The OSC Interview: Trenton Freedom's Brian Fish
by Fran Stuchbury
May 22, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Trenton Freedom
OurSports Central Contributor Fran Stuchbury recently interviewed Trenton Freedom Director of Promotions/Public Address Announcer Brian "Fishman" Fish. The Freedom is playing its first season in the Professional Indoor Football League.
Fran Stuchbury: What interested you in working for the Trenton Freedom?
Brian Fish: I was announcing IGL (Indoor Gridiron League) Games, (a semi-pro Indoor league) in the Wells Fargo Center for the NJ Bulldawgs, a team that our owner, Dennis Williams, played on. Myself and a crew from Connecticut School of Broadcasting worked with the Bulldawgs. With my radio and voice-over experience, they named me the "official voice" of the team. I was instantly hooked!
FS: Talk about some of the promotions the team has utilized this season. Has the team taken advice from fans on what type of promotions they want?
BF: We are always looking for fan input. Without the fans, we're nothing. We had a great fan event at the venue with team tryouts prior to the start of the season. 94.5 WPST was there, a couple of bands for entertainment, and our Freedom-sponsored race car was there. It was a great day; we sold a ton of team merchandise and hadn't even played a game yet. I mean, that's awesome. We had our 80's night with a performance post-game by Jack Russell's Great White. Youth night was great with tons of promos, and we showed a lot of the younger fans on the jumbotron and everyone seemed to love it.
On Mother's Day we honored the players' moms, and we raised a bunch of money for Ovarian Cancer Awareness. Unfortunately GM Megan Williams lost her mom just days prior to the game. She was going to do the coin toss, so we dedicated it to Florence "Floss" Waters in her honor with Megan's aunt doing the toss.
We had a soldier surprise her mom with her return from Afghanistan, and the reaction was just so amazing. Saturday's game is Military and First Responders Appreciation Night with special ticket prices and $1.00 dogs. Fan Appreciation Night is our last home game on June 21 against the Georgia Fire, and we have lots of surprises in store for that one which includes a field goal kick contest for a lucky fan!
FS: Besides promotions for the game, what else does the Freedom do in the community?
BF: The guys are constantly out there in the community getting to know the fans, friends and family. We had a float in the Trenton St Patty's Day Parade and had a blast making connections with the locals, tossing out team swag, posing for pix and autograph signings. We did a day where a few of the guys, Megan the GM, and myself, went over and played some football with the students from a local school. Just this past weekend, a few of the guys were out at the ARC-Mercer Walkathon at Hamilton's Veteran's Park greeting fans and signing Freedom swag.
FS: How do you like working with Freedom owners Michael Schubiger and Dennis Williams?
BF: As I mentioned earlier, I worked with Dennis last year with the NJ Bulldawgs, who went undefeated by the way. I love Dennis and his whole family; they're good people. I think he's an extremely kind and generous guy with a big heart and a passion for football and family. I just met Mike this year; I love this guy! He's awesome, and working for him and his family has been a true joy. His son Will is the assistant GM and is a great guy. We have a blast, as well as his wonderful wife and daughter. Genuine, good people to be involved with.
FS: How do you like being the public address announcer for the Freedom games? You do a good job keeping the fans into the game no matter what the score is.
BF: First of all, thank you for the compliment. I try my best! I absolutely love being the "Leader of the 9th Man" and getting the fans crazy and loud! I love this team and you can certainly tell by my enthusiasm on the microphone. I'm like the head cheerleader for the venue and the fans are my crew.
FS: I see the Freedom does a coaches show. It looks as if they found the perfect coach for the team with Kevin O'Hanlon since he is from the area.
BF: I have voiced several of the commercials that run during the coaches shows. Coach O'Hanlon is another one of those awesome guys. He is a genuinely good person that loves what he does and is terrific at it. We have a lot of fun behind the scenes. He's a young guy with a sense of humor similar to mine, so we click nicely. Love that man!
FS:. After the home games do players stay on field to sign autographs for fans?
BF: They do! The players and dancers are on the field for 30 minutes following every game taking pictures, signing autographs and just hanging out with the fans.
FS: For fans in the area who have never been to a Trenton Freedom game, what are some good reasons for them to go to one?
BF: It's inexpensive, energetic, loud, fast-paced, high scoring, exciting: indoor football at its finest! And we're undefeated at home!! LET'S GO FREEDOM!!
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- The OSC Interview: Trenton Freedom's Brian Fish - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- The OSC Interview: Trenton Freedom's Brian Fish - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- The OSC Interview: Trenton Freedom's Brian Fish - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
