So if you thought preparing for a game as a producer is tough, try being a network analyst. This week I take you inside our very own Tammy Blackburn’s world as she dots the I’s and crosses the t’s before calling a game. Tammy was a standout player on the women’s basketball team at San Diego State and knows how to bring her A-Game to the court both on the floor and at the announce table…have a look at this work week.

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I sit down in my home office in front of my laptop with my grande cup of Starbucks decaf coffee and I realize what's ahead in two weeks. My challenge? To provide the color analysis of a women's college basketball game.

I log-on Sunday evening to find emails from producers, font coordinators and occasionally the veteran sports information director (SID) from "X" university. Some emails solicit advice on game story lines and graphic ideas while others consist of game notes and statistical reports. My task ahead doesn't feel like cerebral calisthenics from the American Mensa Society. Rather, my "To Do" list is more in-line with a mundane task of day-to-day life, a task the average person might simply regard as "getting organized." But because every game is the championship game, it takes time, demands attention to detail and requires sacrifice.

So I am happy to take you inside my huddle as I "get organized" for the most important game of my life.

Sunday:

·      Visit website of each team, specifically looking for "game notes.” The average game note packet is 25 pages.

·      Research and print "game recap" (6-8 games each team) looking for notables on players.

·      Watch coaches press conferences online from previous three of four games.

·      Create "Game Roster." This is the most important document I prepare, my Crib
     Sheet.

Monday:

·      Send producer (carbon copy play-by-play partner) list of graphic ideas/story lines. Review game format with producer – discuss the on camera open and other important elements.

·      Reach out to SID’s to schedule calls with coaches. I use this time to ask the SID questions       and solicit human interest stories not in game notes.

·      Watch highlights online of each team or watch tape of previously televised games.

·      Watch CBS College Sports including: Courtside with Seth Davis and Inside College Basketball. It’s incumbent upon me to know men’s/women’s basketball around the nation.

Tuesday:

·      Prepare my version of "game notes" for each team. This is the second most important document because I have color coded and titled each story line and graphic. The producer needs to have the same copy so we can communicate during the game.

·      Contact conference SID to discuss conference story lines as it relates to conference big picture.

Wednesday:

·      Talk to each coach. Given my college athletic experience, I am fortunate enough to have established relationships with many coaches. The stronger and more trusted relationship, the more information I will receive. I have a good understanding of what a coach expects me to keep private and what I can share on TV. For example, in the first round of conference play, many coaches would prefer that I don't share their weaknesses on TV, even though they have shared those with me. They don't want other coaches in the conference to have easy access to that information. 

·      Develop a graphic titled "Keys to the Game."  These keys are not always what the coach and I talk about on the call. Often times I decide the keys while other times the keys come from coaches. It's very important that during the game I pay close attention to whether or not the teams are executing the keys to the game. The producer and I will work together to show the keys early in the game – I often say during play “Hit me with the keys to the game.”

Thursday:

·      Online research - what’s going on around the nation: scores, upsets and important games.

·      Collate and staple research packets, game notes and game recaps.

·      Touch base with producer and SID's again. Make plans to meet up at the hotel.

Friday:

·      Travel day. Review notes thoroughly on the plane - names, pronunciations, updated stats, etc. With the invention of the internet at 34,000 feet, my job just became more efficient. Yes, I am on the internet during flight getting updates.

·      During the flight I begin to organize in my head some important points about the game, each team and a few players. It is my final alone time before things ramp up.

·      After I land, I get rental car and drive to the hotel. Contact producer and play-by-play partner.

Saturday:

·      Attend shoot around for each team, final questions for coaches and SID’s and final review of format with the producer.

·      Game On and I am organized! I arrive with my folder in tow at the campus site two hours prior to tip. I organize my notes on the table and on average use 30 pieces of tape to keep my notes in place.

·      5-4-3-2-1 and go! Red light turns on and I muster a big smile for the camera because I know I am organized for the biggest game of my life. What happens next? My hope is that you will tune in and see.

Stay Tuned for next week’s blog: Former UNLV standout and current CBS College Sports Network & CBS Sports Basketball Analyst Greg Anthony, provides a behind the scenes look at what a game day looks like for him as he prepares to call a game from his announce position.