‘Oxford ball, first and 10, on the 41-yard-liiiinnnne!?
‘First down for your Oxford Wiiiiiiildcats!?
Travis Harris, 13, a seventh-grader at Oxford Middle School, sits in the broadcast booth at Wildcat Stadium. Equipped with team rosters, Travis serves as the public address announcer for seventh-grade football home games.
‘The view from the booth is great,? Travis said. ‘I like hearing my voice in the microphone and broadcasting a real football game.?
A longtime fan of football and baseball, Travis’s love for sports can easily be heard in his voice. Even on a rainy day when Oxford lost, Travis? enthusiasm provided a strong sense of encouragement.
And if anyone knows about encouragement, it’s Travis.
Born 13 weeks premature, Travis has cerebral palsy. While Travis has the disorder, it certainly does not have him. Cerebral palsy may make it tough for him to play sports, but it does nothing to keep him from participating in sports behind a microphone.
‘Travis wanted to play football but couldn’t,? said his father, Randy Harris. ‘Broadcasting is the next best thing to playing.?
When he was younger, Travis played soccer. But as he grew older, he grew interested in baseball ? particularly watching Detroit Tigers baseball. In fact, he’s met Curtis Granderson and Matt Joyce. As he watched baseball, he found that he really enjoyed pretending he was broadcasting the game.
‘I think he sounds great,? Mr. Harris said. ‘He practices all the time.?
Usually, Travis likes to practice while watching the Tiger games and University of Michigan football.
Travis got his chance to broadcast games when OMS science teacher Thomas Brown offered him the job.
‘I actually met Travis last year when I found out he was a rabid U-M fan,? recalled Brown, who, ironically, is a Michigan State alumnus. ‘I was informed by another adult, Cathy Laube, that Travis had an interest in sports announcing. I made a few inquires and it was eventually set up for him to be a part of the football program. He is a great kid and I am thankful he had the opportunity.?
Oxford Athletic Director Pat Ball said he received a call from OMS principal Ken Weaver saying that Travis helping out as a P.A. announcer for seventh-grade football games would be a good idea.
‘Interscholastic sports can have a positive impact on a variety of students, not just the players, but cheerleaders and kids who might help out the trainer, or even keep score or run a game clock,? he said.
This past game was Travis? third in the booth, and he enjoys it thoroughly.
Eventually, Travis would like to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.
There’s little doubt he’ll succeed.