Stewart Johnson
Even though they were on different sides of Dragon Stadium, both Robert Clayton and Chris Blake know what it’s like to be under the Friday night lights. As a former offensive guard for the Dragons back in the late 1990s, Robert stood between the quarterback and opposing defenses. Chris, a broadcast journalism alum from TCU, got an early start in the press box as an intern reacting to the games during earlier Dragon radio broadcasts. This fall, both sports vets will find themselves in the booth together as they lead the charge for the Carroll Athletic Booster Club’s (CABC) constantly improving streaming broadcasts of Dragon Football.
CHRIS: I GREW UP IN AND AROUND... sports my entire life. My dad is John Blake, [an executive vice president] with the Texas Rangers, so sports have been in my blood from the beginning. When I went to college at TCU, I worked as a studio host for Carroll Football during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons. After I graduated, I worked in digital media for the MLB, the New York Yankees and NBC5 before going into podcasting for KRLD. Sports play-by-plays were always my main goal, so it’s nice to see everything come full circle.
ROBERT: WHEN I WAS AT CARROLL, I WAS A... three-year starter on varsity before going on to play at [University of Texas at El Paso], where I became a four-year letterman, a three-year starter and won a conference championship. After I played professionally with the Austin Wranglers for a year, I decided to hang it up and move on with my life. While I don’t play anymore, I’m still heavily involved in Carroll sports as vice chairman of the Carroll Athletic Hall of Honor, co-chairman of the Dragon Classic and board member of the Dragon Touchdown Club.
CHRIS: IN THE PAST, THE CARROLL ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB... was livestreaming games through the Dragon Sports Network app. For the past three years, an existing audio broadcast was simply simulcast over the video. This year’s broadcasts will be considerably improved because they will be integrating a live audio play-by-play and analysis alongside the video. It will be more of a television-style broadcast unlike anything Dragon fans have experienced before.
ROBERT: THIS BROADCASTING OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP BECAUSE... I got a phone call saying Chris was going to be part of the new setup. CABC asked if I wanted to be part of this as well, and I jumped at the shot. I think it’s great just to be involved in the game, period.
CHRIS: MY JOB IS TO... let the game come to us and get the facts right of what’s happening on the field. People will be able to see what’s going on, so my job is to provide a live play-by-play and identify players on the field — whoever makes a good block, whoever makes a catch, whoever breaks a pass. I’m also expected to help set up Robert so he can make his points — lead him into thoughts we talked about pre-game or relay some of his experiences playing for Carroll.
ROBERT: WHAT I MOSTLY BRING TO THE BROADCAST IS... what it’s like to be a Carroll Dragon. All of these kids are young athletes with state championship dreams. That’s a lot of pressure. With being a part of the community and after having gone through the tradition of Southlake, I can deliver a perspective that’s unique to both the fans and the parents listening.
ROBERT: I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT... bringing a professional-level broadcast into the living room of the viewer, wherever they might be. That’s really what we’re shooting for and focusing on. We’ve got a great team coming up that’ll hopefully take us to a championship season and give us plenty of engaging commentary to work with.
CHRIS: WE’RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE... pros at this. We’ve got a great production crew, the right people are all lined up and the broadcasts are going to look really good. Sounding good will be up to us. I’m just excited for football season.