Replacing Woody Durham?

Those guys that work at the Network level do more work than just show up and analyze.  The TV guys spent hours each week looking at film as if they are a coach looking for the way a player reacts to situations. They get one shot a week in front of a national audience.  They had better look prepared or somebody will take there place in a minute.

The next level of sports announcers is the play by play guys for professional teams.  These are the guys you hear or see practically everyday.  They not only travel with the team but are used a MCs when ever the team holds a function for charities or dinners for special events.  Because they become the voice of the team fans endear them as if they are a player.  Fans become accustomed to hearing Sam Huff and Sonny Jergenson argue over a play between plays for say the Washington Redskins.

The next level is that of the college sports announcer.  Most just do Football and basketball but a few do their college baseball also.  Woody Durham has been heard for years as the "Voice Of The Tar Heels".  I told you earlier this week that he went around and helped local stations sell Carolina on the radio to local affiliates.  Since 1981 he has been the Executive Sports Director of Tar Heel Sports Marketing.  Pretty much that means he in charge of all the Network and who can carry the Tar Heels and who can't.

To say that Woody Durham has lived for the Tar Heels would be an understatement.   There is nothing like Woody's call when football scores   "Touchdown Carolina".  Regardless whether you pull for the Heels, Devils, Wolfpack or Pirates you get so use to hearing your guy sing out when the scores come.

Replacing Woody has already made it seem like they were replacing a coach.  The top two on the wish list have already turned the Heels down.  Woody's son Wes who has been the Voice of the Rambling Wreck Of Georgia Tech for several years and more recently the voice of the Atlanta Falcons both at the same time.  

Mick Mixon who for 16 years was Woody's color man but now the Carolina Panthers Play by play guy has said he's not interested.  Regardless of who follows Woody it will be as if he is following Dean Smith.  The Legend never did any thing wrong and this new guy doesn't know what he is doing.

A Wolfpacker for life I still yearn for the Wally Ausley/ Gary Dornburg  call on State Games.  "The Glass Slipper Fits".

Who ever gets behind the mic for the Tar Heels will need to stay for life so people can die off who have only heard Woody's calls and a new generations can say 'Nobody does it better.  A sports announcers legacy is much larger when he covers a winner.

The Tar Heels have been that the last forty years.  Woody Durham has been there for every game.