Scott Barkhurst spends his Saturdays with the Oregon Marching Band. Rather than take the field, Barkhurst works up in the press box as the band announcer introducing the pregame and halftime shows. This is his 17th year on the job.
So, what exactly is your role as band announcer?
I have the simplest job in the whole organization, quite frankly. Doesn’t necessarily mean anyone could do it, but as far as time invested, it’s pretty straight forward. Most of the announcements are pretty standard throughout the season, pregame announcements and introductions to the halftime show. The only thing that really changes is the introduction to what the halftime show is or sometimes they do some special announcements to honor someone.
How did you get the job?
Back in the fall of 1997, Steve Stone, who was my predecessor, asked me while I was working here as a publicity director for the music school. Steve had been doing it for 20 years when Oregon didn’t really have much of a football team, so he suffered through some pretty bleak years. He came to me one day and said: “You know, Scott, I don’t think I am going to keep doing this announcing job next year. You’ve done a little radio and a lot of community theater, do you want to do it?” he said. “The final game of the season is against Oregon State this weekend, so I’ll get an extra press pass for you and you can watch me do the job.” The irony was that when Saturday morning came, Steve came down with laryngitis, so I had to do it by myself.
Did you expect to still be the band announcer after 17 years?
I hadn’t really thought about it. I have done a lot of community theater, so it’s like a little mini-performance. I prepare like I do for any on-stage role. Probably the most similar role was about 25 years ago when Lane Community College did Little Shop of Horrors. I was the voice of the man-eating plant, so basically offstage talking into a microphone. So, announcing is like a performance. But the time I have to put in is just puny compared to the rest of the staff and the kids in the band.
Getting to go to the games has to be special.
Who would have known this would have been the golden era of Oregon football these past years? Las Vegas Bowl, Alamo Bowl, two Fiesta Bowls, three Sun Bowls, three Holiday Bowls, two Rose Bowls and a BCS Championship. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Do you have a favorite stadium to announce at?
I’ve got to say, just for emotional reasons, the Rose Bowl is really great. That first time doing the Rose Bowl I had a bunch of my fraternity brothers there at the game. And so when I first did my announcing, my friends in the crowd were going, ‘“We know him, he is a friend of ours!” So I guess that is level-10 celebrity status.
How long do you think you will continue to announce?
I am happy to do the job, working with everyone in the organization, so there is no decision in my mind as to after this many years I’m going to stop. It is a pleasure to be a part of the band and the football action.
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur
