MHSAA TV Celebrates 10th Anniversary
August 29, 2018
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
It was 10 years ago today that the MHSAA began its current television network efforts by broadcasting a season-opening football game pitting local rivals in small-town setting.
Sand Creek High School was hosting Blissfield in what had become a traditional season-opening game at the time, the two schools less than 15 miles apart. The Aggies were celebrating a community effort by debuting new grandstands on the home side of the field salvaged from nearby Michigan International Speedway. Townsfolk gathered across the street in the high school for a fund-raising taco dinner, and the MHSAA Network was there.
In the 10 years since that kickoff game, won by Blissfield 14-6, the MHSAA’s video production efforts have gone from games on cable television to an exclusively online effort powered by the NFHS Network – which produces more than 135 events and 400 hours of MHSAA Championships – and feature a growing School Broadcast Program, which will produce upwards of 2,000 hours of regular-season games at more 80 participating schools in 2018-19.
Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by SBP members and the NFHS Network:
Wednesday, Aug. 29
- Freshman Boys Soccer - Dearborn at Saline - 4 p.m.
- Freshman Football - Brighton at Novi - 4:30 p.m.
- Freshman Football - Saginaw Swan Valley at Frankenmuth - 4:30 p.m.
- Freshman Football - Saginaw Heritage at Grand Blanc - 4:30 p.m.
- Freshman Girls Volleyball – West Iron County at Calumet – 4:30 p.m.
- Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball – West Iron County at Calumet – 5:30 p.m.
- Junior Varsity Football - Saginaw Swan Valley at Frankenmuth - 6 p.m.
- Junior Varsity Football - Brighton at Novi - 6:30 p.m.
- Junior Varsity Football - Saginaw Heritage at Grand Blanc - 6:30 p.m.
- Girls Volleyball – West Iron County at Calumet – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 30
- Field Hockey - Wixom St. Catherine at Novi - 4:30 p.m.
- Football - Windsor Holy Name at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook - 5 p.m.
- Junior Varsity Field Hockey - Wixom St. Catherine at Novi - 6 p.m.
- Football - Ovid-Elsie at Montrose - 7 p.m.
- Football - Novi at Brighton - 7 p.m.
- Football - Oxford at Lake Orion - 7 p.m.
- Football - Carrollton at Freeland - 7 p.m.
- Football – Negaunee at Calumet – 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 31
- Football - Grandville at Warren DeLaSalle - 7 p.m.
- Football - Munising at Norway - 7 p.m.
- Football - Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Saline - 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 4
- Junior Varsity Boys Soccer - Ann Arbor Skyline at Saline - 5:30 p.m.
- Girls Volleyball - Iron Mountain at Norway - 6 p.m.
- Boys Soccer - Ann Arbor Skyline at Saline - 7 p.m.
All sporting events – live or delayed - are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $9.95 a month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on- demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. School Broadcast Program participants also will be selling Season and Annual Passes at a discounted rate. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.
Highlights of games broadcast by MHSAA School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network make their 2018-19 debut this week. Featured games are in football with Trenton’s 27-21 win over Allen Park; Zeeland East topping East Grand Rapids, 36-27; and Flint Beecher defeating Flint Southwestern, 24-0.
Highlights can be found each week on the MHSAA.tv website, the home page of the MHSAA Website, and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube.
Hoops on Film: 1961 Class D Boys Final
July 27, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
A battle of undefeated teams from schools both no longer in existence is highlighted this week as part of MHSAA.tv’s Hoops On Film Series.
From the late 1940’s to the mid 1970’s the Michigan High School Athletic Association shot portions of the action at its boys and girls basketball finals on 16mm film. The films were loaned out, primarily to the participating schools, to help them relive the moments of playing in a championship game.
While many of the old films have wandered astray over time, about 60 games still exist in the MHSAA archives. Anyone in possession of such a film is encouraged to contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office ([email protected]) to discuss having the film converted to a digital format.
Some of the films only have portions of the second half and the post-game awards; some have most of the action. None of the films have sound. They range in length from 10 minutes to about an hour. A new film will be posted online each Monday through the week of August 17. DVD’s may be purchased directly from the MHSAA.tv Website – just click the Get DVD button below the player.
Here’s a look at this week’s game, with recap courtesy of MHSAA historian Ron Pesch:
Marquette Pierce 68, Freesoil 61 – 1961 Class D Boys Final - After 35 years as a coach in the Upper Peninsula, Vic Hurst was rewarded with his first MHSAA title as Marquette Pierce downed a determined Freesoil squad, 68-61, in a Class D battle of the undefeated. Dave Benson led the Warriors with 17 points, while teammates Dennis DeMerse and the Laurich brothers – Conrad and Larry – each added 15. The matchup came after each school's first Regional crown and ended up the only time either school would ever reach the Finals. Pierce would close after the 1961 season, and its only other Regional appearances came back-to-back in 1955 and 1956. Freesoil would win four more Regional titles during its history – three consecutive form 1966-68. The high school closed after the 2006-07 school year and was absorbed into the Mason County Eastern school district.
Previous releases:
1958 Class A Boys Final: Detroit Austin 71, Benton Harbor 68 - Watch
1976 Class D Girls Final: Lake City 58, Perkins 48 - Watch
1971 Class A Boys Final: Flint Northern 79, Detroit Kettering 78 - Watch
1954 Class A Boys Final: Muskegon Heights 43, Flint Northern 41 (OT) - Watch
1973 Class C Boys Final: Detroit East Catholic 50, Saginaw St. Stephen 49 - Watch