Stats, Music, Etc.

We've added a new feature to our website that will debut this weekend (I hope). For the first time, ETBU will have a "live-stats" feature for football games.

Basically, what the feature will allow is for anyone unable to attend the game to follow the action -- at least statistically -- through the website. Our football stat program has a feature that allows the stats to be uploaded to the website, so you'll know exactly what the stats are as they occur. We have recently added the software that makes this possible, and hopefully it'll be smooth sailing this weekend since it's the first time I've tried to use it.

Ideally, you can listen to the Internet broadcast if you're unable to attend the game, and follow the broadcast and the game statistics simultaneously. If you can't watch the game here, well, hopefully we can bring it to you as closely as we possibly can.

I expect to use the live stats feature during home basketball games this year, as well as in the spring for baseball and softball. Occasionally this fall we'll test it out with soccer, and I hope to add volleyball for sure next fall. Problem with volleyball is the speed of the game, and it's very tough to keep the stats accurately on computer. We continue to keep those by hand here, as do most of our opponents in the ASC. But I have made it a personal challenge to learn the computer program for volleyball, and hopefully it will allow us to post the live stats from our home volleyball matches in the very near future.

The other change you might notice at our events this year is pregame music. In the past it's been tough finding an even balance between what the young today and the young-at-heart-today find suitable for their listening pleasure. I wouldn't call it a problem per se over the years, but I would call it very difficult to find the balance we are looking for as East Texas Baptist University.

To that end, you will hear primarily Christian-based music at our events this year. It's the type of stuff you hear on the radio all the time, and it will be upbeat and positive. There will be times during certain events that we play some nice, popular secular stuff, but by and large we will play inspirational and upbeat Christian contemporary music.

It's all part of our goal of creating a family-friendly atmosphere and a place where our fans can come and watch the Tigers without having to worry about what might be coming out of the stadium or gym speakers. Not that we've had problems with what's been played before, but the Christian-based theme just fits well with our university.

So we invite you out to our events so you can enjoy some family-friendly atmosphere and hopefully see some winning along the way. If you can't make it, then by all means use the technology available through our website stats and broadcast. The Tigers and Lady Tigers will certainly appreciate it.