Grab a pop can, some face paint and gather around a computer ready to exercise those lungs with battle cries as the Cornerstone University men and women’s basketball games are broadcasted over the Internet.

To listen, all that is required is the QuickTime player that is already installed on CU issued computers or can be downloaded for free at www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

This is the second year the games have been exclusively broadcasted on the Internet through audio webcasts said Andy Smith, associate professor of Bible.

Smith provides the play by play for the men’s games and John Warren, associate dean of student services and internships, provides color commentary.

“Play by play calls the action as it happens and color will make comments or insights into the nature of the game and how it’s going,” Smith said.

Michael Cuffman, Communication and Media Studies Division chair, provides the play-by-play for the women’s games.

“It’s a good chance [for fans] to listen in and to see how the teams are doing,” Cuffman said.

In order to broadcast, a HD 280 black earphone headset with microphone is connected to a Remote Mix CT dial. The dial is connected to a phone line and the broadcaster dials a long distance number. After receiving the OK, it’s time to go on the air.

Cuffman did sports broadcasting when he was student at Cedarville University in Ohio. He learned how to do play by play, color commentary and equipment set-up. After one full season, he took over all responsibilities.

Smith has officiated high school basketball games as a referee for 31 years. He started broadcasting CU basketball games when they had limited radio coverage in 2002. Smith said Bob Fortosis, former CU athletic director, approached him and said that WBBL, a local sports radio station, was looking for someone to provide color commentary for CU men’s games. He did color for five years and started play by play in 2007.

“I love being around the game,” he said. “I didn’t have any talent for it, but I loved the game and this keeps me close to it, which is kinda cool.”

Smith said he enjoys being a part of it because he gets to know the team players and coaches, travel with them, and minister to them through prayer requests they give him.

Cuffman said he hopes to pass the baton in January to a student who will take his place in the press seat.

“The goal is to do it the first part of the season and identify some student talent that can begin to work with me,” he said.

The division chair said his search for new talent will be helpful for when the CU internet-based-student radio station gets underway.

“It dovetails with the audio production major,” he said, and it’s a way “for students to learn the different parts of the broadcast industry.”

Cuffman said the radio station will be located upstairs in the back of Faber where his former office and the former office of Matthew Bonzo, professor of philosophy, was located.

“It’s one element of a big picture,” Cuffman said about the relationship between his broadcasting position and the radio station. “We will go as far as the students want us to go.”

Pete Muir, assistant professor of media studies, hopes to begin broadcasting in late fall 2009 with the radio production I class, but all depends on the amount of student interest.

“We need people in front of the mics, and we need people behind the mics,” Muir said.

Station managers, production assistants, sports announcers, on-air talent, and engineers are some of the roles that make a station function. Muir is looking for students who want to fill those positions and learn what it takes to establish an Internet-based radio station.

Muir said members of WAY-FM and WCSG will assist in professional training. He hopes to broadcast daily by spring 2010 or 2011 with live audio content and some content that will be in a recorded loop.