Covering the Orange Bowl

As a veteran sports writer/sports editor, I've often had friends express jealousy when I was in some touristy location covering a bowl game. But those assignments were not all beachy and keen; while the fans were taking in the scene whether it was Miami, New Orleans, Tempe or even Honolulu, we were working hard to provide coverage of the home team and not getting to play.

And, when I was writing about college football, it was well before the Internet and collaboration between print and television. Today's journalists are doing it on all three platforms 24/7 and, if you don't believe that, look at some of the online post times. I'll also share some of the e-mails I've received from our team in the wee hours of the morning.

That team of writers, photographers and video journalists has been working hard all week in south Florida to provide excellent coverage of the Iowa Hawkeyes and their Orange Bowl opponent, Georgia Tech. All that was a prelude to the game itself.

 Even as I'm writing this, photographers Brian Ray, Liz Martin and Jim Slosiarek are sweeping through the parking lots at Land Shark Stadium taking photos of the fans tailgating and posting them to hawkeyebowlgame.com. Marc Morehouse, Mike Hlas and Scott Dochterman have been updating their blogs and preparing for a Live Chat that will begin at 6:30 (Iowa time) and run throughout the game. And, John Campbell, Scott Saville and Matt Nelson have packages ready for tonight's early sportscasts on KCRG-TV9, getting you pumped for the 7:05 kickoff. 

Of course, we will have complete coverage of the game in The Gazette (we've pushed our deadline back) on Wednesday, more blogs, videos and photos on hawkeyebowlgame.com after the game as well as packages on KCRG starting on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, the game, which includes the world's longest halftime show, will not be over by the time the 10 p.m. newscast ends and there's not much we can do about that TV-wise.

I encourage you to enjoy the game and get involved with our coverage by joining the chat, going online to view our photos and videos and reading/viewing all the post-game material tonight and tomorrow.

And, if you so choose, drop us a line and tell us what you liked, what you didn't like and what we can do better next time.

One more thing -- pray for a end to the Orange Bowl halftime show or we will be watching this game until midnight!