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WFMJ pioneered ‘Overtime Report’
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
A football Friday night still gets Dana Balash’s juices flowing.
Under his watch, WFMJ Channel 21’s high school football coverage has increased from 10 to 15 to 21 minutes.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches at Lucianno’s Banquet Center Monday, Balash said the extended coverage has been well-received by their viewership, prompting unsolicited suggestions as to how they can better canvass area contests.
“This is the 21st year of our ‘Overtime Report,’ something that we started in 1994 and to date have featured highlights of 4,611 high school football games,” Balash said. “When we first started, the 10 minutes that we were allotted meant showing highlights of just eight or nine of the area’s top games.
“That was expanded to 15 minutes a few years later, increasing coverage to 14 games,” Balash said.
When the segment was expanded to 21 continuous minutes a few years ago, highlights of no less than 20 area games “are now the norm.”
Balash credited station management and those behind the scenes for contributing to its success.
“Without the insight of former general manager John Grdic and our late sports director Pat Saunders, we would not be enjoying as much success,” Balash said. “They took a chance on trying something different.
“Our station was the first to try something like this and not only did it work, but it’s still working,” Balash said.
As defending champion of The Vindicator’s The Blitz weekly high school picks, he’s looking forward to defending his title.
“I know for a fact that people pay attention to everyone’s picks because a woman came up to me the other day in the grocery and told me I had a tough week,” Balash said. “I asked her how she knew and she replied that she keeps track of how I’m doing.”
Coaches also pay attention to the picks.
“Coaches might downplay it, but they also look at everyone’s picks,” Balash said. “While visiting a school recently, the head football coach, even before saying hello, said that I didn’t pick them last week.
“I replied no, I didn’t, but did you use it to motivate your kids?”
Balash said that the area might see as many as 14 teams earn a playoff berth while 10 players have made verbal college commitments.
“That’s number represents the most verbal commitments locally at this juncture of the season,” Balash said.
He feels that Youngstown State again should explore Mid-American Conference membership. YSU is a FCS program in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Commenting on the Penguins’ loss to Western Illinois, Balash said Saturday’s Southern Illinois game is a must-win contest.
“In fact, all games the rest of the way are must-win games,” Balash said.