Announcers we grew up with and the future

Smoovee7

BamaNation Citizen
Aug 18, 2025
54
54
27
Thinking tonight, many of us grew up with Musburger, Jackson, Vern, etc. If I am 14 and listening to games who is that Keith Jackson, or Musburger of today? Is it Chris Fowler and Herby? Who are those iconic announcers of today?
 

BamaJoe23

New Member
Sep 5, 2025
7
4
12
I certainly don't miss Verne and Gary but I sure miss the SEC game intro music from CBS. Hearing that always got me excited and a little fired up, especially for big games. Still feels weird not hearing that now after all those years.
 

Isaiah 63:1

All-American
Dec 8, 2005
2,928
2,846
187
Probably at 35k or in an airport somewhere
Given the speed at which AI capabilities are developing (faster than the doubling every 18 to 24 months as under Moore‘s law for computer chips), it won’t be long before you won’t need, and network won’t employ, announcers, or at least not as many and as remuneratively as they do today. Any viewer will be able to choose his own, customized AI announcer(s) for each game based on any qualities he wants: age, sex, race, accent, neutral versus homer, level of analysis, any other attributes highly sought-after by the superficial male, etc. Announcers had better enjoy making money whilst they can, because the current era and economics will have passed before long.
 

CB4

Hall of Fame
Aug 8, 2011
11,700
19,017
187
Birmingham, AL
The great voices like Keith Jackson, Lindsay Nelson, Chris Shenkel, Dick Enberg, Frank Broyles, etc are long since gone.

Folks like Fowler, Herbie, Rece, do a solid job. But what separates the “old guard” from them IMO was the old guys “let the game be object of the viewer’s attention”. Today, as @TideEngineer08 pointed out, with the numerous games going on at any time, these broadcast teams believe they need to be at times “bigger than the game” or “look at us” in order to draw eyeballs.

It’s the reason I won’t watch a Fox broadcast with Gus Johnson, or, if Joe Tessitore is doing a Bama game, the tube goes on mute.
 

CB4

Hall of Fame
Aug 8, 2011
11,700
19,017
187
Birmingham, AL
I like Sean McDonough, especially when he gets really excited and his voice cracks.

Some people like Gus Johnson, I don't, and his over the top excitement for teams he likes.

Neither of these are "iconic".
Sean McDonough is more of the old school throwback. But the last few years he has gotten into editorializing at times during games. I think some of that is pressure to be more like the others out there. If hear Gus, I either switch channels or hit mute.
 

teamplayer

Hall of Fame
Jul 31, 2001
7,991
3,085
282
cullman, al, usa
Given the speed at which AI capabilities are developing (faster than the doubling every 18 to 24 months as under Moore‘s law for computer chips), it won’t be long before you won’t need, and network won’t employ, announcers, or at least not as many and as remuneratively as they do today. Any viewer will be able to choose his own, customized AI announcer(s) for each game based on any qualities he wants: age, sex, race, accent, neutral versus homer, level of analysis, any other attributes highly sought-after by the superficial male, etc. Announcers had better enjoy making money whilst they can, because the current era and economics will have passed before long.
The lack of humanity continues to sadden me. I'm old. Get off my lawn AI robot kids!
 

Isaiah 63:1

All-American
Dec 8, 2005
2,928
2,846
187
Probably at 35k or in an airport somewhere
The lack of humanity continues to sadden me. I'm old. Get off my lawn AI robot kids!
Although I am a relatively early adopter and heavy user of AI in things work and personal, I don’t disagree with you. A nation is founded and maintained on shared experiences and understandings. In football and elsewhere, we’re having fewer and fewer of those, and it’s not generally healthy for our republic…
 
Last edited:

bamamc1

Hall of Fame
Oct 24, 2011
6,213
5,511
187
Haleyville, AL
The great voices like Keith Jackson, Lindsay Nelson, Chris Shenkel, Dick Enberg, Frank Broyles, etc are long since gone.

Folks like Fowler, Herbie, Rece, do a solid job. But what separates the “old guard” from them IMO was the old guys “let the game be object of the viewer’s attention”. Today, as @TideEngineer08 pointed out, with the numerous games going on at any time, these broadcast teams believe they need to be at times “bigger than the game” or “look at us” in order to draw eyeballs.

It’s the reason I won’t watch a Fox broadcast with Gus Johnson, or, if Joe Tessitore is doing a Bama game, the tube goes on mute.
Thank you for that walk down memory lane. RTR
 
  • Like
Reactions: CB4

editder

All-American
Nov 2, 2017
2,033
2,417
182
I certainly don't miss Verne and Gary but I sure miss the SEC game intro music from CBS. Hearing that always got me excited and a little fired up, especially for big games. Still feels weird not hearing that now after all those years.
I had to google it to remind myself what it sounded like.
 

DanoCanuck

2nd Team
Feb 5, 2020
316
554
112
The great voices like Keith Jackson, Lindsay Nelson, Chris Shenkel, Dick Enberg, Frank Broyles, etc are long since gone.
Voices almost immediately recognized by us older generation. Each with a certain timbre and tone to their voices and neither sounds like the other. In today’s broadcasting you could almost insert voice A for voice B and barely notice. Although not college football announcers you could add the likes of Vin Scully, Howard Cosell and Curt Gowdy to the list of immediately recognizable voices. Maybe one of the current generation will distance themselves from the others but I can’t think of one who might do so. *Shrugs*
 
  • Like
Reactions: OakMtn4Bama and CB4
|

Latest threads

TideFans.shop - Get your Gear HERE!

Alabama Crimson Tide Car Door Light
Alabama Crimson Tide Car Door Light

Get this and many more items at our TideFans.shop!

Purchases may result in a commission being paid to TideFans.