See live Hawks contests online, beginning Feb. 18
Because the pandemic has restricted large crowds from gathering, HFC Athletic Director Rochelle Taylor decided to get creative to allow the HFC community to see the Hawks in action.
Volleyball will kick off the season Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m. against Mott. The full athletics schedule is below.
“After weighing the options, we came up with the idea that live streaming would allow the community to see the games from the comfort of their own home,” said HFC ITS Computer Technician/Multimedia Associate Donovan Shaffer.
Added Taylor: “With the current restrictions on large crowds and the fact that our campuses are closed to the public, I wanted to come up with a safe solution to allow games to be seen and connect Hawks fans with Hawks student athletes.”
How it works
Camera and sound equipment in the gym will be used to broadcast games to the College’s Athletics website and the Hawks' YouTube channel. The quality will be superior to standard webcams.
There will also be a play-by-play announcer, so viewers will not just see the game but will hear the action and the commentary. Taylor has partnered with HFC’s telecommunication program, allowing current students or recent graduates to get hands-on experience with on-air broadcasting and operating the camera.
"Our exciting partnership between telecommunication and HFC Athletics gives all of us a valuable opportunity to obtain real-world experience and the ability to shine. This is due to the spirit of collaboration and vision that exists at our wonderful College," said HFC Chair, Department of Communication and Media/Professor of Telecommunication/WHFR General Manager Susan McGraw.
“The benefits of doing this not only allow the HFC community to see the games remotely, but the streaming expands the College’s visibility to anyone with access to the platform,” said Shaffer. “YouTube is widely accessible across the world. Under the current restrictions, we are able to safely bring this content in real-time to students, staff, family, and spectators interested in following Hawks' home games. Consider this as a stepping stone of things to come. Truly the definition of ‘FutureDriven.’”
For questions or more information, contact Taylor at rtaylor33@hfcc.edu.