In a world where influencers and content producers are always on the search for the next viral sensation, Oakman head coach Ryan Hall is simply focused on putting out a positive message about his team, program and school.
‘Go Wildcats,’ a show produced by Randy Fielding, hosted by Joey Sparks and distributed on Oakman’s YouTube channel, is in the midst of its five-part football kickoff. What started as a live interview at the Bull Pen in Oakman evolved into an online show after COVID-19 struck in 2020.
“My very first year here, we did a Thursday night thing at the Bull Pen where we would go in and talk about the game and the kids,” Hall said. “We would have 15-20 people there, but it was the same people every week and it wasn’t growing. I thought it was a good thing, but then COVID hit and that wasn’t an option anymore.”
When the pandemic forced restaurants to close and limited public gatherings, Hall said he collaborated with Sparks and Fielding to figure out what was next.
Sparks, a lifelong Walker County native, has been the Wildcats PA announcer since 2019. He said that Hall started thinking about an online show in spring 2021.
“We sat down with (Oakman High School principal) Dr. Leathen Waid and Randy Fielding to work out the details,” Sparks said. “Our conversations largely focused on the vision of Coach Hall for it to be a ‘positive spotlight.’ We never talked about ‘how to generate views’ and any talks of sponsors or fundraising were tempered by first ensuring we were casting a ‘positive spotlight.’
Hall said that, for him, it’s a great way to get their message out and promote the program and the kids on his team.
“What I think is really important about it is keeping it kid focused. We want to highlight our kids for the things they do, showing their film and clips,” he said. “Also, by putting them in a position where they have to speak in front of a camera and meet you, shake your hand – as much as we can do that, I think it can help them.”
While ‘Go Wildcats’ is in full swing during football season, the show also features other aspects of Oakman schools and athletics. The show will hit on things that happen on campus as well as winter and spring sports.
“Throughout the year, the softball, baseball, and basketball coaches will be on,” Hall said. “Here in a couple of weeks, the new middle school principal, Bart Lockhart, will be on there. Anything to get positive information out there.”
A new episode will drop every day this week as the Wildcats continue through fall camp before settling into one episode per week during the season. But the show doesn’t end when football season comes to a close.
“In the offseason, we usually do a January edition where we do some basketball stuff,” Hall said. “Then we do one about midway through the spring to hit those sports and spring football. Then we do about three during the summer.”
Sparks said that every community can have a tendency to spotlight what is wrong, “so we intentionally show what and who makes the Oakman Wildcat teams, schools and community special. We know every community and every team in our area is special for its own reasons, and we’re blessed to highlight the great qualities of Oakman.
“We’re excited about the new season of the show, and we’re also excited to see how it continues to grow into an accurate representation of the school and community,” Sparks said.
‘Go Wildcats’ can be seen on the Oakman Wildcats YouTube channel.
