Did Dickey force John Ward Out?

#1
JohnWardForever

JohnWardForever

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#1
Read this on another thread and was wondering if ANYONE on here had any knowledge or evidence of such.
Something about Dickey forcing John to re-negotiate his contract with the Vol network. If that were true, I would call it the biggest blunder in Dickey's tenure--and put DD on my list of most despised. If I remember correctly, Immediately following retirement, John donated $10 million to UT. The thought of Dickey depriving Vol fans of the magic of John Ward is inconceivable---especially for the younger fans who never had that wonderful experience.
 
#4
#4
So what you are saying you heard is Dickey wanted him to redo his contract and Ward retired in opposition?
 
#5
#5
I don't think Dickey had any input short of denying access to the radio network.

They are owned by a group external to the University, one that runs quite a few college radio networks.
 
#7
#7
Don't doubt he is wealthy, but 10 mill???? He must be very frugal!!!...Good for him if he is that rich...I miss him calling the games. He will never be replaced IMHO!!!
 
#8
#8
oUTKickedCoverage said:
I don't think Dickey had any input short of denying access to the radio network.

They are owned by a group external to the University, one that runs quite a few college radio networks.
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Yes they ARE---but different ownership then, and JW was employed by UT. I wouldn't doubt that Dickey had an interest in Host Communications-(the past broadcasting rights holder of UT Sports). Current CO. is IGT
 
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#9
#9
He got rich off of those Lays Potato Chips.

and Natural.................................Gas



As much as i hate to say it, there at the end Ward had lost a step so to speak. I think he went out at the right time. I mean you dont want to pull a Dick Clark..
 
#11
#11
wounded mullet said:
He got rich off of those Lays Potato Chips.

and Natural.................................Gas



As much as i hate to say it, there at the end Ward had lost a step so to speak. I think he went out at the right time. I mean you dont want to pull a Dick Clark..
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Or Larry Munson!!! That said, John still had a lot left in the tank, and at 75% is much better than-----------
 
#13
#13
When John was still on I didnt mind having to listen to a game on the radio. Now if I have to I'm in a bad mood for the game. John made you feel like you were there, he made you feel the game through the radio. There will never be another one like him.
 
#14
#14
I think if John was still announcing today, he would still be better than 95% of the college football radio announcers. He is a dying breed of radio guys who could paint you a picture of a play better than staring at a 62 inch HD TV. Its all robotic talking heads who do not dare get out of their confort zone.Most of them were trained to be TV guys so their imagination and flare are voided out.

That being said, unless this story is true ,Ward is a professional and a professional knows when to walk away from the game to keep their respectability intact. Basically the anti-Farve..
 
#17
#17
Oh man, on something like a kickoff return td, nobody did the radio any better than John Ward, ticking off the the 10 yd markers and the "give him 6, touchdown Tennessee! Willie ... GAULT!"

But when the ball carrier broke the critical tackle and stepped thru a seam into daylight, from Ward's partner, Bill, in the background you might hear just a little "uh oh" and you knew somethin was happening. It was like sauce on the steak.
 
#18
#18
ULQQKED said:
From what I have heard Ward drank his way out pissing off people at the top on the way.
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Outside of the drinking part (which I can't speak on one way or the other), I could believe that he probably pissed some people off. I could careless about him giving people at the top hard times. But what I have heard on several occasions is that he doesn't particularly treat people beneath him well at all.
 
#19
#19
Rasputin_Vol said:
Outside of the drinking part (which I can't speak on one way or the other), I could believe that he probably pissed some people off. I could careless about him giving people at the top hard times. But what I have heard on several occasions is that he doesn't particularly treat people beneath him well at all.
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are you guys discussing Ward or Majors?:)
 
#20
#20
I don't get to see many games. But John Ward could literally make you see the plays as they unfolded. Mike Keith is the closest radio has left,IMHO
 
#21
#21
John Ward does not strike me as a good person to work with and the chat/interview he did about UT a while back gave me a bit of a bad taste...but when it comes to listening to a guy call the plays, I've enjoyed listening to no one more.
 
#22
#22
Love John Ward. Hate Bob Kesling. Kesling has tried so hard to make "into the checkerboards" his little catch phrase, its just aggravating. Can u not say into the endzone....touchdown!!! Hey Bob its ok to say touchdown big orange every now and again as well. I absolutely can't stand him calling games.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#23
#23
TEX_VOLFAN said:
Don't doubt he is wealthy, but 10 mill???? He must be very frugal!!!...Good for him if he is that rich...I miss him calling the games. He will never be replaced IMHO!!!
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There will never be another John Ward...EVER! I miss watching games on tv and having the radio turned up to hear Ward's commentary. That always made Tennessee games more enjoyable to watch!

John Kessling can go straddle a goat! The only guy right now I can think of that I'd like to have on the radio calling the Vol games besides Ward would be Mike Keith, the voice of the Titans. I enjoy his commentary too. Not was much as Wards but I think he's a darn good one.
 
#24
#24
Amazing to me how much Kesling sucks in football but is really really good in basketball. Of course Bertlekamp may have something to do with that. Kesling is ridiculously bad at football.

Classic Kesling call:

"Hardesty..around the end..and he's got some room and finally gets tackled after a gain of 27"
 
#25
#25
john_deere123 said:
I don't get to see many games. But John Ward could literally make you see the plays as they unfolded. Mike Keith is the closest radio has left,IMHO
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When someone can take a product and make it more than it actually is----that is art at it's finest. Ward's broadcasts were an event unto themselves. John somehow had the ability to make even a loss more palatable. He was a big as the game itself.
 
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