So Peak’s SVP Kevin Godwin said we’d probably have an announcement on KIDO’s pick for play-by-play of BSU basketball and football.
Friday came and went… nothing.
Monday… ditto.
Tuesday? Same deal.
It’s interesting to set a public deadline… then miss it by several business days. KBCI says there are four finalists - and the last candidate was interviewed last week. The four candidates have experience from college to NFL levels.
What we don’t know is who it will be… or when we’ll find out.
UPDATE: The folks at BroncoCountry.com are holding a “new Peak announcers contest.” The suggestions are mostly tongue in cheek. This is my favorite from “BadWillHunting”:
Bert (play by play): Football? I never get picked for that on the playground… Can this team win? Oh, it’s pointless, never mind!
Ernie (color): Rubber Ducky… heheheheheheheh…
on Jun 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Totally off-topic, but Joe Paterno will be teaching a class at Penn State this fall. Pretty cool. Something about his experience with media and sports (it’s a comm class, and they are the only school in the country with a “sports broadcasting” major).
on Jun 24th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Amazing that no one has come up with that program before given the demand for sports related communications. I have a few college graduate friends….they are not having too much luck right now with jobs in the communications biz.
on Jun 25th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
This is strike one for Peak. Setting a date for the announcement and then not following through is not going to be tolerated. The community might view this as being dishonest.
There are still two strikes to go. Hopefully, Peak will have more base hits and home runs than strikes.
By the way, Bert & Ernie was humorous. Any votes for Laurel & Hardy or Abbott & Costello?
Donny & Marie — very funny, little brother. (He is looking over my shoulder). I suppose now you will tell me Sonny & Cher or Tony Orlando & Dawn.
Something tells me Dzubak is in this mix.
on Jun 25th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
From DailyProgress.com via Brian Murphy’s column in the Statesman:
Dave Koehn takes over as UVa’s new voice
By Jay Jenkins
Published: June 25, 2008
“Last November, Dave Koehn looked around John Paul Jones Arena in amazement.
The play-by-play voice of the men’s basketball program at Vermont entertained thoughts of what it would be like to call the Cavaliers’ plush facility his “office.”
He will soon find out what it feels like to work inside the facility, at Virginia’s Scott Stadium and countless venues in the ACC.
On Tuesday, the UVa and CBS Sports Properties announced the hiring of Koehn as the new “Voice of the Cavaliers,” ending a two-month national search that included 120 applicants. Koehn (pronounced CANE) replaces Mac McDonald, who stepped down April 30 after handling the duties in two separate stints since 1980 that totaled 17 years. McDonald’s most recent tenure began in 1996.
“A chance to become a part of a program like the University of Virginia which has such a rich tradition, is a tremendous honor and truly an opportunity of a lifetime,” Koehn said through a released statement. “My wife and I are excited to get to Charlottesville and become a part of the University and community family.”
Koehn got his start in broadcasting while handling baseball, basketball and football games as a student at Kansas on KJHK, the school’s campus radio station.
From 2001 to 2005, Koehn split time at two Texas universities. After handling football and basketball broadcasts at Sam Houston State, a Division I-AA program that competes in the Southland Conference, he worked at Texas Lutheran University (NCAA Division III) and KWED, an AM station in Seguin, Texas.
The Colorado native was hired at Vermont prior to the 2005-06 men’s basketball season and spent his summers on the airwaves broadcasting minor league baseball for the Vermont Lake Monsters, a short-season Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
While at Vermont, one Charlottesville native gained a great appreciation for Koehn’s ability. Hajj Turner, a Charlottesville graduate who is an assistant coach at Vermont listened to Koehn while watching the Catamounts’ game tape, and the broadcaster’s booming voice stood out.
“That is his strongest quality, but not his only quality,” said Turner. “Dave has the million dollar voice.”
Apparently, Koehn, a Colorado native and a 1999 graduate of Kansas, was in great demand. He was also a finalist for the vacant
play-by-play at Boise State, a job that had 200 applicants. A source privy to information regarding that search said an offer was or would have been forthcoming from the university.
“I am pleased to welcome Dave Koehn to the University of Virginia community as the voice of UVa Athletics,” said Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage. “He brings a wonderful combination of enthusiasm, broadcast experience and talent to the position.
“Dave will help us effectively deliver the stories of our student-athletes, coaches, sports programs and department to UVa fans throughout the country.”
An avid skier, Koehn was a three-time state champion in high school in tennis.
He is scheduled to start his new position on July 7.”
Murphy’s statement:
“Godwin said Peak, which won the broadcast rights this spring over long-time rights holder Citadel, had narrowed its search down to four finalists. One apparent finalist has accepted a job at Virginia.
One down, three to go.
Peak is in a difficult position, no doubt. Simply figuring out how to structure a contract for the new play-by-play announcer is tricky, especially if Peak is now down to its No. 2 choice.
Add in the perception — fair or unfair — that it looks like Boise State was in the “anybody but Paul J” camp, and Peak is already facing an uphill battle to sell its choice to the masses.
A delay like this doesn’t help.”