Longtime sportscaster Verne Lundquist is reportedly entering his last season covering SEC Football for CBS, a job he has held since 2000. Are Razorback fans ready to see “Uncle Verne” go?
I know what you’re thinking…
"“Oh my goodness!”"
All terrible jokes aside, we’re losing a true legend.
Reports from FoxSports.com on Monday stated that longtime ESPN announcer Brad Nessler will begin calling NFL games on CBS before eventually taking Verne’s job announcing SEC football.
Told Brad Nessler will leave ESPN and do NFL for CBS, until he takes over SEC for Uncle Verne.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 25, 2016
Lundquist began his career in broadcasting in 1967 as the radio voice for the Dallas Cowboys. Besides a brief stint with ABC and TNT, Verne has spent the rest of his career with CBS, becoming the voice of many iconic moments in sports. Tiger Woods’ 16th hole shot in the 2005 Masters, Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater, and, most recently, the kick-six ending to the 2013 Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama were given to us by the voice of Uncle Verne.
Even though the outbursts and analysis of Verne have become jaded in his later years, it doesn’t take away from the fact that we’ve seen many great Arkansas games with “The Golden Throat” in the booth (that’s his real nickname, I would not lie to you ). We won’t ever be able to take away how frustrating some of the games made all of us (the 2009 Florida matchup comes to mind). But to many Arkansas and SEC fans, having Verne associated with CBS games on Saturdays is sentimental.
The reports are heartbreaking to SEC football fanatics alike. However, some people are relieved. A select few haven’t enjoyed the voice of Verne ever since his arrival at CBS, and others have grown to mute him as time has passed. As I said, the Verne’s aging has not treated his commentary well. The things he says now can make you cringe hardcore. Last year during one Alabama game, Derrick Henry ran for a 30 yard touchdown to take an insurmountable lead. Instead of yelling out the phrase “Exclamation Mark!” Verne decided to say “Punctuation Mark!” Leaving the audience and me wondering if we were on the same page…grammar wise.
Either way you look at the announcement, we will still get one more year to enjoy our Uncle Verne. Now we are left to wonder…How is Aunt Gary taking the news? I’m sure he’ll be okay, they’ve gotten through bigger fights together.
Here’s to you, Verne!
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The game has changed people. Not in a way that truly impacts the game to a significant degree, but you get my point. So how do you feel? Are y’all as Razorback fans going to miss Verne Lundquist? Adding to that, is Brad Nessler a good choice for the new voice of “SEC on CBS”?
I mean, I just care who brings more luck to us.
Woo Pig.