The Making of "The Pulse"
Sep 16, 2015 | Football
The Pulse: Texas A&M Football airs every Wednesday on FOX Sports Southwest (4 p.m.) and KBTX (6:30 p.m.), and Thursday on the CW Aggieland (6:30 p.m.).
In just its second year, "The Pulse: Texas A&M Football" has been a huge success and a major hit with Aggie football fans everywhere. If you're looking for exclusive and full access to the football program, 12th Man Productions has you covered each and every week throughout the season.
What went into the creation and development of the show? We went to the show's contributors to find out.
"Since the arrival of Coach Sumlin, our football program has been a trend setter," noted Clay Taylor, the show's director. "We needed a television show to reflect that. When Andy Richardson and Buddy Kimberlin entrusted me with this project, I definitely wanted to do something different than we have done in the past. With the success of shows like 'Hard Knocks', why couldn't we do something similar? We have the tools, resources and people to get it done."
"When Clay laid it out for all of us, it was a no brainer that we should pursue it," added Will Johnson, writer and narrator of the show. "We had never done anything like this before, so it was exciting for us to get it started."
Despite the excitement of creating a completely new show, there were some initial questions. How much access would 12th Man Productions be given? What kind of stories would be allowed? Those questions were quickly answered by Kevin Sumlin and his staff.
"We're willing and able to go and shoot anything if the team will have us," said Taylor. "Ultimately, our success is predicated by Coach Sumlin and his staff giving us access to their program. Fortunately for us, they have been totally on board."
Johnson added, "There are probably some coaches and staffs that would not allow so much access to the ins and outs of their program. It's a credit to Coach Sumlin and his staff, as they really opened their doors to us."
The show, which airs Wednesdays on Fox Sports Southwest and KBTX and Thursdays on the CW Aggieland, gives fans an in-depth look at weekly team preparations and then provides fans with an all-access and unique view of every Aggie football game throughout the season. From pregame warmups to postgame celebrations in the locker room, "The Pulse" truly takes Aggie fans inside the Texas A&M football program.
"We're different than other schools," explained Cade Key, who produces each episode. "This is not your basic in-studio show with a bunch of interviews. That allows us to be creative and gives us freedom to do what we want each week. We get to tell a story based on what we see during the game."
Besides giving fans a unique view of the games, "The Pulse" also allows viewers the opportunity to get to know the Texas A&M players and coaches. That opportunity is something 12th Man Productions takes great pride in.
"I want this show to give our fans even more to root for," explained Key. "I want them to know the players and coaches better than they used to. This show definitely humanizes our players and coaches, so hopefully the fans can get behind them even more."
How does the 12th Man Productions staff get the show ready each week? With games on Saturdays and the show air date on Wednesdays, there is a quick turnaround to get things done. It may be a hectic at times, but Johnson says the process for "The Pulse" is much preferred to what was done in the past.
"For probably six out of 10 seasons at one point, we had to tape, edit and produce shows in one night and basically work midnight until sunup," remarked Johnson. "With this setup, we have three days to send out the show, which lets us breathe a little bit. We run all of our interviews on Sundays, and then we grind on Mondays and Tuesdays to get it done."
Key also discussed the importance of the show's timing.
"The show being in the middle of the week really helps in two different ways," admitted Key. "We give fans the opportunity to relive a big win or great performance, and we can also look ahead to the future games. It really helps add fuel to the fire in terms of preparing people each week, and that is definitely what we want."
All the hard work has paid off, as the response to the show has been fantastic from the start. There has been tremendous interest on television, and the following on the digital platforms has been equally impressive. "The Pulse" has received around three-quarters of a million views on digital outlets (Facebook, YouTube). The show also has a permanent home on 12thman.com, giving fans 24/7 access to any and all episodes. With the success the show has enjoyed, we were curious to see how reality has compared to the expectations.
"It wasn't until we got to South Carolina last year," admits Taylor. "When that game unfolded the way it did, we knew it could be pretty special. The result thus far has exceeded what I could have possibly hoped for."
The inside look at Texas A&M Football is exciting enough, but 12th Man Productions also sees the bigger picture when producing the show each week. They know the opportunity they have in front of them--a chance to reach anyone and everyone and allow them a closer look at Aggie Football.
"Coach Sumlin has established a culture," stated Taylor. "He understands the value of recruiting, not only student-athletes, but also fans. This is another tool he has at his disposal. Our ultimate goal is to provide our fans with an inside look at our program, but we also want to connect with recruits to show them what Coach Sumlin, his staff and the entire program is all about."
Whether you have seen one episode or have watched the show from the beginning, "The Pulse" gives you a look at Texas A&M Football that nobody else can. The show was nominated for multiple awards in its first year, and Season 2 is off to a strong start. When you even mention "The Pulse", you see how much pride 12th Man Productions takes in giving the 12th Man the best product each and every week.
"This show brings our fans closer to the team," voiced Johnson. "It allows our fans to see that our program has great people and student-athletes. In a time where there is a lot of negativity in athletics, we shine a light on our program and show our fans how hard our coaches and student-athletes work to do it right."
What does the rest of season two look like? Only time will tell. However, if the first 18 episodes are any indication, Aggie fans have a lot to be excited about all season long.
South Carolina Game Week Press Conference: Mike Elko
Monday, November 10
Missouri Postgame: Dalton Brooks
Saturday, November 08
Missouri Postgame: Rueben Owens II
Saturday, November 08
Missouri Postgame: Daymion Sanford
Saturday, November 08
