Although games often turn on which team controls ground balls, ESPN2 will take to the sky for some of its presentation of the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse national semifinals and championship.
ESPN2 and broadband service ESPN360.com will use SkyCam for its coverage of the lax Final Four today from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.:third-ranked Syracuse takes on second-ranked Virginia at noon (ET), followed by defending champion Johns Hopkins, rated fifth this year, against No. 1 Duke at 2 p.m.
SkyCam will also be in play Memorial Day, as ESPN and ESPN360.com will present the championship match at 1 p.m. For only the second time, all three lacrosse games -- ESPNU provided the bulk of the sports giant’s lacrosse coverage -- will be available in high-definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD.
SkyCam, first utilized in 2001 during ESPN’s presentation of National Football League preseason action, operates on a series of wires above the playing field and is able to go from end line to end line, sideline to sideline, and as high as 40 feet. The unmanned, remote-controlled camera, can move 30 miles per hour in order to get into position, generally “behind the ball,” so as to not interfere with play.
Dave Ryan, Quint Kessenich and Rob Simmelkjaer will have the calls, while fans will also hear commentary from miked officials.
