Verne Lundquist: 'I don't want to stay too long'

[jbcarol]

If his knees, mind and voice hold up, Lundquist said he hopes to re-up after his CBS contract expires in 2014.

"I don't want to stay too long. We all know guys who did. I don't want that happening. I don't want the mistakes multiplying. I'm conscious, we all are. If I misidentify a guy, I feel really bad about it. You don't get to come back the next day to correct it."

He often gives journalism students three tips that his first CBS executive producer provided 30 years ago.

1. Don't ever mention your name on television.

2. Never talk over a golf shot.

3. Don't state the obvious.

"I never dreamed that this SEC assignment would explode the way it has," he said.

There's even a Verne Lundquist Drinking Game in which viewers can take a drink depending on when he laughs or makes mistakes on a broadcast. "I'm proud of the fact that mine's not as active as (Brent) Musburger's," he said.

Lundquist tried to get CBS put a cease and desist on "Fake Verne" social media accounts. He detests anonymous criticism.

[Dr. Starcs]

Sorry Verne, but you already have by about 10 years.

[elksnort]

Verne is great

[go hogues]

If he left, who would give AL-AH-bama an on-camera BJ each week? He's gotta be there to support his Tide, ya'll!

[56Hog]

Vern will be gone in 2015 as will most of the CBS on screen talent.  Within 5 years ESPN will be producing the over air CBS broadcasts with their own SEC Network talent.

My guess is Dave and Hairplug will somehow survive the transition but Archie is the only CBS regular who deserves to be kept on.

[mlloyd4]

I can't think of any sports media, game announcers or refs that I really like.

[Professor Psychosis]

[MojoHog]

LOL! Definitely incomplete!

[jbcarol]

Clay Travis ‏@ClayTravisBGID 19h
Verne Lundquist just trash talked Brent Musburger over Katherine Webb. Is this real life?

[jbcarol]

Verne and Gary draw the Georgia-Auburn game.

Drinking games have commenced.

[jbcarol]

Blocked.

Sterling Baby ... uh ... Bailey.

[jbcarol]

Paul Finebaum ‏@finebaum 42m
Gary Danielson told us if Auburn catches AJ's ``A-game'' on Saturday, Alabama ``will be nearly impossible to beat.''

[jbcarol]

Verne: They look like wrestling referees.

It's too late.

[jbcarol]

"Tracy, I've been doing this a long time. I have never seen a sewing machine on the field before.  Only in the S - E - C."

[(notOM)Rebel123]

"Tracy, I've been doing this a long time. I have never seen a sewing machine on the field before.  Only in the S - E - C."

"Wow!"

[jbcarol]

"And it's going to be wide left...  It's blocked."

[jbcarol]

Verne told a NYC reporter that the Bama game equaled his greatest sports event for which he worked.

"I'm a stubborn old goat, so I said, 'It ties for No. 2 with [Christian] Laettner's shot [for Duke over Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA Tournament], but behind Jack,' " he said.

Danielson wrote him a note that read: "So you go from Nicklaus at the Masters to the greatest college basketball game ever played to what ultimately might be regarded as the greatest college football game ever played. What's next?"

Lundquist has no idea, of course, but he said Saturday was "exactly the kind of unexpected event that keeps me saying I want to do this a little bit longer."

[jbcarol]

Long-time CBS broadcaster Verne Lundquist has been lucky enough to witness some inspiring moments in sports. Or, if you prefer, he's had the challenge of instantly describing some unforgettable sporting moments.

Jack Nicklaus winning The Masters in 1986. Christian Laettner beating Kentucky at the buzzer in the 1992 NCAA Tournament. Last weekend, he called Auburn's unbelievable victory over Alabama.

Lundquist, 73, always considered Nicklaus, at age 46, winning a major the pinnacle moment of his broadcasting career. The Laettner shot was no better than No. 2.

"I initially said Saturday night that I'm a stubborn old goat," Lundquist said. "Nicklaus is going to be there forever. I'm going to be the protector of that as long as I can."

Then Lundquist, director Steve Milton and other CBS personnel began reflecting on what they saw at Auburn. Upon further review, Lundquist decided to rank Auburn-Alabama No. 1, Nicklaus No. 2 and Laettner No. 3.

"For a four-hour experience in sports, it probably had everything," he said of the Auburn-Alabama game.

Perhaps you noticed that Lundquist and color commentator Gary Danielson remained silent after Auburn won the game by returning a missed field goal attempt for a touchdown as time expired. The picture of fans rushing the field and players/coaches wearing expressions of stunned disbelief spoke louder than words.

Said Lundquist: "After 50 years in the business, I've finally learned when it's appropriate to just shut up."

Verne on Auburn kick-off that hit the cross bar: "OH MY DOINK"

[Snouty]

Well, it's been 4 more years of Verne since the last post, and I've got to wonder, will Verne be back again next season?  He has a great TV announcer voice, but I don't know if he can see well enough to call the plays.  He has missed so many obvious fumbles, interceptions, touchdowns, field goals, etc., etc., etc.  Not to mention that atrocious call in the Florida game where he asked whether the pass reception carried 60 yards downfield could be incomplete.  The last time Arkansas played Alabama, all he could talk about was his trip to Ireland.  Of course, that was more interesting than the game itself.

I don't dislike Verne, but it just seems like it's past time for him to hang it up. 

[Southpointhog]

There really aren't in good game announcers out there.

[RazorRed26]

He will be back if he can see or remember!

[Pathogen]

Well, it's been 4 more years of Verne since the last post, and I've got to wonder, will Verne be back again next season?  He has a great TV announcer voice, but I don't know if he can see well enough to call the plays.  He has missed so many obvious fumbles, interceptions, touchdowns, field goals, etc., etc., etc.  Not to mention that atrocious call in the Florida game where he asked whether the pass reception carried 60 yards downfield could be incomplete.  The last time Arkansas played Alabama, all he could talk about was his trip to Ireland.  Of course, that was more interesting than the game itself.

I don't dislike Verne, but it just seems like it's past time for him to hang it up.

How did you even find this thread?  And what were you looking for?  And why did you think it necessary to respond to it?  And...Never mind...

[Hoggish1]

Oh        My       Goodness.....

Hope not!

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Has there ever been a luckier pbp announcer in the history of sports?  I mean, think about all the memorable moments in sports the last 30 years and then think how many Verne got to call.  It's shocking he wasn't calling the USA v. USSR hockey game in '80.

[rickm1976]

There really aren't in good game announcers out there.

I miss Keith Jackson and Frank.  They were a great team, unless Keith was covering Notre Dame, USC, etc.

[Pigdiana Jones]

I can't stand him or Danielson. Both slobber all over Tebow, the prison badger, and $cam Newton's nuts. If they are covering a hog game, I will mute it fir the entire game. They suck that bad.

I hope they both are gone.

[DeltaBoy]

Verne like the Battery bunny he just keeps going and I just keep hitting the mute button.

[jbcarol]

CBS finally ranks the 10 best games and will reair on CBSSportsNetwork during the bowl season

7. SEC Championship: No. 4 Florida vs. No. 1 Alabama (12/6/2008) – Airs Saturday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m.

Tim Tebow's three touchdowns lead Florida to a 31-20 upset win over Alabama and gives the Gators a shot at their second national title in three years.

6. No. 15 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama (11/10/2012) – Airs Sunday, Dec. 29, 5 p.m.
Johnny Manziel is spectacular in leading Texas A&M past top-ranked Alabama in the Aggies' first ever trip to Tuscaloosa.

4. No. 25 Georgia at No. 7 Auburn (11/16/2013) – Airs Monday, Dec. 30, 8:00 p.m.

The "Immaculate Deflection." Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall connects with Ricardo Louis on a miracle 4th-and-18 pass from the Tigers 27-yard-line...

3. No. 2 Auburn at No. 11 Alabama (11/26/2010) – Airs Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.

Cam Newton and the Tigers erase a 24-point Alabama lead to win 28-27 win in the biggest comeback victory in school history.

1. No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn (11/30/2013)

Seven distinct SEC schools are included in the top ten listing.

[jbcarol]

Cody Joe ‏@codyjoe352  3m
@gatorhoops @GatorZoneChris @MWhoops Verne Lund calling the 4 seniors 'the Oh-10s'.  Uh oh...

[jbcarol]

Verified account ‏@MarchMadnessTV ·20h  Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, and @ALaForce in 1988. #tbt #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/qs9cY9WZly

[jbcarol]

Jay Bilas ‏@JayBilas  20h
Bill Raftery and Verne Lundquist at a timeout during UConn-Iowa State at MSG. pic.twitter.com/IvizglJchh

[yraciv]

I think he should have retired by this point and sometimes he does botch things, but for a guy that is 73 I'd say he is pretty sharp in his calls.

[jbcarol]

Verne's okay, but I miss Keith Jackson.

[stan the man]

Two of the worst announcers in the history of basketball doing the game today   Unbelievable. Can't stand either of them
Should have been put out to pasture long ago

[Jackrabbit Hog]

......and for a completely different point of view:

http://grantland.com/features/verne-lundquist-bill-raftery-2014-ncaa-tournament/

This guy thinks they are the best team doing college basketball. 

[ronmahony]

To be honest though, Lundquist doesn't piss me off as much calling bb games as he does football, so there's that anyway.

[HF#1]

Personally, I think Marv Albert and Steve Kerr do a great job during the tournament. 

[Dr. Starcs]

Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller are awesome. Could do without Len Elmore

[HF#1]

Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller are awesome. Could do without Len Elmore

I can't handle Reggie's voice.  It's like nails on a chalkboard.  Dude is the black Screech.

[Fatty McGee]

Personally, I think Marv Albert and Steve Kerr do a great job during the tournament. 

Yes. 

And so glad Packer is gone. 

[HF#1]

Yes. 

And so glad Packer is gone. 

Packer was a liability towards the end.

[Music City Razorback]

Lundquist absolutely uses the "WOW" way too much.  I can't understand what Rafferty is saying half the time.  So.....I have to agree with you.

[Dr. Starcs]

"A little lingerie on the deck". Lol.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Raftery is annoying yet I guess someone things he's clever.

Sounds like he's on acid.

[Dr. Starcs]

Similar to you on the radio. Lol

ZING!!!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Similar to you on the radio. Lol

ZING!!!

Dude, I'm much worse....

[Dr. Starcs]

Lol!!

Don't be so hard on yourself. That's what we're all here for. Lol

[razorJAcker]

Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller are awesome. Could do without Len Elmore

Agree.

[razorJAcker]

And I actually like Lundquist and Raftery.

[BPsTheMan]

Bill Rafferty should be beaten with a frying pan