It has been quite a while since Neil Myer was broadcasting in Galesburg for the Streaks, and since he was last in Galesburg. It was time to catch up with Neil.
My first memory of Neil was when our new pastor, his father, was coming to Galesburg and my father-in-law offered to take the young son to a basketball game on Friday night. After the game, Ben Allen told about how animated Neil had been during the game. I knew he was ok at that point.
For me as a Badger fan, most of our congregation are Illini fans. Neil’s family came in as strong MSU Spartan fans. It was nice to have people to share in the abuse from Illini fans. But now that I think about it, there were never many opportunities for the Illini fans to do much abusing!
While at Galesburg, anything Neil did, he did with energy and passion. While in high school Tim Heimann hired him to run the leagues at the Knox Basketball Camps. By the end of the first week, Neil was running the whole camp. He ran the league twice a day, ran the stations, did a station, gave announcements to the campers, and did lights out. This was Neil.
While everything he did as a young man in Galesburg showed his energy and passion for life, he constantly showed his service to others. And now as an adult, he has continued to serve.
Here is a chance to catch up with Neil…
Since you last broadcast in 1999, what have you been doing and where have you been located? Tell me about your family in East Lansing?
I went to seminary and earned a Master's degree in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Since then I've worked at churches in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Michigan. I currently lead UKirk at MSU, the Presbyterian Campus Ministry and am Director of Christian Education at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Lansing. We've lived here since fall of 2015. I've been married to my wife Heather for almost 14 years and we have two daughters ages 7 and 5.
Can you describe your present job? From your posts on Facebook, it sure seems to be something you find very rewarding?
I work with people of all ages in the church, but the work I love most is with college students. As a campus minister I get to help coordinate hospitality, Christian formation opportunities, theological discussions, mission trips, worship services, service opportunities and special events for college students that want to explore and/or practice faith during their college experience. We are also there for pastoral care and support as they navigate the various ups and downs of college life and emerging adulthood.
Where is the rest of your family now?
My parents live in an independent living community, just north of Indianapolis. Dad has been fighting Parkinson's for several years now and Mom is his primary care giver. My sister Marj and her family live about 30 minutes away from them. My sister Nancy lives in Durham, NC.
Being back in East Lansing, I am sure you are excited to be able to follow your Spartans closely. But as a "mature father," have you found a way to control your passion in front of your children? Has your entire family become Spartan fans?
I still have my moments during some TV games, but they are much few and far between these days. We live a few minutes away from campus so not only do we cheer for all the Spartan teams, but we celebrate the artists, musicians, scientists, museums, dining halls, construction workers, planetarium, gardens, carillon tower, river, zambonis and more. There is always something to do in non pandemic times. The family has known the fight song for years and if there were a test, our kids could probably name more buildings on campus than many of the students.
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What is it about Tom Izzo that has allowed him and MSU to be so successful?
He's driven and he cares. He's had a lot of good players, but he and his coaching staff have created an environment where players really develop their skills and improve over their years here. Fundamentals of the game as well as mental and physical toughness are emphasized. MSU has not relied on one and dones the way some other top programs have. Players tend to stay longer at MSU. Experience and player development is a solid formula for success. His scheduling philosophy has also helped tremendously. The Spartans usually play a number of top level games in the non conference and don't worry too much about losing those early games. Each season is a process and almost every year, the Spartans end up playing their best basketball by NCAA tournament time. To make the tournament every single year starting in 1998 until now is an incredible accomplishment. People see his sideline intensity when the cameras are on, but he's also extremely generous with his time and money. He recently donated 1 million dollars to the ice hockey program, he's there seeing the soccer team bus off for a big game, and he builds relationships with the coaches of all the sports on campus. He quietly blends in the corner bleachers for women's basketball games when he's not on the road. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people go up to him and ask for a picture and I've never seen him turn a student or family away-even in the campus dining halls, though it must be annoying after the millionth time, he never lets it show and makes people feel special in that moment. He's always been Tom Izzo from Iron Mountain, Michigan, even in one of the highest profile jobs in the state. That cannot always be easy.
In your time announcing, one of the special things was having your dad working with you. As you look back are there any special memories you have of father-son moments?
There were many special moments, but two of the most memorable were bookends of the experience. In fall of 1997, my final semester at Michigan State I got the call from WGIL offering me the play by play job, which I accepted. The station was working on finding a broadcast partner for me, and as I understand it Coach Rux suggested Dad to WGIL. I had no idea that was even a consideration. Three weeks later I picked up the wall phone in my dorm room (those were still a thing then) and Dad was on the other line. "Hi Neil. Do you know who you are talking to?" Dad never used that phrase, so I wasn't sure what he was getting at. "Do you know, who you are talking to?" I was still unsure what he was going to tell me. "You're talking to your broadcast partner." The "Broadcast firm of Myer and Myer" was born.
Then after doing most of two seasons (I was still in school for the first several games of the 97-98 year) together, as we were signing off after the state championship game in '99, I knew I was likely going to be moving on to something new, so I had tears in my eyes as I said "Thanks, Dad." I think that was the one and only time I called him Dad on the air. Being a sportscaster was the one and only thing I had ever wanted to be and do. Here I was having done the thing I wanted to do most with one of the people I loved most. I always said I could have ended up calling a Super Bowl and it wouldn't have been that special. I think that is probably why broadcasting ended up being easier for me to walk away from than I would have ever dreamed as my calling to professional ministry grew stronger.
You got to announce some big moments and dramatic moments, in our 1999 run to 2nd in State. What are some of your memories of that year?
It's funny because as far as the regular season goes the 1997-1998 season had a few more games that stick out in my memory. There was a very underrated game against Richwoods. It was a narrow road win for the Streaks and the first game I called. Then the epic grand championship holiday tournament game against Mendota. Jaque Howard made a shot from Decatur to win at the buzzer and Dad and I did the longest post game in the history of high school sports waiting for Coach Rux (who we didn't know was injured in the celebration) to come do post game which he did with us our first season. There was a tough loss road loss to a very good Waubonsie Valley team, and a solid sectional championship victory over Rock Island. The Streaks ended up pulling away against Rocky, but the game had a lot of flow and was fun to call.
The 98-99 Streaks team was so good and so fun to watch, but many of the games weren't all that competitive on the scoreboard until the Sweet 16. I believe Sarah Larson became all time leading scorer during the sectionals that year, and then the run starting with the Sweet 16 game was very exciting. Sarah Pacheco hit a go ahead bucket and then Machesny Park Harlem had one last chance in overtime, and I actually remember blowing the call on the air, because I didn't think they got a half court heave off in time, but then I noticed the official was going to count it, so I said something like "they won't get a shot off...good if it goes..." It missed and the Streaks were Redbird Arena bound again. You ask below about the Loyola quarterfinal game, but I also remember the semifinal vs. Lincoln was a tough slog, but as the final buzzer sounded, Dad and I in spontaneous sync simply exclaimed "Galesburg wins!!!" Those three games decided by a total of five points.
You had the call when Larson hit the game winner vs. Loyola. What do you remember about that game in particular? Honestly, were you surprised the Streaks won?
I think the team and those of us who followed them felt in the days leading up to that game there was a better chance than the year before, but defeating the two time defending state champions would not be easy. To not call it at least a mild surprise, would be revisionist history, especially being down double digits at the half. I remember the Streaks defense holding Olga Gvozdenovic of Loyola in check, and her getting into foul trouble. Jaque Howard hit a much needed three just before half time. I remember the Streaks holding the possession for one shot at the end with the score tied, and then a missed shot and loose ball. Press row court side at Redbird was not the best view across the floor, so many media members-including me missed Jenny Zolper's effort to keep the ball alive for Sarah Larson, but the whole arena could see the shot go up and go through. Then "...Galesburg's in the final 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
One of your starts in the sports world was working at the Knox Basketball Camps for Coach Heimann. It had to be a great experience as a "summer job" for you?
I have amazing memories of working Knox camp. Coach Heimann was always so good to me and I hope I was good to him in the role he created for me there. It was a wonderful opportunity to be around so many excellent coaches and players over those years and it was actually incredible training for ministry because my job included a little bit of everything and no two days were exactly alike for me. My big picture role there included hospitality, helping campers be good stewards of their money, officiating, coaching, administration, scheduling and helping along with the other staff tend to the emotional (often homesickness) and physical well being of those that attended. I have used all of those skills in the various aspects of my ministry through the years,
Our congregation in Galesburg has an abundance of Illinois fans. Do you have any good memories of Spartan wins, or bad memories of Illinois wins that you could share?
I remember Dad always pointing out to the congregation win or lose during football season that the liturgical color of the season was green. Watching Lou Henson get thrown out of his last game at Breslin Center is a good memory. MSU presented him luggage during the pregame as a retirement gift and the officials sent him packing. He watched the Spartans win from the locker room.
If you came back to visit Galesburg, is there one place you would have to go eat? What would you order?
Wherever is still serving one of those giant tenderloin sandwiches.
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