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Verne Lundquist

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Verne Lundquist
Lundquist at the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Born
Merton Laverne Lundquist Jr.

(1940-07-17) July 17, 1940 (age 84)
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Sports commentary career
GenrePlay-by-play
Sports

Merton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist Jr. (born July 17, 1940) is an American sportscaster.

Biography

Early life and career

Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota.[1] He graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas,[2] before attending Texas Lutheran University (formerly Texas Lutheran College), where he was one of the founders of the Omega Tau Fraternity in 1958 before graduating in 1962.[3] He is now a member of the Board of Regents for his alma mater.[4]

Lundquist attended Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois in 1962. His father was a Lutheran pastor and President of the Nebraska Synod of the Augustana Lutheran Church.[5] Lundquist played basketball and baseball and was a disc jockey at WOC, Davenport, Iowa.[6] His 'Golden Voice' was the highlight of the seminary class on preaching.

He began his broadcasting career as sports anchor for WFAA in Dallas[7] and in Austin for KTBC,[8] as well as being the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys. Lundquist joined the Cowboys Radio Network in 1967[9] and remained with the team until the 1984 season. He was paired with future (and now current) play-by-play man Brad Sham starting with the 1977 season, the year the Cowboys went 12–2 and captured their second NFL title in Super Bowl XII.[10] He was sportscaster at WFAA during their 6pm news, while his eventual successor Dale Hansen did the 10pm news.[11]

Before becoming a nationwide sports commentator, from 1970 to 1974, Lundquist was commentator for the sports show, Bowling for Dollars, in Dallas, Texas. It aired weekday evenings on the ABC station, WFAA-TV, from 6:30 to 7:00, in north central Texas.[12] During these four seasons, Lundquist started interviewing Cowboys players and their first head coach, Tom Landry, at their sidelines, during halftimes, practices, pre-season and pre-game warm-ups, in Dallas.[13]

Network assignments

Nationally, Lundquist worked for ABC Sports from 1974 to 1981, CBS from 1982 to 1995, and TNT cable from 1995 to 1997 before returning to CBS in 1998.[14] Lundquist's patented belly laugh and his contagious enthusiasm for the events he covers have made him one of the more prominent and recognizable on-air talents in network TV.[15]

He is among the key voices of NFL Films, and in past years had called regional NFL games for CBS, NBA games for CBS and TNT, and TNT's Sunday Night Football telecasts.[16] He called television play-by-play on Seattle Seahawks preseason games from 2006 to 2008.[17]

During the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics, whose rights were held by CBS and TNT, Lundquist and Scott Hamilton served as the announcers for figure skating events.[18] Their performances were parodied by Saturday Night Live cast members Phil Hartman and Darrell Hammond (as Lundquist) with Dana Carvey, David Spade, and Will Ferrell (both as Hamilton): in 1992 with Jason Priestley and 1994 with Nancy Kerrigan and Chris Farley. They did a spoof of the Olympics figure skating events, as both Hartman and Myers went "Oh!" when Priestly or Farley (in a pre-recorded performance) did an on-ice pratfall. Lundquist, after seeing the original footage in 1992, commented that Hartman "nailed it dead on."[19]

Lundquist filled in for Ernie Johnson Jr. as host of TNT's coverage of the PGA Championship twice, in 2006 as Johnson was battling cancer, and in 2011 when Johnson left after the second round following the death of his father on that Friday night.[20]

After his return to CBS, Lundquist served as the long-time lead play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports' coverage of college football on the SEC on CBS from 2000–2016.[21]

Lundquist retired from broadcasting college football games after calling the Army–Navy Game on December 10, 2016.[22] He planned to contribute to other CBS Sports programs, including its college basketball and golf coverage, for the foreseeable future.[23]

In March 2018, Lundquist announced he would not work the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, as he was still recovering from back surgery he had in November 2017, and would retire from calling college basketball.[24]

Despite his retirement from calling college football and basketball, Lundquist remains active as an announcer, calling The Masters and the PGA Championship for CBS Sports in 2018 and 2019.[25]

Currently, Lundquist resides in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.[26]

Appearances in other media

Lundquist played himself commentating on golf tournaments in the 1996 motion picture Happy Gilmore.[27]

Lundquist was a play-by-play announcer in the NBA Live 98 video game[28] and was also the play-by-play announcer in the College Hoops 2K8 video game.[29]

Memorable calls

A famous pet phrase Lundquist uses on occasion is "How do you DO!"; on a huge offensive or defensive play, a phrase he took from USC football broadcaster Pete Arbogast (who in turn took the phrase from venerable broadcaster Vin Scully).[30]

Bless his heart, he's got to be the sickest man in America![31]

Maybe...YES, SIR![32]

There's the pass to Laettner...puts it up...YES!!![33]

  • February 25, 1994: While calling figure skating at the Winter Olympics, Lundquist called one of the most watched sports events in history. The ladies free skate portion of the 1994 Olympics drew Super Bowl type television ratings because of the hyped Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan debacle. The drama unfolded that evening as Tonya Harding begin her free skate, then quit 45 seconds into her program, and went crying to the judges table of a broken skate lace. She was granted permission to fix her skate and start her free skate later in the evening. During the ordeal, he said:

Well, this bizarre real life movie continues.

  • September 16, 2000: In his first college football game called on CBS, a rivalry game between the #6-ranked Florida Gators and the #11-ranked Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium, Florida quarterback Jesse Palmer threw a pass to wide receiver Jabar Gaffney that was caught in the end zone on second-and-goal in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, only to have it stripped instantly by Tennessee cornerback Willie Miles. The line judge official signaled a touchdown, and the call was confirmed although replays showed that Gaffney did not gain complete possession of the football. The winning score gave the Gators a 27–23 win in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Lundquist described the play:

Quick flip … caught! Did he hold it long enough? The official says, 'Yes!' Oh boy, is that going to be controversial?!

Here it comes...Oh, my goodness!...OH, WOW!! IN YOUR LIFE, have you seen anything like that?[34]

By George, the dream is alive![35]

  • October 7, 2006: While calling a college football rivalry game on CBS between the #5-ranked Florida Gators and the #9-ranked LSU Tigers, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow completed a one-yard touchdown to Tate Casey on the "jump pass" in the final seconds of the first half to help give the Gators a 14–7 lead:

Jump pass … how about that … OH MY GOSH! That looks like 1955! HOLY COW! Are you kidding me?!

  • November 11, 2006: While calling a college football game on CBS between the #6-ranked Florida Gators and the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks, Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss blocked a game-winning 48-yard field goal attempt by South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop to keep the Gators' national championship hopes alive:

Blocked! It is blocked! Jarvis Moss...AGAIN!

  • October 24, 2009: While calling a college football rivalry game on CBS between the #1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the unranked Tennessee Volunteers, Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody blocked a game-winning 44-yard field goal attempt by Tennessee kicker Daniel Lincoln to keep the Tide's national championship hopes alive:

Blocked again! Cody again! Alabama wins!

  • November 10, 2012: While calling the college football game on CBS between the #1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the #15-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel threw a touchdown pass to receiver Ryan Swope after nearly getting sacked and fumbling the football, all but cementing Manziel's Heisman Trophy that year.

Snap from Patrick Lewis … 4-man Alabama rush … got him … no, they didn't. Oh, my GRACIOUS! HOW ABOUT THAT!?

Fourth-and-18 … lets it GO … OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH NO! Ricardo Louis! Talk about a Hail Mary.[36]

On the way … No, returned by Chris Davis. Davis goes left. Davis gets a block. Davis has another block! Chris Davis! No flags! Touchdown, Auburn! An answered prayer![37]

  • September 27, 2014: While calling a college football rivalry game on CBS between #6-ranked Texas A&M and unranked Arkansas, a game that renewed the annual rivalry at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Arkansas led 28-21 with 2:17 left to play in the 4th quarter. A&M quarterback Kenny Hill threw a pass to receiver Josh Reynolds, who weaved around a would-be tackler to take it for a 59 yard touchdown, tying the game. It would go on to overtime, where Texas A&M would emerge victorious 35-28.

3 wide left, 2 wide right … 4-man Arkansas rush … wide open ... Oh, my GOSH! JOSH REYNOLDS! TOUCHDOWN AGGIES!

  • October 1, 2016: While calling a college football rivalry game on CBS between #11-ranked Tennessee and #25-ranked Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed a Hail Mary pass to wide receiver Jauan Jennings with no time remaining in regulation play to give Tennessee a 34-31 victory, only 10 clock seconds after Georgia had scored a 47-yard touchdown to secure the lead and presumably the win:

Dobbs heaves it. They're bunched up in the end zone. It's tipped up. It's caught! It is caught! Jauan Jennings! Jauan Jennings![38]

  • April 14, 2019: Lundquist called the 16th hole at the 2019 Masters Tournament, where Tiger Woods hit a remarkable tee shot and made a birdie to increase his lead in the final round. Woods would go on to win the tournament (his first win at Augusta in 14 years) capping an amazing comeback to the top of the golfing world. Lundquist referenced his call of Woods' amazing 16th in 2005, the last time Tiger won the Masters.

I am compelled to say...Oh my goodness.[39]

Honors

At the 2005 Sun Bowl, Lundquist was inducted into the Sun Bowl Hall of Fame along with former UCLA Bruins football coach Terry Donahue.[40]

From 1977–1983, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association named Lundquist as Texas Sportscaster of the Year for his accomplishments from his time in Dallas. The organization later inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2007.[41]

In broadcasting circles, Lundquist is affectionately known as "The Golden Throat".[42]

In May 2012, Lundquist delivered the commencement address at Hampden-Sydney College, an honor he calls "one of the true achievements of my lifetime."[43]

Lundquist is on the Board of Directors of the summer music festival, Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.[44]

On October 22, 2016, Lundquist was a Celebrity Guest Picker on College GameDay on ESPN.[45]

Broadcasting partners

Lundquist has had many broadcasting partners over his long career, including:

References

  1. ^ Nowacki, Jon. "Duluth-born Lundquist chose broadcasting over the ministry 50-plus..." Duluth News-Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  2. ^ Strege, John. "Ben Crenshaw, old friend Verne Lundquist pay tribute to one another - Golf Digest". Golf Digest. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Verne Lundquist named Outstanding Contributor to College Football". Texas Lutheran University. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "Verne Lundquist". footballfoundation.org. National Football Foundation. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "Special Awards Salute: Verne Lundquist (CBS Sports), Jake Wade Award Recipient". CoSIDA Conference. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Blevins, Dean. "Dean's List: 1-on-1 With "Golden Throat" Verne Lundquist". Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Storied career: Ex-Cowboys announcer and WFAA-TV sports anchor Verne Lundquist made SEC football his legacy". SportsDay. December 2, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Austin's Lundquist to call his 26th Masters for CBS". Statesman. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  9. ^ Hot Seat: Verne Lundquist. The Dallas Morning News, January 31, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  10. ^ "Brad Sham, Voice of the Cowboys: He says a lot because he's seen a lot". Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Spirit of Tension". D Magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  12. ^ Hall, Spencer. "An interview with Uncle Verne". SBNation.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  13. ^ "Verne Lundquist returns to his roots as Cowboys' radio voice". Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  14. ^ Deitsch, Richard. "Verne's Last Call: The voice of the SEC prepares to sign off". SI.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  15. ^ https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/fans-going-crazy-for-uncle-verne-on-twitter-as-former-sec-broadcaster-calls-masters/
  16. ^ "CBS Sports TV Team". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  17. ^ "Lundquist has ties to Everett". HeraldNet.com. August 19, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  18. ^ "Longtime CBS Sportscaster Verne Lundquist Signs Off". Golf.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  19. ^ "Jason Priestly/Teenage Fanclub". IMDB. February 15, 1992. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  20. ^ Weinraub, Jake. "Longtime Braves announcer Ernie Johnson Sr. dies at 87". Reuters. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  21. ^ "CBS Press Express". www.cbspressexpress.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  22. ^ "Verne Lundquist tears up as he says goodbye to college football after Army-Navy game". For The Win. December 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  23. ^ Pergament, Alan (March 15, 2016). "CBS' Verne Lundquist, 'The Golden Throat,' still very much in the game". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  24. ^ "Verne Lundquist steps away from CBS' college hoops booth". March 5, 2018.
  25. ^ https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/verne-lundquist-masters-pga-championship-cbs.html
  26. ^ Stensland, Matt. "Steamboat's Verne Lundquist to appear on CBS Morning Show". Steamboat Today. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  27. ^ "Verne Lundquist didn't know what 'Happy Gilmore' was about until he saw it". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  28. ^ NBA LIVE '98. rtassoc.com
  29. ^ Plummer, Robert. "Review: College Hoops 2k8 (Xbox 360)". The Escapist. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  30. ^ Ourand, John. "Verne Lundquist: "How DO you do?"". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  31. ^ Lechner, Matt (February 21, 2012). "The 5 Worst Drops in NFL History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  32. ^ "Yes Sir! Jack Nicklaus and the '86 Masters – Trailer". June 10, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  33. ^ "Christian Laettner The Shot 1992 Duke vs. Kentucky Basketball". January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  34. ^ "v". May 11, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  35. ^ "2006: No. 11 George Mason over No. 1 UConn 86–84 (OT)". February 1, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  36. ^ "Miracle Catch! Auburn Game Winning TD vs Georgia". November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  37. ^ "2013 Iron Bowl ending HIGH DEFINITION Auburn beats Alabama". November 30, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  38. ^ "Tennessee Hail Mary vs. Georgia". 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  39. ^ https://thebiglead.com/2019/04/15/video-verne-lundquist-and-tiger-woods-were-perfect/
  40. ^ "Verne Lundquist". Sun Bowl. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  41. ^ "'Oh, my!' Verne Lundquist to step down as famed SEC on CBS college football announcer". The Advocate. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  42. ^ Blevins, Dean. "Dean's List: 1-on-1 With "Golden Throat" Verne Lundquist". Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  43. ^ Deitsch, Richard. "One-on-One with ... Verne Lundquist CBS ANNOUNCER". SI.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  44. ^ "Board of Directors - Strings Music Festival". Strings Music Festival. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  45. ^ "Verne Lundquist will be 'College GameDay' guest picker for Texas A&M at Alabama". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  46. ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 1, 2010). "Like Second Nature, Obama Turns Basketball Commentator". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  47. ^ Bracht, Mel (March 25, 2015). "CBS announcer Verne Lundquist gives Michigan State an edge in the Syracuse Regional". NewsOK.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  48. ^ Dooley, Pat. "Q&A with Verne Lundquist". Gainesville.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  49. ^ Gray, David. "Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson revel in their unique partnership leading to another LSU-Alabama matchup". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  50. ^ Walker, Dave. "CBS' Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson prepare for LSU-Florida game". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  51. ^ Steinberg, Dan (March 29, 2013). "Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery and staying young". Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  52. ^ Stewart, Larry (August 11, 1995). "Lundquist Revisits Past Experiences". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  53. ^ "RLR - Verne Lundquist Biography". www.rlrassociates.net. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  54. ^ "CBS Sports drops Billy Packer as lead college basketball analyst". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  55. ^ Sandomir, Richard; OMIR. "BACKTALK; Holy Cow! It's 1994 and Fox Rules. Whoa, Nellie!". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  56. ^ Kent, Milton. "CBS mood positively 'electric' after reconnecting with NFL Intercepting AFC games caps network's comeback from rights turnover in '94". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  57. ^ Mushnick, Phil (March 19, 2017). "One TV hoops analyst stands out by delivering informed calls". New York Post. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  58. ^ Brinson, Will. "CBS Sports' Dan Dierdorf to retire after 2013 NFL season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  59. ^ Stewart, Larry (September 29, 2000). "It's Not Whole New Game for Lundquist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  60. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (November 28, 2014). "Lundquist has done well by letting the action do most of the talking". Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  61. ^ Rodriguez, Richard. "Brad Sham, Voice of the Cowboys: He says a lot because he's seen a lot". star-telegram. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  62. ^ Solomon, Jon. "CBS' Verne Lundquist reflects on 50 years and his future: 'I don't want to stay too long'". AL.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  63. ^ "Purple and gold out for Florida". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  64. ^ Sprung, Shlomo (March 26, 2016). "Despite five decades between them, Verne Lundquist and Allie LaForce are just as close off the air as on". Awful Announcing. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  65. ^ Sandomir, Richard (March 11, 2014). "Turner Gives the Final Four a Local Flavor". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  66. ^ Jennings, Diane. "Lundquist Ready When Cbs Called". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  67. ^ Tannenwald, Jonathan. "CBS' Verne Lundquist spins tales of his favorite NCAA tournament moments". Philly.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  68. ^ Horn, Barry (July 17, 2015). "Hot Air: Brad Sham won't call Cowboys' opener, so KRLD turns to a familiar voice". SportsDay. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  69. ^ Curtis, Bryan. "Yes, Verne!". The Ringer. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  70. ^ "CBS ANNOUNCERS AT THE MASTERS® (1956 – 2013)". CBS Express.
  71. ^ Dodd, Dennis. "Full of stories and emotion, college football bids farewell to Verne Lundquist". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  72. ^ Kaufmann, Martin (August 12, 2017). "2017 PGA Championship TV blog: Slow starts have become norm". Golfweek. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  73. ^ "David Feherty joins Verne Lundquist for Front Row on April 4 in San Antonio". www.tlu.edu. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  74. ^ Bierly, Mandy. "Scott Hamilton: The 5 most memorable Olympic figure skating falls". EW.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
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