It’s time. A Kesling thread

#26
#26
The Vol network is good and has been for a long time. Vol coverage has always felt superior to everyone else. Same could be said for this site compared to everyone else.
 
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#28
#28
AdoptedVOL said:
I'm going to disagree. Bob is a VFL who loves the program. I hear comments on this board about his lack of excitement, not calling ball position on field, not calling down and distance, clock time. I've listened to recent live game broadcasts while traveling with these comments in mind and I just disagree. His archive of calls also have exciting calls. He's not one to scream at the mic; and I don't like that screaming style anyway. I think this is more about personal taste than mechanics of the calls.

Whatever the future holds, I'd prefer not "SAAAAAAACK".
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John Wilkerson does a good job of bringing excitement and emotion without all the screaming. I don't like the screaming style either but Bob sounds like he's in a library while he's calling the game.
 
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#29
#29
Hopefully Bob will retire from calling football games after Tennessee's Bowl Game and just call Tennessee Basketball Games. I hope Pat Ryan just retires.
 
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#34
#34
jim285pro said:
Kesling has done an admirable job and I enjoyed listening to him over the years but it’s time to bring in some new blood and energy to the broadcasts. A new chapter of Vol football is underway with lots of excitement and energy. The broadcast energy doesn’t match what is happening on the field. This isn’t a bash Bob thread As I’ve been plenty critical of him the last few years, just putting what I know a lot are thinking out there for discussion.
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Bob dosen't bother me. Be careful what you ask for
 
#37
#37
John Ward was a wordsmith without equal. He was the Hunter S. Thompson of broadcasters. His ability to paint word pictures on the fly is something you never see out of any announcers.

Ward was a new Ferrari. He was going to take you places with a lot of fun and unique style. Kesling is a Toyota Camry. He will get you home but it's going to be a boring drive and no one will really notice you.

I do wonder how much longer he's going to keep going. I believe he's as old or older than Ward was when he retired. John was a grateful and graceful man and knew he didn't want to age out of his abilities on the air.
 
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#39
#39
At the end of the Vandy game Bob called the 18 yard line the 28 (but he did correct himself quickly). He really struggles with down and distance throughout games.

I think that I also heard him say that everybody that’s taken the bus over from NASHVILLE gets to play tonight.

When Vandy was tackled with 3 seconds remaining, the clock running, and the refs having NOT yet spotted the ball: “and that MIGHT be the last play of the game”.

But the best BOBble was when he said “At the end of the game we’ll select the AutoZone Player of the Game. Err… the Advance Auto Parts Player of the Game”.

All of those errors occurred within about a 5 minute window. There’s no telling how many mistakes are made over a 3.5 hour broadcast.

24 years has been long enough as the football PBP guy. Let him keep doing the Josh Heupel TV Show, join Bud Ford on the Locker Room show, and even do some post game and halftime commentary. But he’s just not painting an accurate picture of the games with the play-by-play announcing. At least not good enough for this level.
 
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#40
#40
VolArmy74 said:
John Ward was a wordsmith without equal. He was the Hunter S. Thompson of broadcasters. His ability to paint word pictures on the fly is something you never see out of any announcers.

Ward was a new Ferrari. He was going to take you places with a lot of fun and unique style. Kesling is a Toyota Camry. He will get you home but it's going to be a boring drive and no one will really notice you.

I do wonder how much longer he's going to keep going. I believe he's as old or older than Ward was when he retired. John was a grateful and graceful man and knew he didn't want to age out of his abilities on the air.
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I'm just glad that he got to broadcast the national championship game against Florida St. in 1998.
 
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#42
#42
John Ward retired after 31 seasons as the football announcer. He was 68 years old.

Kesling is in his 24th season and is about 67 or 68 years old.
 
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#44
#44
jim285pro said:
Kesling has done an admirable job and I enjoyed listening to him over the years but it’s time to bring in some new blood and energy to the broadcasts. A new chapter of Vol football is underway with lots of excitement and energy. The broadcast energy doesn’t match what is happening on the field. This isn’t a bash Bob thread As I’ve been plenty critical of him the last few years, just putting what I know a lot are thinking out there for discussion.
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I vote for Abbot and Costello in the who's On First format. Or maybe Chic Anderson, the CBS announcer who called the Secretariat Belmont race.
 
#46
#46
Kesling got the position because he was in the right place at the right time. It had nothing to do with the quality of his broadcasting skills. He botches more commentary than anyone I have listened to with any regularity. He frequently leaves the listener wondering about game action because he’s just not good with detail. Todd Helton could tell you a few more reasons, too. He is a Vol fan, but woeful broadcaster.
 
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#47
#47
jim285pro said:
Kesling has done an admirable job and I enjoyed listening to him over the years but it’s time to bring in some new blood and energy to the broadcasts. A new chapter of Vol football is underway with lots of excitement and energy. The broadcast energy doesn’t match what is happening on the field. This isn’t a bash Bob thread As I’ve been plenty critical of him the last few years, just putting what I know a lot are thinking out there for discussion.
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He knows. I believe he will retire soon.
 
#48
#48
Bob is much more skilled at preparing and reading the pre-game scripts and interviewing coaches and opponents’ PR guys during game week (Vol Calls). But he’s never been great at the live game broadcasts and as he’s approaching 70 years old it will only get worse. Let somebody decades younger have the mic. Please.
 
#49
#49
A hundred years ago I was in high school and I dreamed of becoming the Voice of the Vols one day. I wrote a letter to Kessling for advice. I asked if I should go to UT or to the "Broadcast School" that once existed in Knoxville. Kessling wrote back, a full page typed letter. His advice was sage, telling me "Go to college, the full experience is vital" as well as lots of other super kind advice. The guy must have given that long typed letter more than an hour. I ran in to him at the Memphis Airport years later and thanked him. He was incredibly kind and gracious.

I am the world's biggest John Ward fan ever, truly the greatest of all time and Kessling will never be his equal. But I respect and appreciate the guy an awful lot.
 
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