By Cody Thorn
Special to the Joplin (Mo.) Globe
lmost every sports fan will get
caught up in a game every now and then.
For Kyle Belford, getting caught up in the game has a
different meaning.
You see, this 14-year-old has a different perspective
when it comes to watching Pittsburg State teams play.
Getting caught up in the game could range from running
scores down to press row or keeping shot charts for
the basketball team's game because Belford assists the
Pitt State Sports Information Department.
Four years ago Belford began helping out sports
information director Dan Wilkes. The job began by
doing some running at basketball games. Most recently
he has started keeping the shot charts for the games.
His official title is volunteer assistant on the
game-day crew for the sports information department.
For the past two falls he has aided the crew during
football games, passing out scores of other football
games to media members. He has done similar tasks
during basketball games for the past four years.
His work as already helped make a career path for the
freshman at Pittsburg High. He wants to follow in
Wilkes' footsteps and become an SID.
"It makes me feel good to have a nationally recognized
sports information director take time to teach me
things," said Belford. "It is neat he helps me along
and trusts me to help him."
Belford got involved in Pitt State athletics due to
his father Trent's involvement at games, which started
shortly after the family moved to Pittsburg.
Belford's father serves as a local basketball and
football official, and, as a child Kyle traveled to
various games with his father and his two officiating
mates - Glenn Bliss and Bob Walter. The trio refs
games in the CNC, SEK and Three Rivers conferences.
The latter two refs were helping out at Pitt State
during game days. Walter was the electric scoreboard
operator, while Bliss was the game clock operator.
About seven years ago the elder Belford filled in when
there was an occasional vacancy at Pitt State games in
the press box for football or the press row for
basketball.
After his first winter helping out at Pitt State,
Belford was appointed to his current job as public
address announcer spotter.
And when he went to Pitt State games, so did Kyle.
"He started by running upstairs and getting us stuff,"
said Belford of his son. "After seeing him over the
years, Dan gave him an opportunity to help out there."
Wilkes said, "It started out when he was nine years
old, probably getting a pop, and now he has been given
a few more meaningful jobs as he matured. He is mature
beyond his years. He is a Gorilla fan and is
interested in this type of work."
He has assisted the game-day crew, in one way or
another, for more than four years now.
"I definitely like helping out," said Kyle. "I keep
the shot chart and that is an official stat and it
makes me feel good to help out the university."
Last year, one of the highlights of his first season
helping out in football was being in the press box at
Arrowhead Stadium and passing out scores and stats to
the radio stations and P.A. booth.
"He is much younger than most helpers at the games,
but he is someone I can count on," said Wilkes. "He
takes a lot of pride in his work and does a good job.
He enjoys what he is doing."
During the Gorillas' playoff run this year, Belford
had the chance to talk to CBS Sports and ESPN, when
the networks called for a scoring update.
"I've learned a lot about scoring and a lot about
different stats involved," said Kyle. "Basketball
comes a lot easier than football because I've done it
longer."
On the day Pitt State was playing for the NCAA
Division II football national championship, the
Belfords were at John Lance Arena for a basketball
tournament. Trent was working on press row, while Kyle
was sitting two rows back listening to the game on the
radio before the basketball team played.
The younger Belford is interested in the career field
and talked with Wilkes this past fall about what
classes he should look into related to the job.
"I'm pretty interested in the field of sports
information," said Kyle. "I see what Dan does and I
really like what he does. He taught me how to do a
shot chart and I've just watched to see how they do
basketball and football stats. I listen and
concentrate on what they know."
Said Wilkes: "He is probably ahead of the curve for
his age group. He has a strong idea of what he wants
to do. He asked me this year about different types of
classes that would be S.I.D. or sports-related. He was
worried about what electives he should be zeroed in
on. It is always neat to see someone at that age show
interest in a specific vocation. He is dialed in to
what he wants to do and wants to maximize what he is
learning with a goal in mind."
The experience he has gained at Pitt State has aided
Belford in high school.
The past fall, he helped keep stats for the Purple
Dragons football team and videotaped the offensive
line during Friday night games. Now, during basketball
season he is using his palm pilot to keep stats.
Even when he isn't working, Belford's passion about
sports still shines through. He currently has a
project he is working on at school. Kyle discovered
the lack of records for athletics at the high school
and is working on gathering information to fill the
void of past statistics.
His latest find came courtesy of his journalism
teacher, who discovered a 1911 Pittsburg High School
yearbook. Belford noted that looking through the book
he found a Pittsburg basketball game where they won
11-3.
His passion for sports also carries over to the
football field, the actual football field too, not
just the press box. Belford was the starting center
and long snapper on the Purple Dragons ninth-grade
team this year. The previous year he helped his junior
high team finish with a 6-1 record.
He has also played baseball and basketball, but has
put those two aside for now.
"He is kind of a sport nut," said his father. "He
likes baseball, football and basketball, but he is
really into football."
Said Kyle: "I consider myself a sport nut because I'm
always in a gym or on a football field."
His father noted that lately Kyle is more into
learning the rules of the games and keeping stats and
scorebooks. Wilkes noted one key in the field of
sports information is experience, something Belford
picks up nearly every day attending games, whether his
high school games or traveling with his father to
games.
"He knows what is going on inside and outside of a
game," said Trent Belford. "He has a good insight into
games."
Belford noted that he even catches himself at home
watching games and starts keeping stats, spotting a
tackle or penalty.
There is still a number of home basketball games left
this season for the Gorillas and Belford will continue
to gain experience.
"I hope I can keep on helping as long as Dan will let
me," said Belford. "I do take pride in what I do. It's
enjoyable to help out at Pittsburg State. I'm a big
fan of the college, but I know there are some who are
a lot bigger fans."