been told people are watching it in their rooms... people are really starting to turn it on not only as individuals, but as groups."
Aside from broadcasting the games; TUTV program features a halftime and post-game show. They will update viewers on other Tufts teams, as well as air interviews with players and coaches.
Former Tufts football player Harry Pierre anchors the halftime and post-game show. Daily editors Jon Japha, Neal McMahon, and Neil Taylor, and writer Elliot Wiley will also contribute to the program.
"Our program will really show the student athlete that is on the floor and the hard interviews, half time, post game show - you'll see what type of individual the Tufts student represents," Calvert said of the announcing plans. "This shouldn't be understated just because it's on cable access," he added.
The production side of the program will benefit from producer Eli Kazin's experience. Kazin, a senior, learned the ins and outs of producing a show when he worked with NBC Sports. He is currently working at the Boston Globe.
"Tufts students will see a top-notch production in these broadcast unlike anything they've seen on TUTV before," he said.
Calvert believes that broadcasting the games will help reach out to the Tufts community.
"I think it means a lot in terms of improving relations with the community, to put some more context to student life and to what goes on at the University for some of the people in Medford or Somerville." Calvert said that some residents may perceive the students as "party animals" and that the broadcasts can help to change that.
The two home games this weekend against Connecticut College and Wesleyan will be aired at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Medford residents can see the games on channel 3, and Somerville residents can support the Jumbos on channel 43.
