With a new season underway, Dr. Kevin Motl, assistant professor of history, is the new official voice of Tiger football.
“I love the game of football and certainly I love Tiger sports,” Motl said. “So, I was happy to be able to work in an official ca- pacity at the game. I’m not happy about the way I got the opportunity. Mac Sisson was a man of high character and integrity. He was one of the hardest working guys on this campus. I could never see myself as a replacement for him, I’m just a successor.”
Mac Sisson held the position for almost 30 years before his unexpected death on March 8, 2010.
“It’s hard to think about OBU public address without Mac,” said Alan Greenwood, sports information director. “Kevin will never be able to fill the shoes of Mac be- cause they’re just two different people.”
Everyone who witnessed Sisson’s perfor- mance in the press box agreed that he set a high standard of excellence and quality.
“My personal relationship with Mac was fairly limited although we knew each other through church,” Motl said. “What I have come to learn and certainly in the evidence of him doing PA was that his effort in the press box was defined by class. He was the personification of class. Everyone said that about him.”
While honoring Sisson’s style of class and excellence, Motl, born and raised a Tex- as Aggie, also hopes to bring a new energy to Tiger football.
“I’m going to be very candid in saying that I’m a rowdier guy [than Mac],” Motl said. “And I don’t think anyone would argue that. I am, by design, dedicated to bringing a new vibe to the atmosphere and to bringing a lot more energy and really pushing the envelope. I’m not out to offend and nothing I do is designed with that in mind, but I’m looking for an edge because I think that enhances the experience and it brings people into the stadium. At the same time, in all that I do I’m always mindful of that class. I never want to not be classy because Mac set that good standard. You can be wildly enthusiastic in a classy fashion, so I’m looking for that blend.”
Motl comes to the position with a brief career in radio and hopes to bring those experiences and skills to the press box.
“Kevin has been doing this for years and he’s certainly perfected his trade,” Greenwood said. “If you’re in the audience he’s certainly really fun to watch. A lot of personality comes out in the music that he plays and the sound bites and how he pieces that all together.”
Motl aims for a flawless show but after last Thursday’s game admits he has room for improvement.
“I’d give myself about a B-,” he said. “On the whole, all my sound effects worked out well. I know I’ll get better as I go along. It’s not the voice that’s the issue, it’s the seamlessness of the presentation. I strive to have a seamless presentation where people don’t notice a moment’s hesitation.”
Prior to this season, students could always witness Motl cheering on the sidelines in his purple converse sneakers and a No. 1 football jersey. Motl is still trying to find the balance of being in the press box as a professional and still being enthusiastic about the game.
“It’s hard to restrain myself,” he said. “Just about everybody that knows me knows that I was raised as an Aggie and I still have that in my blood. There’s really only one way that I know how to approach sports and that is all out, even as a spectator. I’m a big believer in home field advantage and how crowd noise and enthusiasm can influence the outcome.”
This enthusiasm is the essence of an organization Motl created last year called Tiger Nation after frequent frustration with lack of student attendance and participation in Ouachita athletics. Motl is a strong believer in
crowd participation potentially affecting a game’s outcome.
“I don’t expect Ouachita to be able to deliver the kind of volume or cacophony that LSU, Arkansas or A&M could produce,” Motl said. “But when it comes to student enthusiasm for our athletics, and it’s particularly visible in football, we don’t get it done. We can do a lot better. It is to the detriment of the overall cohesion of the university that they won’t give themselves to the program like that.”
Behind Motl’s excitement and energy is a love and appreciation for Ouachita athletes.
“I’m so happy and I feel so blessed to be able to do the PA for both football and basketball,” Motl said. “I love these guys. They’re meaningful to me as students and any way that I can support them out of the classroom, I’ll take it. I don’t need anything in return, just the opportunity to let them know that Motl has their back in every way possible.”
