Texarkana Gameday: Building Community One Student-Athlete at a Time

written by: Michelle Horton

What began as a vision to give local athletes greater exposure has grown into a regional sports media company celebrating the stories, dedication, and accomplishments of student-athletes across the area.

When the lights come on Friday night, the crowd fills the stands, and the first whistle blows, there is much more happening than a game being played. Behind every athlete is a story of dedication, sacrifice, teamwork, and perseverance. Behind every team is a community of coaches, teachers, parents, volunteers, and supporters who invest countless hours into helping young people succeed.

For Texarkana Gameday, those stories are worth telling.

Founded in 2019 by Morgan Smith, Texarkana Gameday began with a simple mission: to celebrate local student-athletes and provide them with a platform to showcase their accomplishments. What started as a small idea has grown into a regional sports media company reaching families, fans, schools, and communities far beyond the original vision. “The idea started in late July 2019. By August 1st, 2019, we were live,” Smith says. “Working in sports marketing professionally, I knew there was a void in high school sports when it came to exposure. I wanted to be the person to fill that void.”

The company that exists today looks different from the original plan. Like many businesses, Texarkana Gameday experienced unexpected changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those challenges forced the team to adapt, ultimately creating a path toward the expanded coverage and opportunities available today.

Through every season of change, one thing has remained constant: the purpose behind the work.

“It was to celebrate our local kids positively,” Smith says. “We have grown so much since we started with our set on the sideline. From the beginning to now, our mission has not changed. We do it at another level.” That mission is reflected in the company’s slogan, “More Than a Game.” For Smith, those words represent the lasting impact athletics can have on young people. “If you have ever played organized sports, then you know what ‘More Than a Game’ means,” Smith says. “You learn a lot from sports that you cannot learn in a classroom. It is hard. You lose. You win. However, you learn how to adapt. It prepares you for the hard times in life.”

High school athletics provide more than entertainment. They teach discipline, resilience, leadership, and the importance of working together toward a common goal. Texarkana Gameday strives to capture those lessons by highlighting the athletes and teams who represent the community.

A major part of that mission is making sure student-athletes receive the recognition they deserve. “Without a platform that celebrates our local athletes, most will go unseen not only locally but by colleges,” Smith says. “Not every player is going to be a Division 1 athlete, but the exposure Texarkana has received over the past seven years has increased the number of scholarships offered to the athletes in our area.”

For many young athletes, having their accomplishments shared publicly can create opportunities they might not otherwise receive. Texarkana Gameday works alongside coaches and schools to make athletes easier to promote and to tell the stories behind the uniforms.

Some of those stories have stayed with Smith personally. He points to Nick Martin and Landon Jackson, members of the 2019 Hawks state championship football team, as two athletes who made a lasting impression. “They were two of our favorite young men that we have ever had the opportunity to cover and know personally,” Smith says. “To be able to cover their high school, collegiate, and now professional careers is truly a blessing to me, my family, and the Gameday family.”

Although Friday night football remains a treasured tradition, Texarkana Gameday covers much more than one sport. The company works to highlight athletes across multiple programs while partnering with schools and student media groups to bring coverage to life. A large part of that success comes from the next generation of storytellers. “Most of what you see on a Friday night is student-run and led by teachers,” Smith says. “We owe a lot to Tigervision, LETV, and PGTV. I love the fact that these students’ work gets to be showcased in front of such a large audience over a broad area every Friday night.”

Those student programs provide valuable experience for young people interested in broadcasting, journalism, photography, and production. Many students who participate gain skills that can lead to future careers. Smith believes getting started is the most important step for students interested in media. Smith says, “Most of our local and surrounding schools have journalism or AV programs that they can join. No one would have ever hired me to do what I started. I had no experience to speak of. I only had ambition and a vision, and I just jumped in and took the leap of faith.”

That leap of faith has grown into a company that requires an entire team working behind the scenes. A single Friday night broadcast represents days of preparation, coordination, and production. “A Friday game starts on a Tuesday for our production team,” Smith says. “Depending on the venue, someone will travel to test the internet to be certain that we will have no issues on a Friday night.” Throughout the week, the team prepares statistics, graphics, photos, and production details. On game day, photographers, videographers, announcers, and student production teams work together to create a professional experience for athletes and fans. “Anything can happen,” Smith says. “We are usually in work mode from the second we get rolling in the morning until well after the game ends, making highlights and editing photos to be posted.”

The level of production has become one of the things that surprises new viewers. “I always hear viewers are surprised by how professional it looks,” Smith says. “Early on, I would often say, ‘We may not be good yet, but we are going to look good.’” The company continues to study professional sports production and apply those standards to high school athletics. “We are still learning, but we study what we see at the professional level to bring that same level of quality and impact to the high school level,” Smith says.

Community support has been essential to making that possible. Texarkana Gameday is funded through partnerships with local businesses that support student-athletes and community storytelling. “We would not be here without our community support,” Smith says. “We are funded solely by local businesses. Without the support of the community and our sponsors, we would not be here.”

Smith credits early supporters, including Texarkana Emergency Center and State Bank, for believing in the vision from the beginning. “I had a vision, but no real way to get there without the support from our community businesses,” Smith says. “Both of them being prestigious, locally owned businesses helped ease others’ worries about supporting a brand-new company and brand-new concept.”

That support has helped Texarkana Gameday continue to grow. Last year, the company reached more than 100 million views across its platforms, compared to 8 million views during its first year. The company has also expanded into additional markets, including Longview and Paris, with plans for continued growth.

For businesses looking to connect with local families, Smith believes partnering with Texarkana Gameday provides an opportunity to support something meaningful. “If a business wants to be a part of something great that promotes their brand in a positive light with local content, supporting their local athletes, then Gameday is for them,” Smith says.

As another school year begins, Smith remains excited about the opportunity to continue sharing the stories of area athletes. “Even though I have been doing this for a long time now, I still get excited at the start of every new season,” Smith says. “I look forward to the new faces we will see on the sideline and field, and I love seeing the athletes’ growth throughout the season and their high school careers.”

At its heart, Texarkana Gameday is not simply about covering games. It is preserving memories, celebrating accomplishments, and creating a connection between athletes and the communities cheering them on. Smith hopes that legacy continues long after the final whistle. “I hope we are remembered as a company that puts kids first, that does not cut corners with expenses, and that has always done right by our community,” Smith says.

For Texarkana Gameday, every athlete has a story worth telling.

Every team has a journey worth celebrating.

Every game represents something bigger than the scoreboard.

It is more than a game. It is a community.