Courtesy the Dixie Sun

(September 15, 2010) John Potter is known throughout Dixie State College as the voice of the Red Storm, but there is much more to the man behind the microphone.

Potter, a Southern California native, does more at DSC than broadcast the games. He is also the assistant sports information director and a sophomore communication major from Lakewood, Calif. Potter said his duties as the assistant SID help him when preparing to broadcast games.

“Being the SID helps amazingly," Potter said. "Doing the media notes and being responsible for that research I find things that I probably wouldn’t have found in normal research."

Potter said when he is preparing for games he takes it very seriously because he has the audience in mind and desires to make a good impression.

“I would consider it on a social parallel as to a first date,” he said. “It’s an impression for the first time listener. I take every game extremely serious, be it a football game or a soccer game. If I don’t prepare for a game I don’t feel like I do a service to the audience.”

Phil Tuckett, assistant professor of communication and Potter’s color commentator for DSC football games, said he appreciates the professionalism of Potter and how Potter helps him succeed in his role.

“John is a real skilled professional and that’s who you want to associate yourself with,” Tuckett said. “Sitting in the booth and trying to figure out when to talk, you need a professional alongside of you to give you those opportunities to set you up and succeed and John is aces at that. He’s got it all laid out there with all the equipment working properly and I just sit down, put my headphones on and try to make it like we’re just watching the game together.”

Tuckett said Potter’s professionalism not only shows with his preparation by having extensive familiarity about both teams but it also comes through with the way he exhibits his desire to broadcast games.

“He’s enthusiastic about what he does,” Tuckett said. “It never seems like he’s there to do a job that is irritating; it always seems like that’s what he would want to be doing even if he wasn’t assigned to do it.”

Potter said parents of players have asked him why he isn’t broadcasting in a bigger market because they feel he has the talent and the ability to do so. He said he has some reservations about trying to move up the corporate ladder.

“There are a couple of simple reasons for that,” Potter said. “One is I don’t have my degree yet. I haven’t finished my education and that’s a step I have started toward this year. I’m actually back in classes here at Dixie State. The second reason is kind of selfish; it’s because I’m comfortable where I’m at.”

Tuckett said he isn’t sure why Potter hasn’t tried his hand at broadcasting sports for a higher level of competition, but said he could definitely do the job.

“He’s qualified to be on that level,” Tuckett said. “He’s capable of doing it. He could definitely succeed at that level.”

Potter said he began his broadcasting career somewhat on accident. He said he wanted to be a music teacher, but after butting heads with one of his college professors he decided he should try his hand at sports broadcasting.

He said he came to southern Utah to broadcast the St. George Roadrunners games in 2007 after broadcasting for another Golden Baseball League team out of Mesa, Ariz. in 2005. He worked at a hotel chain before broadcasting and didn’t realize how much that would help his career as a broadcaster.

“I worked at a Marriott Hotel in Southern California," Potter said. "I wanted it to start out as a part time job to help supplement school. I started out as a lowly bellman polishing carts and by the time I left in 2007 to come out and do the Roadrunners I was actually the front office manager.”

Potter said it helped with the dynamic of dealing face-to-face more, because he thought on radio you’d be able to hide a little bit more behind the mic, but that personal interaction working in the hospitality industry is a major reason why it’s easier to be open and do a better job on the radio.

Potter said his favorite sport to broadcast is baseball because it’s more of a storytellers game and the pace of the game allows him to to tell the audience personal interactions he has had with the players or coaches on the team.

“If I could sit down and do one sport for the rest of my life, it would be baseball,” Potter said. “From an enjoyment standpoint of doing a game, baseball is by far my best and most fun to do.”

Because he grew up in Southern California with a love for baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers are his favorite team. Being a Dodger fan he said he was blessed to grow up listening to Vin Scully. The only job he said he would leave DSC for right now would be the Dodgers play-by-play.

“Growing up in Southern California listening to Vin Scully there’s no other job that you would want,” Potter said.

Potter said he got the chance a couple of years ago on a Roadrunners trip to California to go to a Dodgers game. Former Roadrunners' manager and major league baseball player, Cory Snyder, took him up to the broadcasting booth to meet his long time idol, Scully.

“In that moment I could’ve died and been happy,” Potter said. “Just to see the man, shake his hand, take a picture with him was extraordinary knowing he doesn’t have many years left in the booth.”

Even though Potter has aspirations of possibly being the play-by-play announcer for the LA Dodgers in the future, he said he is happy being known as the voice of the Red Storm.

“At points it’s mind boggling," Potter said. "Two or three years ago, I’m standing behind a desk and sitting in an office at a hotel. I’m now at a building D-II program that has great sports and better student-athletes, and I get a chance to work with these people. Being labeled as the voice is cool because it’s a chance for people to count on me going out, be it football, basketball, baseball, they’ll always know what to expect, the same voice, the same kind of preparation for each game.”

DSC basketball player Jeremiah Barnes, a senior integrated studies major from Compton, Calif., said the players love having Potter around, and that he is like another coach.

“He’s like a big brother," Barnes said. "Everybody always goes and talks to Potter. Whenever we are in a debate we always say ‘Whatever Potter says goes.’”

Barnes also said students at the college should all take the opportunity to meet Potter.

“If you haven’t met him, you should get to know him,” Barnes said. “He’s a great guy and an A+ in my book.”

Potter said when he isn’t at DSC he likes to take the opportunity to work on his golf game and go to Las Vegas.

Potter said he likes to golf, and the nice weather is one of the nice things about living in southern Utah to be able to golf.

“When I do have free time I do like to go to Vegas. I’m not a huge gambler, but I do like the atmosphere, and I have my dad living out there, so it’s nice to go see him and spend some time out there.”

Potter said he is a sports fan who is lucky enough to cover sports for a living. He also said when he is on air he tries to be open and professional, but it’s a different story off air.

“I’m a guy that does my work professionally but knows how to do it with comedic intentions at times to try and lighten up things,” Potter said. “On the mic I’m open, honest and professional, but away from the mic, unless you get to know me, I’m shy and introverted at times, but I think I’m a solid person that still has some room to go and opportunities to build on.”

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