Randy Smith: Play By Play Announcers

I wrote an article earlier this week about changes in the Vol Radio Network for the 2025 season. I received a couple of emails commenting on what I had written and one person was not in agreement about some of the things in the article. I had written that new Vols broadcast voice Mike Keith was,' one of the best NFL announcers and will now become one of the best college announcers as well." The guy stated that how can I make a declaration like that when Mike had never done a college game? Well....football on radio is the same whether it's college or pro and Mike has proven he's one of the very best to ever do it. He spent 27 years as the Voice of the Tennessee Titans and is a Hall of Fame Broadcaster.

The guy who sent me the email also stated that Larry Munson was the worst announcer ever, because he was a big-time homer. Now, he was a homer, I'll give you that but his style was as good as I've ever heard. He was " old school " I've always said that John Ward was the best play by play announcer I ever heard and I still stand by that. He never wanted any of his staff to ever use the terms, " we, or us " when referring to Tennessee teams. That's well and good but beyond that, you never had to wonder who John really wanted to win each and every game.

I have done a lot of play by play on radio and television and I was influenced by several of the all-time greats. John Ward, Monte Hale, and Paul Eels were my earlier influences, and the late Bill Nash guided me to make some really good decisions though I have never felt I sounded like any one of them. Doing games on radio is more about creativity while TV play by play is less creative because the viewer can see what just happened. And speaking about creativity....back in the day, when announcers would have to recreate a game broadcast in the studio using ticker-tape results and sound effects. That would have been very difficult but I never had to do that thankfully.

I never have gotten around to writing a book about my career, though I have the perfect title, " The Best Seat In The House." I always said, it was the best job in the world because I got to watch a lot of great games and never had to pay a dime to get in. I've done every major sport on radio and television and I wouldn't change a thing. I've made so many good friends in the industry and that's more important to me than anything else. My time on the Vol Network is and always will be one of the best things I've ever done. And to help a young announcer fulfill his or her dream....as my mentors did for me, is something I have never shied away from and never will.