Aug 17, 2014 3 min read

McGuffey is entering the internet world with its athletics department.

Beginning with the fall football season, McGuffey fans can follow many of their programs on the McGuffey Sports Network, created by alumnus Jason Kern.

Kern, the program director, left a job in the oil and gas industry to run the production. Kern, who is an assistant football coach at McGuffey, has been a color analyst, mainly for high school wrestling, for WJPA Radio.

“I walked away (from my job) to do this,” said Kern. “That’s how strongly I believe in this and love this. I just enjoy this too much.”

McGuffey Sports Network will be a sponsor-based network that includes at least 43 events, including all football games, six wrestling matches, seven boys basketball games, seven girls basketball games and seven games for baseball and softball each. Playoff games will be available at no extra charge.

The 37-year-old Kern said he has received guidance from Jason Tennant, co-founder, operations manager and announcer for GreeneSports.net and from Bob Gregg and Mark Uriah of WJPA Radio. They have extensive background in webcasting.

“Jason has helped me a lot,” Kern said. “And if it were not for Bob Gregg and Mark Uriah, this would not have happened. Thirteen years ago, Bob took a chance on me to broadcast. He taught me so much, how to be neutral when calling an event. They are listening to you and you have to be able to describe the action. They helped me so much there.”

Kern said he is selling different packages to sponsors to cover the operating costs of approximately $10,500.

“I’ll sell football only, or wrestling only, or whatever,” he said. “I’ll cater to the sponsor’s wishes.”

Kern said the advantage of using webcasts of events is that AM radio loses its reach in the evening hours, especially after dark. The webcasts will run off of wireless technology, most likely a satellite card.

Kern said he will have two people – a play-by-play person and color commentator – on each of the broadcasts. Kern will be unable to do football webcasts because of his coaching duties. But he does plan to do wrestling and various others as the need arises. Replays from every webcast will be available.

“My long-term goal is to have a Washington County sports network,” Kern said. “But I want to take baby steps into that.”

The web address for the site is www.mcguffeysports.com.