Valor Christian headlines televised games - #lakewoodnews

Valor Christian's football team will be featured in four televised games this season, including two national broadcasts on ESPN.During ESPN's Kickoff Weekend, Valor will host Saguaro, of Scottsdale, Arizona, in a 1:30 p.m. ESPN game Aug. 27. The Eagles will again be at home against Greater Atlanta Christian on Sept. 9, televised on ESPN2.Valor games against Pomona and Cherry Creek will be part of Altitude's eight-game high school package. The full schedule has yet to be announced.Pomona, which lost to Valor in last season's Class 5A state championship game, will play at Valor Sept. 23. Cherry Creek, which beat the Eagles two years ago in the state title game, will challenge Valor Sept. 29 at the Stutler Bowl in Greenwood Village.The televised games bring attention not only to schools like Valor but also to Colorado sports as a whole."More than anything, it draws attention to Colorado athletics," Valor Christian Athletic Director Jamie Heiner said. "There are so many schools that have done a wonderful job competing at a high level. Hopefully it brings a little attention to the state. It draws attention to our state when they are seeing our teams competing on national television."For us, it is certainly a pleasure and honor to be asked to play on those stations. When you travel and wear some of your gear around, you are on vacation, it is interesting that there are quite a few folks that will recognize the Valor V -- and probably this year more than any because of the publicity (Stanford running back) Christian McCaffrey receives for the Heisman race and the mention of Valor Christian."The TV appearances won't generate a big payday for the schools or school districts.ESPN has a third party in Paragon Marketing of Skokie, Illinois, that handles all negotiations with participating schools. It has been reported that schools receive $1,000 for an ESPN game and $500 for a game that is shown on ESPN2. A spokesman from Altitude wouldn't reveal what kind of check schools or school districts receive from playing games televised on the regional network, but he did say, "the schools are happy with it.""The origination fees that these broadcast entities pay are to help with the expenses required of stadiums to get ready for the games or go back into district and school sports programs," said Bert Borgmann, Colorado High School Activities assistant commissioner.Jefferson County Executive Director of Athletics and Activities Jim Thyfault said schools are not getting rich from playing TV games."When one of our teams hosts a televised event, the money we receive goes to that school," he said. "It isn't much, believe me."

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