Carlson prepares for radio season; Nissan joins forces

By Myra Bean

As the South Panola Tiger football team reputation grows, more and more people want to get involved.

That is especially noted by Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson, play-by-play commentator for the Tiger team on Friday nights.

Carlson related the radio station can account for 150,000 listeners on Friday night, along with the Internet set up on www.panola.com.

Nissan Give-A-Way

This year, Grenada Nissan, is getting involved with a give-a-way of a Nissan Versa hatchback.

Former South Panola player Steven Wigley, a Grenada Nissan salesman, is spearheading the event.

Each week, fans can buy $1 chances to have the opportunity to win the vehicle. One ticket will be drawn and that winner is guaranteed to win $100. Then the ticket holder has a chance to throw a frisbee, from the 30-yard line, in the car to win.

Proceeds from the sale of chance tickets will be divided between the football, band and cheerleaders.

Grenada Nissan will provide the tickets so the school will not be out of any money.

The chances to win the versa will be available at all the regular season home games. Wigley said they will try to work it for the playoffs.

“I was a player there and this is a way for me to help the school,” Wigley said. “The school was good to me.”

Hopefully, the chance ticket sales will raise from $3,500 to $5,000 per game. The cheerleaders will be selling the tickets at the game.

Radio coverage

Carlson has broadcast play-by-play full time since 1998. He was formerly the public address announcer and also reported halftime stats on the radio before taking over the job.

Carlson said for tonight’s game, he has 12 pages of game material on the two teams.

“Obviously, I can’t do it all in 30 minutes of pregame,” he said.

Carlson went back to Vicksburg last Friday and watched the Vicksburg/Clarksdale game. He was impressed by Clarksdale Dandy Dozen player Charles Mitchell and also Clarksdale fullback Tim Jackson.

“It will be a great game tomorrow night,” Carlson said in a Thursday telephone interview.

“I thought South Panola put forth a great effort Thursday night,” Carlson said. ‘They  played through a lot of adversity.”

Carlson loves his role of bringing the game to the fans via the radio.

“I see myself as the eyes and ears for fans who can’t be there,” Carlson said. “At home games, people come and bring their radios. That makes me feel good.”

Over the years, Carlson has come to realize how important it has become to relay the offensive and defensive set up to the radio crowd before hand.

“I think it’s critical we adequately cover what is going on,” he added.

The addition of Internet listeners has been a huge success. Last year, an overseas military doctor, would gather some of his patients around the computer and listens to the game.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Carlson said. “I enjoy doing it.”

Carlson does the radio broadcasting, along with Bob Norris. Norris did not make the trip to Vicksburg and will not be on tonight. He will return next week at Grenada. Norris does the pregame “Tiger Talk” with South Panola head coach Lance Pogue.

Also helping to get the information out on the radio is Steve Wingert, who serves as the color commentator in Norris’s absence and as spotter; Kenny Hopper, computer statistician; Tim Christ, spotter and Cam Coker, production manager.

The broadcast begins each Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on WBLE, 100.5 FM.