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Now in our third year, Full Access Sports continues to grow slowly. As a combination business-hobby in the early stages, my partner, Craig Spivey, and I were content to focus on our primary product--live internet broadcasts of local area sports for fans living locally or listening remotely. It remains our priority, and we have proudly added Willamette University to our list of featured teams. However, we aren't content to sit still, and have been working hard to expand our services as others do the same: 1) More game summaries. Full Access Sports has no full-time staff writers, but Craig and I do bring a wealth of experience to this arena as long time broadcasters. Our overviews aren't as extensive as those of local newspapers, but we try to make sure the essential information is sent your way. We chat with coaching staffs to get it right. 2) Statistics. To date, Full Access Sports has limited itself to Central Valley Conference football numbers, working with coaches to obtain the most accurate numbers possible. It has been a great source of positive feedback from our FAS audience and we hope to do more in the winter months. Look for our first set of the 2007 season soon. 3) Columns. Full Access Sports tries to not just fill space on a scheduled basis, but attempts to write about sports items and issues that interest our local fan base. We believe we have been very successful in avoiding fluff, and also have received some great reader response. Thank you. 4) Features. It has been a work in progress, but we have been pleased with the results in terms of local sports news. For example, Full Access Sports was the first to tell you about Sprague's new FieldTurf installation this summer--in fact, our story even generated an e-mail from the FieldTurf corporate office. By the way, other boosters around Salem-Keizer are starting their own efforts to have the all-weather turf fields installed at their own facilities. 5) Video. The addition of longtime videographer John Strauch to the FAS team is a huge feather in our cap. John and his support staff are among the best in Oregon at what they do. The video Bearcat Update now showing up on our webpage is part of the "under construction" efforts we have underway in this arena. Bear with us as we deal with all the technical and logistical hurdles involved in this endeavor. It will provide big dividends to our Full Access Sports audience. 6) Photos. We have some great professional photographers who have agreed to work as contributors to our website. Although our photo galleries are sometimes a little slow in being posted, we think our collection of images rank right up there with the rest of the media websites. 7) Scores. Local athletic directors have been great about assisting us in this effort, but they are quite busy during games. That is why we have been developing a text message network for collecting, then sharing those scores with all of you. Drop us an email at info@fullaccesssports.com if you would like to be part of the FAS text-message score team. Be sure to tell us which school you plan to follow. As Full Access Sports expands, we have noticed similar efforts by some of the more established media members (Statesman Journal, OregonLive.com, Portland television stations) who are rapidly ratcheting up their own on-line efforts. We can't compete with them in terms of staffing and corporate financial resources, but hopefully our links with you in the community and our drive to provide a top-notch product will keep the audience (and our sponsors) coming back to the Full Access Sports website. Thanks for supporting the little guys.
Mark Gilman can be contacted at mark@fullaccesssports.com
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