My wife and I were checking into a Gatlinburg hotel when we heard of John Ward's passing. After checking in, we walked down to the the gift shops. The very first gift shop we walked into, and the very first thing I saw was the sign "It's Football Time in Tennessee." I told my wife, "wow, what a coincidence" and immediately bought it. Of all the great John Ward phrases, it's probably my favorite especially when The Pride is opening up the T on opening day.God. I miss John ward… can’t keep from tearing up watching this .
I'm 70....you are exactly correct. Back in the day you had to be Texas...OU....USC...ND... occasionally Bama fans to see your team play on TV. It's why New Years day was so special back then....you saw more football games in 1 day than you had seen in a whole month. Lol.Back when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, you’d get maybe 3 games a Saturday between ABC and CBS on tv. It may well be USC vs Texas but it was all there was.
And the radio. The Vol Radio Network was our lifeline. We had this old “world band” radio that could pickup anything and everything, if the antenna hadn’t broken like 10 years ago. Ward painted the picture and it was like I was there. Wilkerson carries on that tradition today. Masters of their craft.
I was in the garage with my dad working on some project when John told me that “Ladies and gentlemen, Willie Gault is running all the way to the state capitol.”
Moments I’ll never forget.
Yep, and the Jefferson Pilot telecasts were gifts from the heavens.........Back when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, you’d get maybe 3 games a Saturday between ABC and CBS on tv. It may well be USC vs Texas but it was all there was.
And the radio. The Vol Radio Network was our lifeline. We had this old “world band” radio that could pickup anything and everything, if the antenna hadn’t broken like 10 years ago. Ward painted the picture and it was like I was there. Wilkerson carries on that tradition today. Masters of their craft.
I was in the garage with my dad working on some project when John told me that “Ladies and gentlemen, Willie Gault is running all the way to the state capitol.”
Moments I’ll never forget.
They should play a recording of him saying that right before the team comes out at every home game… play the voice of John Ward, have the band break into the T and start playing Rocky Top, and out comes the team. Perfect.My wife and I were checking into a Gatlinburg hotel when we heard of John Ward's passing. After checking in, we walked down to the the gift shops. The very first gift shop we walked into, and the very first thing I saw was the sign "It's Football Time in Tennessee." I told my wife, "wow, what a coincidence" and immediately bought it. Of all the great John Ward phrases, it's probably my favorite especially when The Pride is opening up the T on opening day.
Best idea I've heard in a long, long time. "From Dyersburg to Bulls Gap and everywhere in between, ladies and gentlemen, it's Football Time in Tennessee!"They should play a recording of him saying that right before the team comes out at every home game… play the voice of John Ward, have the band break into the T and start playing Rocky Top, and out comes the team. Perfect.