Community Corner
Blue Voice
Swampscott native Roger Volk has the best job in the world, in the best seat in the house, sitting in the press box, the voice of Big Blue football.
If someone stands up in front of you and you miss a play at Blocksidge Field during a football game, just wait a second and Roger Volk will tell you that Evan Rhodes carried the ball for six yards to the Big Blue 42 yard line, and it's second and four.
Volk has been in the press box for the past 10 years, taking over the announcer’s job from his good friend Peter Sack, after filling in for Sack several times over the years.
“Peter was the voice of the Big Blue and he was gracious enough to allow me to sit in for him on occasion and when he stepped down, I was absolutely thrilled to have the chance to do this,” Volk said.
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Roger bleeds Blue, he received his Master’s Degree from Suffolk University after graduating from Swampscott High and Boston University, and attending every football game he could from the 1960’s to this season.
“I’ve seen a lot of great games over the years, and a lot of wonderful players, the overtime win over Lynn English in 2009 was great, last Thanksgiving’s win over Marblehead was exciting,” Volk said.
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“I’m Swampscott through and through, I love the kids, I love the game and it’s wonderful to be up here (in the press box) right on top of the action, calling the games,” Volk said.
Volk starts thinking about the upcoming game as soon as the previous game ends, compiling notes on the home team and the opposition, getting the starting line-ups set and then pouring over the notes for 2-3 hours before the game.
Volk wears his Swampscott Super Bowl ring proudly and has his grandson Jacob sit on knee for good luck during every game.
“Jacob asks me every week what time the game is, I tell him and he says he’ll be there,” Volk said.
“I’ve known coach Steve (Dembowski) for years, he went to school with my daughter, and it’s wonderful to see him have success,” Volk said. “There’s such wonderful football tradition in Swampscott, from to Frank DeFelice, Bill Bush and now Steve.”
Volk said he’s had some strange games because of wild weather, but the strangest afternoon was when the police asked him to clear the field because there was a bomb threat.
“The police asked me to get everyone out, so I said that we were having technical problems and everyone had to leave the area, they did, there were no problems, but that was a pretty crazy afternoon,” Roger said.
