About Me
My name is Bruce Smith. This funny-looking guy on the right is
me. I grew up in Boise, Idaho, but have lived in Utah for almost
20 years. I am a former newspaper sports writer, and I've also
spent time working in the travel business. I look at myself
these days as an entrepreneur.
Years ago, I worked as a prep writer for the Salt Lake Tribune.
I left the business when I got married because I discovered
that being a sports writer and being married didn't work. That
was 1995, and my life has changed a bit since. In 2007, I
started working on a part-time basis, helping covering prep
sports for the Deseret News, and I really enjoyed it. My goal
here is to be able to do something I like, and provide a product
to the players, fans, media and scouts that makes them more
knowledgeable
My name is Bruce Smith. This funny-looking guy on the right is
me. I grew up in Boise, Idaho, but have lived in Utah for almost
20 years. I am a former newspaper sports writer, and I've also
spent time working in the travel business. I look at myself
these days as an entrepreneur.
Years ago, I worked as a prep writer for the Salt Lake Tribune.
I left the business when I got married because I discovered
that being a sports writer and being married didn't work. That
was 1995, and my life has changed a bit since. In 2007, I
started working on a part-time basis, helping covering prep
sports for the Deseret News, and I really enjoyed it. My goal
here is to be able to do something I like, and provide a product
to the players, fans, media and scouts that makes them more
knowledgeable
Matchup's history
The idea of "Matchup" started in the Fall 2007, shortly after I began working as a part-time
sportswriter for the Deseret News, covering high school football.
I noticed that at about half the games I attended, the schools couldn't provide basic rosters. I
thought that was kind of odd, especially since most of the games I attended involved big
schools, with 2,000-5,000 fans attending.
I approached various athletic directors and it became apparent that a game program, or
even rosters, was not a priority. So, I thought I could help.
I spoke to a friend, Steve Wells at Action Printing in Murray, and we came up with an idea to
provide programs. Jim Wall, the publisher of the Deseret News, saw the benefits of a
game-program concept and jumped aboard. So did KJZZ and Morris-Murdock Travel, and
they became the primary sponsors. I contacted more athletic directors and six schools -
Cottonwood, Olympus, Judge Memorial, Highland, Hunter and Granger - offered the
programs to their fans for 2007-08 basketball season.
The programs were a big hit, and every school I contacted after that - now at 26 - decided to
offer "Matchup" to their fans. Now, we provide programs for every high school that offers
football and basketball in the Salt Lake City area, as well as Tooele, Grantsville and the new
school in Stansbury.
I could have got more schools involved. But right now, 26 is enough. We'll see how it goes.
The idea of "Matchup" started in the Fall 2007, shortly after I began working as a part-time
sportswriter for the Deseret News, covering high school football.
I noticed that at about half the games I attended, the schools couldn't provide basic rosters. I
thought that was kind of odd, especially since most of the games I attended involved big
schools, with 2,000-5,000 fans attending.
I approached various athletic directors and it became apparent that a game program, or
even rosters, was not a priority. So, I thought I could help.
I spoke to a friend, Steve Wells at Action Printing in Murray, and we came up with an idea to
provide programs. Jim Wall, the publisher of the Deseret News, saw the benefits of a
game-program concept and jumped aboard. So did KJZZ and Morris-Murdock Travel, and
they became the primary sponsors. I contacted more athletic directors and six schools -
Cottonwood, Olympus, Judge Memorial, Highland, Hunter and Granger - offered the
programs to their fans for 2007-08 basketball season.
The programs were a big hit, and every school I contacted after that - now at 26 - decided to
offer "Matchup" to their fans. Now, we provide programs for every high school that offers
football and basketball in the Salt Lake City area, as well as Tooele, Grantsville and the new
school in Stansbury.
I could have got more schools involved. But right now, 26 is enough. We'll see how it goes.
MatchupUT.com Phone: (801) 520-4330 Email: Bruce@matchupUT.com
Bruce Smith
Editor of "Matchup"
Editor of "Matchup"
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