Nov. 4, 2007
Washington, D.C. - On Friday night, Georgetown University senior quarterback Matt Bassuener (Port Edwards, Wis./Port Edwards) was studying the Marist defense for the Hoyas' game against the Red Foxes on Saturday afternoon.
After the team's heart-breaking three overtime 37-34 loss to Marist on Saturday, Bassuener was studying another opponent. The Blue and Gray host Colgate in the 2007 regular season finale next Saturday, November 10 at the Multi-Sport Field, but the signal caller will spend some time on Sunday morning studying the Philadelphia Eagles.
For the third-straight year, Bassuener will be in the radio booth with Victor Villalba, who handles the play-by-play for the Dallas Cowboys on their Spanish Language Radio Network. Bassuener, as he has when the Cowboys play the Washington Redskins in the District, will serve as a "football insider" for the network, which can be heard on nearly 20 stations in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.
On Sunday afternoon, Bassuener will drive to Philadelphia, where Dallas plays the Eagles on Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field in that evening's game.
"It's a cool experience," Bassuener said from the team's hotel on Friday night. "I've had the opportunity to be on the sidelines before and help them out and I appreciate Victor giving me the opportunity to contribute again."
Bassuener first met Villalba when he was attending Tec de Monterrey in Mexico during his freshman year in college. Villalba was doing some work for the Dallas Desperadoes, an Arena Football League team, which was conducting tryouts on the Monterrey campus.
The two struck a friendship and when Bassuener came to the Hilltop, Villalba invited him to help out with broadcasts when the Cowboys visited the Redskins. The first time he was in the booth, Bassuener was given a headset and the radio team began asking him questions about Georgetown football.
Bassuener was on the sidelines as an analyst last year and even helped out when the NBA's Dallas Mavericks visited the Washington Wizards.
This time, Bassuener will be in the booth the entire game. He has been told that they will ask him serve as a secondary color analyst for the broadcast.
"I'm looking forward to it," Bassuener said. "I'm going to try and study up on the Eagles so I can talk about them, but I need to brush up on my Spanish too."
Bassuener spent a year at Tec de Monterrey after prepping for a year at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio. The Wisconsin native was attracted to the school because of the opportunity to immerse himself in the Spanish-speaking culture.
The game will also provide an opportunity for Bassuener to meet a quarterback he has idolized for some time in Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. The two share a unique bond in that they are both from Wisconsin and played football at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
"I hope to get the chance to meet him," Bassuener said. "He's been a guy who I've followed for a while because of our background, but with his just signing a contract extension this week, I'm not sure if I will get the opportunity. Just the same, it will be a great opportunity."
