Signing Off

As you may or may not have heard, I turned off my Vol Network microphone at the end of the basketball season and headed off into retirement. I have had a chance to reflect on my 26 years as the lead announcer on the Vol Network. It has been quite a ride.

I came to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in fall 1972 as a walk-on fullback on the freshman football team. Wasn’t at all sure what I was getting into and if I would even survive two-a-day practice sessions. As it turns out, I did and got to play quite a bit that freshman year. While it was a thrill to wear the orange jersey and play games at Neyland Stadium, I knew I was never going to be a star in the SEC and was able to get my degree and begin a broadcasting career.

Working for John Ward, the legendary Voice of the Vols, during my college days helped me learn the techniques of broadcasting from a master. Being his spotter and sitting next to him for 15 seasons was a classroom for me, and I tried to soak up every minute and every game to learn the craft.

I got a chance shortly after I graduated to call basketball games on the radio for a young coach named Pat Head. Wasn’t a whole lot of interest in the Lady Vol basketball team back in the late ’70s. A crowd of 150 was a good night at Stokely Center. I was thrilled to get the opportunity just to call games. My paycheck was $15 a game, and if it was a road game, I had to pay for my gas out of that.

Not sure anybody saw what was coming for the Lady Vols back then. Pat did most of the heavy lifting for all women’s teams across the country in terms of equality in salaries, facilities, travel and scholarships. It was an honor for me to call her first six national championships but more importantly to call her my friend.

Looking back, I traveled during football and basketball season every weekend since 1974. While it has been great, it has also been a lot of time away from my family. Missed a lot of soccer games, concerts and other events with my two daughters during that time. We have a fifth grandkid coming in April. I have already missed a lot of football and basketball games with them. Don’t want to miss any more.

The University of Tennessee has opened so many doors for me. In 1972, I could have never dreamed of the places I’ve been doing games over all these years, the people I’ve met. I’ve broadcast games from the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, Ohio Stadium, Allen Fieldhouse, Madison Square Garden, Rupp Arena, the Cotton Bowl and my favorites—Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena.

Since 1968, only UT Knoxville grads have called games on the Vol Network. No other university can boast that. The tradition will continue with Mike Keith when he takes over at the Orange and White game in April. He will do a great job.

Thank you for listening all these years. Thank you for supporting our university. It has been an honor and a blessing for me to have the opportunity to represent you, our university and our state during the Vol Network broadcasts for the past 26 years.