Inside the Booth: Q&A with Dave Bernhard on the IHSA Football State Finals
This weekend, The U and our expert broadcasting team bring you live, on-the-field coverage of the IHSA Football State Finals 1A-8A Championships. One of these seasoned broadcasters, Dave Bernhard, will be the Play-by-Play announcer for the Class 3A, 4A, 7A, and 8A State Finals. His deep knowledge of IHSA football, paired with his storytelling, makes for an action-packed watching experience where his passion for local sports comes through.
Dave Bernhard live in action (pictured middle)
Ever since he was a child, Bernhard felt called to the career of sports announcer. As a student at Beecher (IL) High School, he and his class would watch the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals on a small TV in the school gym. He remembers thinking about how lucky the announcers were and now, years later, finds himself as one of the lucky ones. As are the IHSA network, Weigel Broadcasting, and our audience for getting to experience his knowledge in the broadcast booth.
With the State Finals fast approaching, we caught up with Bernhard about his insights on the weekend, and more about his love of the game.
1. What's the most intriguing matchup for you?
- I would say the Class 4A - Rochester vs Montini. Rochester has won 9 state titles and has never lost in a championship game. Montini has won 8 state championships. Montini is the defending 3A champ playing this year in 4A. In the final Associated Press rankings, Montini was #1 and Rochester was #2, and both were in those spots all year. Across all classes, this was the championship game that was supposed to happen.
2. What should fans be considering when they watch high school football that they may not be keeping in mind?
- Unlike college and pro sports, many of the players on the field are multiple-sport athletes. Football may not even be their best sport, but here they are. I have always admired athletes who not only play more than one sport, but they do it in so many combinations of football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and on and on. You will see this most in Friday's games. There have been many instances of an athlete competing for a state football championship on Friday, then suiting up for a basketball game the next day. Beautiful.
3. What do you love most about the IHSA championships?
- What I love is true of high school sports in general, but in the State Championship games in particular, I love that these athletes have been playing with their current teammates as early as elementary school. Your right tackle - the guy who is blocking for you - may have been your lunch table buddy in 6th grade. The state championships are what those kids were talking about over their peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and chocolate milk. At no other level of competitive athletics do you get this.
4. Are there any stats or trends you prioritize when preparing your game notes?
- I really don't prioritize anything in particular. Depending on the game matchup, there may be stats that I focus on, but my goal is to gather as much information as possible, have it all ready to go for the broadcast, then use whatever is appropriate at the time. I especially like to gather human interest stories, because that helps paint that these 16, 17, 18-year-olds are real humans with great back stories.
5. Is there a player or team that viewers keep an eye on?
- In general, other than Class 5A, at least one team in each game is a team that fans and experts in August predicted would be playing this weekend for a championship, and you could see that solidifying during the course of the season.
- It's hard not to tell fans to keep an eye on Mount Carmel (8A). The Caravan - the 16-time champs - have the most talent they’ve ever had on a field. If you are looking for players, look no further. But also check out East St. Louis (6A). Two of the three losses for the Flyers were two out-of-state teams ranked #3 and #6 - IN THE NATION!
6. What's the favorite IHSA game or moment that you've been a part of?
- In 2007, in the 8A championship game between Naperville North and Glenbard North, Naperville North led 34-6 when Glenbard North scored a touchdown with 3:00 left in the game. What happened next is something I have never seen and am sure I will never see again - three consecutive kickoff returns for touchdowns. Yep, back-to-back-to-back TD returns. All I could think about was, "What just happened?"
