By David Hamrick
So, you think you’re the biggest Louisville Cardinal sports fan? You may want to think again.
Meet Shayne Duvall. As the Sports Information Student Assistant, he assists with compiling statistics, deals with the media, and does whatever it takes to get everything ready for game time. He knows nearly every student-athlete and is familiar with all aspects of Cardinal athletics.
Duvall has been with the University of Louisville’s Sports Information department for the past four years and plans to graduate this December with a degree in Justice Administration.
“Some people think that all I do is sit on press row and watch games, because that is all that people see me do. But I do a lot more work behind the scenes,” Duvall said.
Duvall has also been the public address announcer for Cardinal field hockey, softball and soccer for the past four years.
“Actually, the only two sports I haven’t done yet are football and men’s basketball,” Duvall said. “Sean Moth, the P.A. guy for football and men’s basketball, has always said that if he ever gets sick or hurt, that everyone should blame me since I am the next in line.”
Duvall began working as a Louisville announcer while he was still in high school. His powerful voice and his ability to relate the game and sports action to even the most distant fan earned him high marks at a young age.
“I got my start announcing softball games because there was no one to do it,” Duvall recollected. “I had known Lori Korte, the SID for softball, for many years and she asked me if I could get out of class in time to make it to the games each day. It worked out, and I got to announce all of the softball games my senior year of high school.”
In that capacity, Duvall was able to meet Kenny Klein, associate athletic director and director of the Sports Information Department. “Fortunately, he liked me, and offered me a job when I came to U of L,” Duvall said.
But Duvall’s run will soon come to an end. Duvall has decided that although he loves college athletics, he someday wants to have a family, and this lifestyle isn’t conducive to settling down. Duvall says he wants to continue his work with media relations with the Jefferson County Police Department doing basically the same thing he does right now – only getting to use his J.A. degree in the process.
Duvall will always have fond memories of his time with Louisville Athletics. He said he couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“I really love my job.” Duvall said. “It’s hard for me to [imagine] my four years in college if I hadn’t had this job. I have done a lot of things, been to a lot of games, and met many people that I otherwise would not have. These years have just flown by.”
