Paging Scott Howard: Munson Retiring?
UPDATE: The AJC reports that Munson will only call home games this coming year.
The day all Georgia fans knew was coming, but hated to think about has arrived. Larry Munson, voice of the Dawgs and inspirer or men, is contemplating retirement after 40 years in the box. Paul Westerdawg has continuing coverage. Larry evidently has all the normal health issues that surround being 84 years old. Larry and Georgia AD Damon Evans have discussed several contingency plans if Larry decides he's done before September.
Munson is revered both inside the Georgia community and even by rival fans (see No. 2 in Orson Swindle's most likable people post). He is not only the voice of the program, but in many ways it's soul as well. It's hard to overstate how much Larry is beloved by Dawg fans. Not having grown up a Dawg, I've learned Georgia football through Larry Munson and have, therefore learned to appreciate it through his eyes. He is a reflection of my own attitudes toward Georgia football: unreasonably pessimistic without being defeatist, yet excitable and overwhelmed by unexpected victory. He is an icon of Georgia football, impossible to replicate or replace.
With that preface, I think it is time for Larry to consider walking away. His calls have recently become more lethargic. It takes a while for him to figure out who's caught a ball (or get that info from his spotters). Larry's great, but he's been showing his age and he is well within his rights to leave Georgia fans with his considerable portfolio of mixtape material.
So who replaces Larry? The odds on favorite is Scott Howard, Larry's wingman for 14 years. I generally have a favorable impression of Howard from his time as the basketball announcer. He's as wonderfully unprofessional as Munson is. He's the guy you hear grunting or shouting in the background of some of Larry's great calls. He's the logical replacement. I've heard Georgia graduate and Braves announcer Chip Caray mentioned on the message boards, but I think that's a longshot at best. I would imagine that TBS has Chip on lockdown with his new contract. Buck Belue is on the radio in Atlanta, but I find Buck too sedate. He's more apt to be on TV than calling a game on radio. Brad Nessler is another possibility as he is an Atlanta resident and is generally a superb broadcaster. I could certainly endorse Nessler, but I like that Howard has put in his sweat equity already with the Dawgs fans. Whoever gets the nod will have to fill a huge void left by Larry. I don't envy their job a bit.
The day all Georgia fans knew was coming, but hated to think about has arrived. Larry Munson, voice of the Dawgs and inspirer or men, is contemplating retirement after 40 years in the box. Paul Westerdawg has continuing coverage. Larry evidently has all the normal health issues that surround being 84 years old. Larry and Georgia AD Damon Evans have discussed several contingency plans if Larry decides he's done before September.
Munson is revered both inside the Georgia community and even by rival fans (see No. 2 in Orson Swindle's most likable people post). He is not only the voice of the program, but in many ways it's soul as well. It's hard to overstate how much Larry is beloved by Dawg fans. Not having grown up a Dawg, I've learned Georgia football through Larry Munson and have, therefore learned to appreciate it through his eyes. He is a reflection of my own attitudes toward Georgia football: unreasonably pessimistic without being defeatist, yet excitable and overwhelmed by unexpected victory. He is an icon of Georgia football, impossible to replicate or replace.
With that preface, I think it is time for Larry to consider walking away. His calls have recently become more lethargic. It takes a while for him to figure out who's caught a ball (or get that info from his spotters). Larry's great, but he's been showing his age and he is well within his rights to leave Georgia fans with his considerable portfolio of mixtape material.
So who replaces Larry? The odds on favorite is Scott Howard, Larry's wingman for 14 years. I generally have a favorable impression of Howard from his time as the basketball announcer. He's as wonderfully unprofessional as Munson is. He's the guy you hear grunting or shouting in the background of some of Larry's great calls. He's the logical replacement. I've heard Georgia graduate and Braves announcer Chip Caray mentioned on the message boards, but I think that's a longshot at best. I would imagine that TBS has Chip on lockdown with his new contract. Buck Belue is on the radio in Atlanta, but I find Buck too sedate. He's more apt to be on TV than calling a game on radio. Brad Nessler is another possibility as he is an Atlanta resident and is generally a superb broadcaster. I could certainly endorse Nessler, but I like that Howard has put in his sweat equity already with the Dawgs fans. Whoever gets the nod will have to fill a huge void left by Larry. I don't envy their job a bit.
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