The Birmingham Stallions unveiled their 2023 USFL Championship banner at their initial home game of the 2024 UFL season against the Memphis Showboats at Protective Stadium. In stellar fashion, after their initial touchdown, the Stallions would never trail in the matchup, en route to their third consecutive win of this young season. In their 33-14 win over the Showboats, the Stallions accumulated twice as many total yards as the Showboats and established a league-high eight sacks while handing the Stallions their third loss of the season.
It should be known that the FOX production crew, that aired the USFL games in prior years and will be airing the UFL games this season, work nearly as hard as the players on the field to bring the atmosphere and imagery of the games to the fans at home, or the bars around the country.
The 47,100-seat Protective Stadium was built in 2021 in downtown Birmingham and is home to UAB and the Stallions. This relatively new stadium had been equipped for premiere productions. However, the FOX production crew still brought in three trucks, one generator, UPS batteries for redundancy, and over 5000 feet of wires to support the airing of their telecast of spring football.
They also use a drone to capture the most unique angles of the football games for the UFL viewers. In addition, their use of helmet cams and referee cams brings home those exceptional images previously only seen by players and refs on the field.
To bring the imagery and exclusive live-in-game sideline commentary, the FOX production team consists of 12 mic’d-up players to share their unlimited access. They also have full access to the coach-to-player and player-to-player communications. Former NFL quarterback Bruck Huard was bouncing from sideline to sideline of Protective stadium to bring the audience viewing at home live in-game sideline commentary.
This consistent live-in-game commentary is innovative for FOX viewers as this action is only mimicked sparingly by other networks. Working in symmetry with the production crew and Huard for this Stallions vs Showboats match-up were long-time cameramen David Huffman and Garrett Savage.
For those watching the game at home on FOX or at the stadium, you would see the Kansas City native and noted Chiefs fan, David Huffman, affectionately called Huff by his teammates, passion for his work spill into the telecast. His energy, relatability, and understanding of the game, play a key factor in providing those images seen during any UFL football game he works.
The camera Huff uses during UFL games is a Sony 5500 that gives you rec 2020 video out, which means you can broadcast on 1080p HDR. This camera is also an RF control camera for video and color correction. They use a 2.4 GHz system to make it operational and bring the viewers the best images possible.
While there have been natural advancements in the cameras they use, it is still up to the camera operator to bring the best and unique aspects of the game home for fans. Working with the USFL and now the UFL, Huff finds himself balancing his job versus being intrusive on the sidelines as he brings football fans a unique perspective of the game they typically won’t see in an NFL or NCAA game.
“It’s my job (to be intrusive),” says Huff. “Fortunately, I know these coaches well enough; I’ve been doing it long enough, so they know me, and I know them. They know I’m trying to be respectful to them, as they are to me because they know the job I have to do.”
“The coaches know ahead of time there is going to be a cameraman there. No, I’m not going to get in their face because that’s disrespectful to them,” Huff explains. “We’ll get the comments from him; we’ll do it in a respectful way.”
Because the UFL plays weekly games, these production crews work hard to bring you these unique weekend telecasts. They can return to their home cities for the week and enjoy time with their families before they hit the road to provide fans the exclusive access the FOX production crew receives at UFL games.
“I’m going to catch a flight tomorrow at 9:25 and head back to Kansas City, and I bet you; I’m going to do some golfing next week,” Huff says with excitement. “I fly out on Friday. I’ve got a game at the Alamo Dome down in San Antonio. Then I fly back home to Kansas City, and I bet you I play some more golf. I’m not saying I am a good golfer, but I’m going to play some golf.”
“Huff has been a fundamental piece for us at UFL. His hard work and dedication go beyond any barrier,” says Carlos Gonzalez, Technical Manager at FOX Sports. “Someone that has held that camera for over 30 years deserves to be recognized.”
Overcoming multiple injuries by getting hit by players on the sidelines, pales in comparison to Huff’s battle with cancer. His mid-west resiliency ensures he will be there for the teammates he is scheduled to work with. Modestly, Huff made it clear to me that he goes as the team goes.
“I’ve been doing this job since 1995, and what keeps me energized in not only the sport but the people I work with,” says Huff. “I’m blessed and very honored.”
