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Note: This story appeared in the Spring 2020 May edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
Calgary's Iron Man
by Jack Neumann – Retired from University of Calgary | 2004 CoSIDA Hall of Famer
It started September 8, 1978. It remains over four decades later. I never realized I would witness over 200 (currently at 206) consecutive home football games for the University of Calgary.
I remember my first game vividly. I was six weeks into a new career having left an accounting job in the oil and gas industry to start a career in sports information. Yes, I had volunteer experience in media relations, but going to games now was work.
We hosted the University of British Columbia. Tools at my disposal were a rotary phone, paper, pencils, eraser, a calculator, and pens. I received the opponent’s lineup with more incorrect numbers than correct ones by regular mail. Stats were done by hand. Fortunately, I always had a superb statistical crew. My home career as a SID started with a 29-14 win.
Since that lovely fall Friday evening, I have been blessed with good health. When immediate family passed away it was not during football season. Our vast conference spans three time zones, Canadian SIDs are one-person shops, rarely traveling to road regular season games. I retired officially as SID following the 2007 football season. My career path took me into fund development where I worked until September 2012. Since retirement I help current SID Ben Matchett with whatever he needs on game day, providing it’s not too technical.
The tools of the trade have changed dramatically. StatCrew does the statistics, cell phones exist, computers are present, email and social media platforms are the norm, and games are filmed in HD. The fax machine, which was a fabulous tool, is retired.
I have done games in all kinds of weather. Hail, heat, rain, sleet, snow, gale force winds, thunderstorms, you name it, but might have the record for coldest game ever. It was the national semifinal on November 23, 1985 that was televised nationally. The pipes burst in the press box. The game came close to being moved due to the severe weather. We won the game handily advancing to the national championship but mentioning how severe the conditions is a conversation item decades later when I see a participant or someone that braved the elements as a fan. I remember telling the late SID Don Bryant of Nebraska about the game the following day of the conditions. He suggested I should write something for the CoSIDA Digest. I should have.
One experience I cannot forget was being locked in the area between the elevator, that was shut down before it should have, and the locked press box door before being rescued by security. Cell phones did not exist. It was a long 45 minutes.
A couple of times the streak almost ended. In the mid-1990s I was ill two days prior to a game but gutted it out. The locker room was off limits. I missed practice all week. But the streak remained. I came close to missing a conference playoff game in 2012. I was in Winnipeg, attending former head coach Peter Connellan’s induction to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Rather than take an early flight Saturday morning I chose to take a later one. Veteran SID mistake. The plane was almost unable to land due to fog and ice crystals. We landed late. Fortunately, one of our alums was on the flight and whisked me to McMahon Stadium with 15 minutes to spare.
Other stories exist, space does not allow me to relate them.
There were times I wished I didn’t have a home football game when the Cleveland Indians were in the postseason. Anyone who knows me knows what the Indians mean to me. Fortunately, a television in the press box existed with the volume muted.
With retirement, I could miss games. Some current SIDs have invited me to see games at their venues. Claude Felton (Georgia) and Alan Cannon (Texas A&M) come to mind but schedules have not worked out. A bucket item was to see a game at Notre Dame. Mission accomplished thanks to John Heisler and Lisa Mushett. We had a bye weekend in 1999 when the Irish hosted Arizona State.
I have worked with five head coaches, seen our team capture five national championships (none won at home) and numerous conference titles in that span. The most gratifying part is the relationships made. I miss people I started my career with, some have passed away or retired. They were present in various roles, as media, statistical crew, announcers, and a president who, when he was able to attend, sat behind me with his wife enjoying the thrill of victory or agony of defeat.
I’m grateful the current coaches want a retired person to be involved and to Ben for allowing to me contribute in a meaningful manner. I’m honored that current head coach Wayne Harris put my name on the list to receive a 2019 national championship ring when Calgary captured its fifth national championship this past November.
I’m proud of the streak but realize it will end. Cal Ripken’s and Lou Gehrig’s did. They all do. When it does, I hope it’s on my terms.
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