Railer Announcer and Reporter Jeff Benjamin
"Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you"

[March 05, 2018] 

LINCOLN

Not only did the season for the Railers end on Friday night but so did my involvement in bringing Railer Nation the action of Lincoln Railer basketball.

For those that do not know, after 17 years and almost 550 games behind the mic, I am leaving the WLCN broadcast position. Our daughter is a LCHS senior and not knowing what is in store for her college future, I want to be available so my wife and I can enjoy all that comes with being the parents of a college student. Knowing that I would not be there for every game, I felt it was prudent to give Railer Nation a consistent voice starting next season.

This also will mark the end of my 10 years of doing recaps for Lincoln Daily News. The late Mike Fak got me involved by asking if I could do a “brief recap” of the game since I was already there doing the radio broadcast. When I said yes, I had no idea how much I would enjoy another method of bringing Lincoln Railer basketball to life for Railer Nation.

There are many thank you’s so I will try to be brief. After Mike Fak was no longer involved with LDN, Jim Youngquist made sure I knew I was welcome to keep writing for LDN. All those that oversaw the articles gave me complete freedom to write how I wanted and what I wanted. You can’t ask for much more than an open forum to express your thoughts. To all those at LDN, both behind the scenes and the readers, a hearty thank you for your support.

On the radio side, station manager Jim Ash has allowed me to keep doing the games. I always figured someone would come along one day and replace me but Jim let me stay and here we are 17 years later. I don’t know if those out there know how trying and chaotic it can be sometimes in getting a broadcast on the air, or keeping it on the air. I will stand by with strong conviction to say the Railer broadcasts that everyone enjoys would not be possible without the hard working, quick thinking Paula Kodatt. Paula has been the producer/director for almost every game I have done and she has many nights been the reason we got or stayed on the air.

I have had a few broadcast partners. Fortunately, each one was one that kept the broadcast flowing smoothly and each one brought a different but useful perspective. I know more about basketball thanks to them than I ever could have hoped to learn. Josh Komnick has been my main sidekick for the past few years while this year also provided me the opportunity to work a few games with Justin Tierney.

Both have their own connections to Railer basketball and you can hear it and feel it in their broadcasts. I was also able to do a few games this season with Tom Larey, my broadcast partner for 9 of my first 10 years. I can not begin to thank Tom for his friendship and support over the years, even after he stepped away from the mic. Mitch Smith also sat to my left for a number of games. It was Tom and Mitch who made sure games were covered when my dad passed away and later when my wife had major surgery. Mitch is also a great resource for Railer polo shirts.

Everyone involved from LCHS from the administration to the players and their families, thank you for letting me play a little part of what Railer Nation is about. Coach Neil Alexander and his staff expect a lot out of the players and the program. I just hope I was able to deliver on what was expected of me in order to not embarrass the honor and tradition of Lincoln Railer basketball.

Finally, the biggest thank you goes to my wife Joetta and my daughter Carrie. They are the ones that travel to the games with me, sitting in the stands or, in Carrie’s case, the pep band at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium. I know they have sacrificed time doing things they may want to do or time with me as a family so I can do what I have done for these years. They are the ones that are one of the last folks in the gym waiting for me and then sit up with me as I write my LDN stories. I love them and thank them for their support and sacrifice.

For all above that have been named, and ones that I am sure I have forgotten, a sincere and heartfelt thank you. I have no concern in telling you the ride home from Rochester on Friday night was done through some weepy eyes. I am sad it is over, but honored and privileged to have been a part of it. The handshakes and hugs from Railer Nation have been appreciated, the mentions on social media with compliments and thanks have been humbling. I can only ask that you treat the next voice of the Railers as a member of the family, something you have made me feel with your caring and support.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (It’s Railer basketball so it seemed three was appropriate)

[Jeff Benjamin]