Who Called Vol Football on the Radio Before John Ward?

[Bert Rechichar]

The CFB 150 Greatest Voices in college football got me thinking. Who Called the games on the radio before Ward? I know Lindsey Nelson did some, but who else did we have as "voice of the vols" in our history and what years did they work?

 

[feathersax]

The CFB 150 Greatest Voices in college football got me thinking. Who Called the games on the radio before Ward? I know Lindsey Nelson did some, but who else did we have as "voice of the vols" in our history and what years did they work?

George Mooney was the voice prior to THE VOICE.

 

[Bert Rechichar]

George Mooney was the voice prior to THE VOICE.

Ah YES, thank you. I couldn't remember his name. I know Vol Network started with Nelson but couldn't remember Mooney.

 

[Volgrad98]

Is my VOL card revoked if I didn't know the answer to this without google? That's a good trivia question IMO.

 

[OrangeByBirth]

Is my VOL card revoked if I didn't know the answer to this without google? That's a good trivia question IMO.

Not revoked but 2 weeks of supervised probation. BTW, I did know it -- I'm an old fart!

 

[Bert Rechichar]

We had some great radio guys. Nelson is probably the greatest sports radio announcer in US history, and his first real job was founding the Vol Network and announcing for the first 3 years. Mooney started the Vol Navy and was the announcer for 15 years. He was a very successful business man in radio and retired in 1967. Of course we know who took over then.

 

[firedog28]

I started watching the Vols in the mid-to late 50's and that was by replay on sunday nights.There were comentators doing the replays but I do not know who the voice was It may have been Nelson,if anyone knows please chime in! By the way I was 10-11 years old at the time.

 

[1974Vol]

George Mooney was the voice prior to THE VOICE.

Before the games they would have Leonard's Losers

I started watching the Vols in the mid-to late 50's and that was by replay on sunday nights.There were comentators doing the replays but I do not know who the voice was It may have been Nelson,if anyone knows please chime in! By the way I was 10-11 years old at the time.

Follow this link to what you remember. This 1959 team was one of the ones I first remember. Single Wing with Billy Majors, Glenn Glass. Probably biggest win that season was beating LSU by stopping Billy Cannon at the goal line to save the victory,

 

[sechamp2012]

Per my dad Lindsey Nelson was the best. He was the voice of wide world of sports and probably the most famous UT announcer. Did Golf ,Baseball Basketball and football, was also the voice of the Mets.
Also Lindsey Nelson Stadium home of UT baseball.

 

[LexVol71]

Before the games they would have Leonard's Losers




Follow this link to what you remember. This 1959 team was one of the ones I first remember. Single Wing with Billy Majors, Glenn Glass. Probably biggest win that season was beating LSU by stopping Billy Cannon at the goal line to save the victory,

I enjoyed the mention of Gene Etter, son of my HS coach at Chattanooga Central, Red Etter.

 

[Boca Vol]

Is my VOL card revoked if I didn't know the answer to this without google? That's a good trivia question IMO.

Double Secret Probation!

 

[Bert Rechichar]

This is a great thread. Thanks for making it great guys! Lots of good, fond memories of my dad come pouring back in when watching that video. Gets me a little choked up. Driving back from the stadium on a cool fall afternoon after the Vols had just beaten whatever unlucky opponent that drew the short straw that day, Vol Network blaring on the radio, old car heater cranked up and thawing my toes, and the orange sunset going down on the horizon. Days like that are gone forever, but worth remembering.

 

[DonDiego]

Per my dad Lindsey Nelson was the best. He was the voice of wide world of sports and probably the most famous UT announcer. Did Golf ,Baseball Basketball and football, was also the voice of the Mets.
Also Lindsey Nelson Stadium home of UT baseball.

Wasn't he the voice of Note Dame football at one time? I thought so, but maybe not.

 

[joevol33]

Before the games they would have Leonard's Losers




Follow this link to what you remember. This 1959 team was one of the ones I first remember. Single Wing with Billy Majors, Glenn Glass. Probably biggest win that season was beating LSU by stopping Billy Cannon at the goal line to save the victory,

I remember Leonard's losers when i was a kid.

 

[MAD]

Does anyone remember back in the 70's after the games on one of the AM stations that they would have a program where people would call in just to ask for a score from around the country?

I mean we had no way of knowing any scores, there was no ESPN, no internet.

So you would just call up and the host would pick up the phone live on the air and he would ask you which score you wanted to hear and you would say like "Could I get the score for the Michigan State game?" and he would look it up and tell you the score and if it was in progress or a final.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

Does anyone remember back in the 70's after the games on one of the AM stations that they would have a program where people would call in just to ask for a score from around the country?

I mean we had no way of knowing any scores, there was no ESPN, no internet.

So you would just call up and the host would pick up the phone live on the air and he would ask you which score you wanted to hear and you would say like "Could I get the score for the Michigan State game?" and he would look it up and tell you the score and if it was in progress or a final.

Sure I remember those. Back in the days when there was only 1 or 2 games on TV, after the last game and the televised scoreboard show, that was the only way to get scores. My brother and I listened to it for hours.

 

[esarmstrong]

Does anyone remember back in the 70's after the games on one of the AM stations that they would have a program where people would call in just to ask for a score from around the country?

I mean we had no way of knowing any scores, there was no ESPN, no internet.

So you would just call up and the host would pick up the phone live on the air and he would ask you which score you wanted to hear and you would say like "Could I get the score for the Michigan State game?" and he would look it up and tell you the score and if it was in progress or a final.

"Hold that Line" was the name of the show, IIRC. The phone was always ringing and when ever there was a break in the calls, they would run down some scores.

 

[Volgrad98]

Not revoked but 2 weeks of supervised probation. BTW, I did know it -- I'm an old fart!

Double Secret Probation!

Alright fellas, message received. I'll try to keep my nose clean.

 

[MAD]

"Hold that Line" was the name of the show, IIRC. The phone was always ringing and when ever there was a break in the calls, they would run down some scores.

That’s it, I think it was on WRJZ.

 

[m1al]

Wasn’t Nelson part of the Jefferson Pilot broadcasts?

 

[bobkitten]

There was no radio before John Ward! Nor after!

 

[Neal Boswell]

Ah YES, thank you. I couldn't remember his name. I know Vol Network started with Nelson but couldn't remember Mooney.

"The Single Wing is off to the right." George Mooney was one of the best.

 

[MAD]

Also loved watching on Sundays back in the 70’s a College football highlight show. It was on ABC around noon. It was called College Football ‘77(changed to what ever year it was) hosted by Bill Flemmings and they had marching band music in the background. That was our ESPN back in the day.

 

[pharmDvol11]

My favorite was still John Ward and Bill Anderson aka Blanderson by the Voice of the Vols

 

[Jravol78]

My favorite was still John Ward and Bill Anderson aka Blanderson by the Voice of the Vols

lol ... “Blanderson”. Ward /Anderson is imho the gold standard radio broadcast team(play by play plus commentator-spot/color man) My brother and I loved making up different ways for Bill Anderson to be the most negative human on the face of the earth! Example ... John and Bill discussing the first 3 quarters @ the beginning of the 4th “Bill , Peyton Manning has been magical tonight in engineering the Big Orange’s offensive attack. Through three quarters he has 457 passing yards , along with a record 5 touchdown passes in guiding the Vols offense to jump out to a 45-3 advantage “ Bill’s response , as only he could so pessimistically respond would be ,” yeah John , but if this punting unit doesn’t get their act together quick then this game is gonna swing back UTEP’s way here in a hurry “