I’ve lost track the number of Boca Raton Bowls I’ve photographed over the years, but the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl was the first time I got to witness a school win it’s first bowl game. James Madison University defeated the Wester Kentucky Hilltoppers 27-17 at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on the FAU campus. Like I said I’ve probably photographed 7 or 8 of these bowl games in it’s 13 year history. It’s always a great opportunity to photograph teams that I would never get the chance to cover normally.
I know the Boca Raton Bowl isn’t as big or prestigious as lets say, the Orange Bowl, but for the two teams involved it is. And that is how I like to photograph it, like it’s the biggest game of the year.
For the first half of the game, it felt like it was a wait and see approach taken by both teams. A lot of run plays and honestly, not a lot of action. Nothing can frustrate a photographer more than feeling like you really haven’t got any shots.
Now the second half was a different story. Both teams finally went to the air and opened up the game. There was probably 5 or 6 lead changes and it was an exciting game. Turnovers were the story of the game. James Madison University were able to capitalize on the turnovers and score and that was ultimately the reason for their win.
Now with bowl games the sidelines are always going to be packed. And honestly it doesn’t have to be this way. It makes it harder for working media to, essentially, work. College sidelines should be clear of fans, alumni and everyone else who doesn’t belong there. In the endzone of the Boca Raton Bowl there are “on-field suites” and instead of these fans staying in there, they are all along the sidelines and endzone watching the game with beers in one hand and food in the other. They’re blocking the access and I hope next year those suites are gone or the fans limited to staying inside of them. The sidelines are bad enough, we don’t need anymore unauthorized people accessing them.
For years and years, well for as long as I could remember, there was an ESPN photographer who made sure only he could photograph the trophy presentation. It was just common knowledge amongst the photographers covering that we always had to find another way to get the shots of the trophy presentation. He even blocked the wire services from entering the area to get photos of the trophy presentation.
For this year’s Boca Raton Bowl, things were different in that department; finally.
ESPN had sent another photographer, Rich Storry, to cover the event and boy was I glad they did. Rich is a great photographer and even better person. I’ve always enjoyed working with and beside Rich and love his stories even more. The man is well traveled.
Myself and a few other South Florida sports photographers let Rich know our horror stories from years past about the trophy celebration. He told us that things for this year’s Boca Raton Bowl would be different and true to his word, we were able to get in and shoot the trophy presentation. In order to make sure everyone got the opportunity, photographers in the front row had to sit. The second row had to kneel and the 3rd row could stand.
It couldn’t have been any more seamless and smooth. When everyone gets the opportunity for the shot, then everyone is happy. It’s only when people want to be selfish and only have them grab the photo; that’s when frustration and resentment set in from others.
It was great to capture the moments of the James Madison players enjoying their first bowl victory. Now I just have to wait for the next year’s bowl game.
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