Community builders

Texarkana Gameday’s Jennifer and Morgan Smith enjoy cheering on others and making things happen

by JILEEN PLATT

photo by ALAMOND PHOTOGRAPHY

The original Gameday crew – Tony Langford, Craig Jenkins, Morgan Smith, Jennifer Smith, Brandi Kirkland, Aaron Whitehead, and Jay Davis – during one of the first games in their first season with Gameday.

William, aka Baby Will, and Morgan showing off their Gameday gear.

You’ve seen the logo. You’ve heard the on-air personalities. You’ve watched the sports highlights. You’ve felt the hype and the excitement. But do you know the backstory to Texarkana Gameday?

Walt Disney once said, “Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.” The brainchild of Texarkana’s ultimate high school sports entertainment began as a simple idea. But just like any simple idea, with some effort and imagination, big things can happen. Texarkana Gameday has become a fast-growing example of how to celebrate the many successes of high school athletes and those who cheer and support them.

The story of Texarkana Gameday starts with Morgan and Jennifer Smith, a dynamic couple who met and married in Longview, Texas. In 2012, Morgan relocated his wife and 2-year-old daughter, Stella, to Texarkana to work for Verizon.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mind,” states Morgan. “I realized there was a need to not only sell phones but also repair them … I also wanted to work for myself.” In 2014, Phone Pros became the business result of Morgan’s new idea, combining a concept of phone sales, but more importantly fixing, restoring, and protecting cell phones.  “At the time, we couldn’t afford to sponsor community events,” explains Jennifer. “But we still wanted to give back to the community.” Phone Pros began organizing free photos with Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Jennifer and Morgan covering the PG Hawks at the State Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in December 2019.

It was through these events and others that Morgan and Jennifer came to know many business owners in the Texarkana area. They also realized that there was a need for marketing, specifically in video content. “I had previous experience in marketing … and looked at it as an opportunity to help local companies grow their business,” states Morgan. He began a new venture called TXK Marketing.

Jennifer had worked at Kelli Ashbrook Insurance and later at Offenhauser Insurance (before and after the birth of their sons, Walker in 2013 and Will in 2018). After Will was born, she chose to join forces with her husband at TXK Marketing. “Within six months, we had several clients, and our business just exploded,” exclaims Jennifer.  

“We have a unique brand for this area,” states Morgan. “We are customer-based … not a ‘cookie-cutter’ marketing company.” TXK Marketing provides media management, design of promotional items, ads for print and online, graphic design, assistance in marketing budgeting, designing logos, and much more. “We are a full-service marketing agency,” declares Jennifer. “Our favorite part is helping companies grow. Every business is different in their needs … but it keeps [our job] fun and fresh with variety.”

Morgan and Jennifer with Stella (11), Walker (7), and William (3) during the fall of 2019. 

(Photo by Kendal Dockery Thompson)

With three growing children and two growing businesses, things were going well for the Smith family. Then Morgan had an experience while attending The Texarkana Open at Texarkana Country Club in the summer of 2019. “I interviewed a few local players,” says Morgan. “I really enjoyed it.” Thoughts rolled around in Morgan’s mind of how he could create a business venture interviewing and spotlighting local athletes.

“I woke up one morning and knew that ‘Texarkana Gameday’ was the name,” remembers Morgan. He called Red River Lumber with an idea. “They offered to build the set for free.”  A call to Texarkana Emergency Center led to that company being the first sponsor. State Bank was not far behind in their support of Morgan’s new idea. “Those calls gave me a lot of confidence to move forward,” says Morgan. “That day, I set an expectation that it was going to happen … and I do what I say I’m going to do, so there was no turning back.”

Morgan and Jennifer consider Texarkana Gameday an ‘ESPN’ for high school. Not only does the program spotlight local athletes, but it also gives real-time feedback at sporting events, helps market local players for college recruiters, and gives players experience in being interviewed. “We want to give our high school students a Division 1 experience, as far as media goes,” states Morgan. “I believe we have accomplished that.”

Walker and his friend, Kamdyn, have enjoyed getting to know Pleasant Grove graduate, now LSU football player, Landon Jackson.

The Smiths had no broadcasting experience prior to Texarkana Gameday, but things have come together and expanded in ways they never expected. “Originally, for football, we planned to have just a pre-game show, a halftime show, and a post-game show,” explains Morgan. “But then hype videos and highlights became a necessary expansion … we continued to grow with the need.” In addition, the success of the on-air personalities has been a big bonus. Morgan explains, “I chose a team that … has different personalities … and all do good things in our community.” He recruited individuals who had a likability factor and had connections to specific schools. “These people were already invested in local schools and sports, so it was an easy ‘yes’ for them,” explains Morgan.

Livestream had already been implemented for TXK Marketing in August 2019, but the Smiths never could have imagined how important that service would become with the COVID-19 pandemic. TXK Marketing partnered with Texarkana Emergency Center, both Texarkana’s, and TXK Today to broadcast press conferences and COVID updates for the cities.  

Livestreaming also became helpful when social distancing was instituted at area football games in the fall of 2020. “We had 60 days to prepare … we had to expand our staff and purchase more equipment,” states Morgan. Gameday’s live stream made it possible for many fans to enjoy the game from the comfort and safety of their home. “We needed to have six cameras at every game to get multiple plays and angles,” explains Morgan. “Our sponsors play a huge role … what we do is expensive. Without local businesses partnering with us, we wouldn’t be able to keep it going.”

With four local high schools in Texarkana, not to mention many more schools in surrounding areas, Texarkana Gameday has built six Gameday sets to travel to various sporting events. In addition, Gameday began broadcasting Rockwall High School athletics last year and will begin in Longview this coming year. “Our ultimate goal for Gameday is to go statewide,” declares Morgan.

Former Pleasant Grove quarterback Ben Harmon holding a sign which features him on the cover for “State of Mind”, the documentary film that Gameday produced for the PG Hawks’ 2019 championship season.

Two new additions to the TXK Marketing and Texarkana Gameday family are proof of growth. The Texarkana Gameday app, where updates are sent directly to cell phones, “has been a big game-changer,” says Morgan.  Also, Jennifer is co-hosting an online show called ‘Lady Like.’ “Cylas Langdon and I have a live show every Monday evening,” says Jennifer. “The show celebrates women athletes, business owners, and other women in our community … it’s generating a lot of excitement!”

Whether you’ve attended Walk On’s Live Texarkana Gameday show, watched a local football game from your couch, seen the Facebook posts applauding local athletes, or been interviewed yourself, you know that Texarkana Gameday supports Texarkana’s youth. “I am a natural promoter,” states Morgan. “I love seeing kids compete and succeed.”  Jennifer adds, “And we don’t cover negative. We will not tear down. We decided early on that we would focus on the positive.”

Morgan and Jennifer Smith are community builders who dream big and make big things happen. And if you ever see Mr. and Mrs. Gameday out, just give them a fist bump and a pat on the back. Texarkana is not only a better place with them here; it’s a more exciting, positive, and energized place where we all can cheer each other on and celebrate together. 

Tony Langford (left), Morgan (second from right) and Craig Jenkins (far right) with former NFL players, Tra Carson and LaMichael James.