For those who don’t know, Eli Gold will not be back for the 2024 season as the radio voice of Crimson Tide football. There will be a new Dean of SEC radio announcers. I believe the longest-tenured now goes to David Kellum of Ole Miss.
As a teenage sports fanatic with no athletic ability in the early to mid-90s, I coveted Eli’s job. Heck, as a middle-aged sports fanatic with no athletic ability in the mid-2020s, I STILL covet that job.
The Voice of the Crimson Tide was my career apex once upon a time as a struggling sportscaster.
Eli is the single most important sports voice of my life. From George Teague’s pick-six to 2nd and 26, he’s announced some of my favorite sports moments ever!
Today’s news that he won’t return was an emotional body blow. I found myself fighting tears while at work today after the news broke
But then the news that the University was essentially letting him go and not bringing him back…well, it pisses me off.
Is Eli the same announcer he was when he was in his prime? Not even close. The fire and enthusiasm felt like it wasn’t there this past season.
Longtime Bama basketball and baseball announcer Chris Stewart will take over. Judging by the football games that Chris has done in recent years, fans love him. He’s brilliant at what he does and will completely crush his new role.
That said, Eli Gold devoted 35 years to the University of Alabama. He’s a legend! He’s a cancer survivor. He deserved to make the call when he stepped away.
Firing Eli Gold is like the Braves firing Skip Caray or Pete Van Wieren.
Firing Eli Gold is like the Lakers firing Chick Hearn.
Firing Eli Gold is like the Dodgers firing Vin Scully!
Chris and Tyler Watts I believe will help make Bama’s radio booth the best in college football.
But they did Eli Gold very dirty!
There are two things the University can do to make this right. They need to do this before the first game in August.
They need to name the media center at Bryant Denny Stadium the “Cecil Hurt Memorial Media Center.”
And they need to name the radio booth the “Eli Gold Radio Booth.”
Eli,
Thank you so much for being one of the most important songs on the soundtrack of my life. Here’s to many more years of good health and career success.
Your booth is in good hands.
I only wish I was able to audition for the job opening.
