Munson joins broadcasters Hall of Fame tonight
If you stay in this business long enough an honor comes your way that you want to share with your friends. Today is one of those times.
Tonight Wes Durham, the voice of Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Falcons, and I will drive to Salisbury, N.C., to attend the annual banquet held by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Since 1962 the NSSA has recognized the best sports writer and broadcaster in each state. Tonight the AJC’s Furman Bisher and Steve Hummer will be honored as the best sports writers in Georgia. Fittingly the “Professor,” Pete Van Wieren, the legendary Voice of the Braves, will be honored as the top broadcaster in the state for 2008.
But the highlight of the evening is when one writer and one broadcaster are inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame. These are the greatest of the great in the profession. The writer’s side includes Grantland Rice, Damon Runyon, Ring Lardner and yes, Furman Bisher. If you’re too young to have ever read these men, do yourself a favor this summer. In a world of Twitter and Facebook you will appreciate people who actually know how to use the language.
The broadcasting side includes the greatest voices in sports history—Lindsey Nelson, Curt Gowdy, Chris Schenkel, Jim McKay, Harry Caray, Vin Scully, and Keith Jackson, just to name a few.
Tonight Larry Munson, the legendary radio voice for the Georgia Bulldogs for 43 years (1966-2008), will be inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. Larry, who is in pretty good health for a guy who had brain surgery a year ago, wanted to go to the banquet but decided that the trip might be a bit too much. He asked Wes and me to go to Salisbury and accept the award on his behalf. What a thrill.
As Tim Tucker reported on his Georgia blog last week, for the last five months I have been spending a lot of time with Larry putting together a book on his extraordinary life. The book is scheduled to be out in August. I can tell you that of all the honors that have come his way in 60-plus years as a broadcaster, this one ranks at the very top.
“You look and the guys who are in that thing (Hall of Fame) and many of them are people I looked up to and wanted to be like,” Munson said during one of our recent visits. “It’s kind of hard to believe that I belong on that list.”
Those of you who have followed Munson’s incredible career know that he does belong on that list because for 43 seasons he perfectly personified the passion of the Bulldog Nation. “I always thought that Larry was the heartbeat of the Georgia people,” said former head coach Vince Dooley. “I don’t think there will ever be another one like him.”
And here is why this is really important. In the past the broadcasting wing of the NSSA Hall of Fame has been pretty much reserved for the legendary national broadcasters like Scully, Gowdy, and Jackson.
Larry becomes one of the first to be so honored who spent his entire career in college athletics in the South. There have been a lot of great voices in our history: John Ward (Tennessee), Cawood Ledford (Kentucky), Woody Durham (North Carolina), Otis Boggs (Florida), Jack Cristil (Mississippi State), John Ferguson (LSU), and Al Ciraldo (Georgia Tech) are but a few who deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.
Tonight Larry will be representing all of those men. He was a trailblazer when he took his discharge pay of $200 and entered broadcast school after World War II. He’s still a trailblazer today.
“When you start out you don’t think about this stuff. You don’t think that you’re going to work a 100,000 years. You’re just trying to do the best work you can,” Munson said. “This was one I didn’t know was coming my way. I hope the folks up there know how much I appreciate it.”
Don’t worry, Larry. They’ll know. Wes and I will make sure they know. And we are honored to do it.
l
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
66 comments Add your comment
Kid Ray
May 4th, 2009
8:13 am
Even heard of Munson’s calls up here in North Jersey. Hobnail boot!! Love it and congrats.
Kiffinisatosser
May 4th, 2009
8:20 am
I am no fan of Uga, but Larry was the greatest college radio football announcer of all time. He just was.
Some of you may not know it, but Larry used to host a hunting and fishing show in the 60s called the Tennessee Outdoorsman. I recall being a little nipper and thinking that this guy with the flat top was every bit as cool as Fess parker playing Davey Crockett. Even Mick Jagger never hit it on my cool-o-meter quite like Munson.
Seriously
May 4th, 2009
9:00 am
Im no uga fan, but Munson truly is an iconic figure. Congrats to him. I hope he doesn’t get Munsoned out in the middle of nowhere though…
Lane "Shirt-Rippin" Kiffin
May 4th, 2009
9:00 am
Coach O forgot to bring his speed stick on our recruitin’ trip, whew! His singing along to Conway Twitty songs is starting to getting old.
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
9:03 am
I would have thought that Coach O was a Duran-Duran guy!!!!
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
9:05 am
By the way, sorry for my absence Fri., I know my fans missed me!!!!Rolls Tides!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
May 4th, 2009
9:21 am
While you are in Salisbury, I hope you get a chance to drive a few miles up the road and get some Lexington BBQ and Cheerwine!
Miles
May 4th, 2009
9:22 am
“…you will appreciate people who actually know how to use the langauge.” You nailed it on the head Mr. Barnhart!
Miles
May 4th, 2009
9:25 am
I once told Bob Miller (the voice of the Los Angeles Kings) that he could put Vin Scully in his back pocket. If ever I were to meet Munson, I’d tell him the same thing.
Mikey
May 4th, 2009
9:29 am
“My God almighty did you see what he did?
David Greene just straightened up and we snuck the fullback over.
We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose. We just crushed their face.
David Greene brought us flying down the field”
No Larry, we didn’t see what David Greene did – it’s radio. But thanks to you we always GOT THE PICTURE.
We Love you man. Congratulations on this well deserved honor and GO DAWGS !
Reebok
May 4th, 2009
9:37 am
Tech fan here. Congrats to Larry Munson and the Bulldog Nation. Larry, you really brought home the passion and pageantry of collge football. Thanks for all the great calls over the yeras.
Nachos
May 4th, 2009
9:39 am
We all know “Coach O” loves him some David Allen Coe !!!! -she said someday I’d understand what love was all about-
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
9:49 am
You know “BIG O” runs around the locker room singing “Rio”!!!! He prob is a big Whodini fan too, “the freaks come out at night”
SC Dawg
May 4th, 2009
9:55 am
Here is a couple more for you. Jim Phillips of Clemson and Bob Fulton of South Carolina.
All of the announcers mentioned were great in their time, and we will never see their likes again.
Red Elephant
May 4th, 2009
9:55 am
Larry,
You were the best. Thanks for the memories and what you did for college football. I especially loved the Tennessee calls!
Roll Tide
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
9:58 am
Coach O was spotted at “American Idol” watching the performance of Jamie Foxx. And he translates his hit song to “Blame it on the Red Bull”
A hobnailed boot
May 4th, 2009
10:16 am
“We just stepped on their face with a hobnailed boot. We just crushed their faces”. I remember listening to this on ESPN. I didn’t know who this Larry Munson guy was but all I could think was Man, what a classless punk. This guy is gonna get fired for talking that kinda trash about a competitor. In a million years I never would have imagined someone would be celebrated for such unsportsmanlike conduct. But then again we are talking about a program where the whole team rushes the field to celebrate in the end zone after a td against Florida.
Mikey
May 4th, 2009
10:29 am
Mr. Hobnailed boot, I suggest you are in the minority.
Right On Time
May 4th, 2009
10:45 am
Tony:
We (UGA family) have lost both of our voices in Mun’s retirement and the passing years ago of Lewis Grizzard. I don’t expect we will ever enjoy two such highly talented men as those again. We sure are lucky to have had them as “our own”. They were UGA. Lewis and Larry, stogies and surgeries, fishin’ and Catfish the dog, single men (until Lewis’ last days) living the life that were as passionate about the Dawgs as us. I miss them.
By the way, during the drive, how about talkiing to Wes about leaving the dark side and calling games for UGA. He might be the best in the business right now.
Stanger
May 4th, 2009
10:45 am
Ole Larry is hard to beat. Always thought it would be great to sit down with him over a few drinks and listen to the stories of yesteryear, fishing, hunting etc.Obviously football, but the other would really be something.
Bamafan
May 4th, 2009
10:46 am
I live in Nashville and have be lucky to see and hear a lot of Larry Munson stories. I love to hear the
great radio calls from the past beating the UT Vols. Enjoy the award Mr. Munson you have earned it!!
GO DAWGS!!
A hobnailed boot
May 4th, 2009
10:49 am
Mikey, The majority isn’t always right. But you just go ahead and keep praising someone who says “Yeah, we just crushed their faces with a hobnailed boot”. What a classy guy! Only a Georgia cracker would think that’s cool. Would it have been cool if the Florida announcer announced last year ” We’re just kicking them 6 feet into the ground with our hobnailed boots when it was 49-10?” Wonder how cool you would have thought that was?
murfdawg
May 4th, 2009
11:13 am
to A hobnailed boot,
The majority of people on this blog are right. I have listened to a lot of great announcers over the year and Munson is one of the best. the way he describes the game and emotion he puts into his calls can never be duplicated. People who love Southern Football enjoy Munson. People from Ohio and Florida are the only ones I have met who didn’t like Munson. But who gives a s@#% what you think!!!
Mikey
May 4th, 2009
11:14 am
The Florida announcer could say whatever he chose to say and the Florida fans would have been thrilled and we would have had to eat it.
We got our faces crushed 49-10 and it is what it is.
Others must think Larry is worthy or else they would not have elected him to the HOF. “Classless” does not go to the HOF.
BTW: UT got their revenge at least twice since that 2001 game and all we could do was take it.
So…. we will agree to disagree so let’s leave it at that without name calling.
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
11:22 am
Mikey,
I have to disagree with you, Not saying Munson is classless, BUT Ty Cobb is the worst human being in the history of the world and he is in the HOF!!!
Rebel Rouser
May 4th, 2009
11:23 am
Hey Hob Nail Boot,What would you know about unsportsmanlike conduct? The Gators and their fans have always acted like classless idiots..How about that announcer of yours….he sounds like a latent homosexual….”Oh MY”
mexdawg
May 4th, 2009
11:24 am
Hey hobnailed boot get a life.You wouldn’t know a class act if it were to hit you right in the face.This colum is about honoring the achievements of a man that you will never understand,a man that touched the lives of many in this state.I suggest you go blog somewhere else you don’t belong here.
azcat225
May 4th, 2009
11:25 am
To a hobnailed boot: My mother always said that if you couldn’t say something nice about some one, just don’t say anything at all. Obviously you didn’t listen to your mother, since I am sure she is a fine woman (though possibly disappointed in her progeny).
Either that or you just get some kind of satisfaction by going on blogs and stirring things up, which would be even sadder.
To quote Mr. Bisher, “Selah.”
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
11:32 am
Hobnailed boot,
Noone had to say anything at UF, timeouts at the end of the game when you have a 39 point lead SPEAKS VOLUMES!!!!!!!!!!!!Rolls Tides!!!!!!
Kiffinisatosser
May 4th, 2009
11:45 am
Is it my imagination or are all of the current, younger radio play by play men generally inadequate to the task? Part of it may be that the old guys that Tony mentioned in the article were trained before TV was widespread and when the radio culture was dominant. Munson isn’t really old enough to have been broadcasting before TV.
Probably, it has lots to do with political correctness creating a type of bloodless self-censorship and these old guys just didn’t have that instinct.
Munson’s retirement is a small victory for PC by dint simply of outlasting its opposition.
m
May 4th, 2009
11:47 am
Larry’s best call ever was in the 1998 Tech game at Sanford and son stadium in Athens. O’learys jackets were tearing the dawgies a new one and this was Larry’s call, “Loran, their running up and down the field on us like we’re Wake Forest or Maryland or something”. Too bad that Larry is not getting to call Paul Johnson’s jackets running up and down the field on them dawgies like their Wake Forest or Maryland or something…would be a new/old classic. You dawgies are going to miss Larry as much as you miss gomer gailey…thank god and greyhound that he is gone.
Voice of Reason
May 4th, 2009
12:00 pm
Larry Munson was not a TV announcer. He was not supposed to be unbiased. He was the game announcer on “the dawgs radio network” and UGA fans chose to listen to him. I wouldn’t have cared if Florida’s announcer said anything about UGA last year because I would not have been listening to their announcer. The reason you heard it on ESPN is because they replayed the call. But, some people just like to find something to complain about. I am sure you are a joy to be around.
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
12:01 pm
124 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Voice of Reason
May 4th, 2009
12:03 pm
What did you want him to say, “the dawgs came back and won, but the Vols looked really cute in their uniforms and everyone here is a winner” This isn’t kindergarten…. it’s the SEC
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
12:06 pm
Hey M,
In ‘98 was it SOOOOOOOOO bad at GT that your beloved techies didn’t have a broadcast team???? No wonder you guys are so hyped up about beating the dawgs once or twice in a decade!!!!!
Frozen_Gator
May 4th, 2009
12:09 pm
WELL DESERVED EVEN THOUGH “RUN LINDSAY RUN” STILL RAISES THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK. THANKS FOR MENTIONING OTIS BOGGS.
Laughing at m
May 4th, 2009
12:10 pm
m
Do you know the difference between their & they’re?
Huh?
May 4th, 2009
12:15 pm
If you find Larry Munson offensive you are a total panty waste that has no business watching, listening, or following college football games. End of story. You better switch to figure skating sissy.
PTC DAWG
May 4th, 2009
12:27 pm
Congrats to Larry…the detractors couldn’t carry his microphone….
Mikey
May 4th, 2009
12:29 pm
Saint Nick,
I should have clarified-
The announcer HOF, not the players.
There are lots of jerks in the player HOF.
Munson To Be Inducted Into Hall Of Fame Tonight | MrSEC.com
May 4th, 2009
12:45 pm
[...] As we already reported last week, long-time former Georgia broadcaster Larry Munson will be inducted into a broadcasting hall of fame tonight.What I’m linking to here is Tony Barnhart’s latest offering in The AJC… and it’s all about Munson.If you don’t know much about one of the SEC’s greatest all-time voices, just click this link. [...]
A hobnailed boot
May 4th, 2009
1:26 pm
Man its fun to rile you guys up! LMAO!!!!!!
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
1:30 pm
What the hell is a “hobnailed boot”???? Is it what The Iron Shiek wore in the WWF????
Saint Nick
May 4th, 2009
1:39 pm
I thought that “god” was suppose to be a Cowboys fan according to GM/OWNER JJ!!!! LOL!!!! The Cowboys might get sued over this mess!!!!
GatorGrowl
May 4th, 2009
2:32 pm
Most Florida fans recognise Munson as an icon. His “run Lindsay run” is still haunting in the minds of the older Gator faithful but you had to appreciate the emotion that his “call” made you feel, whether it be pure elation, or in our case, pure devastation. To me, it’s guys like him that just make college football unmatched for it’s pure emotion and color. I hate to say it, but Otis Boggs never was at his level. Our current long time announcer, Mick Hubert, is beloved by Gator Nation and is a future “hall of famer” like Larry. Congratulations and what an honor it must be to accept for him Tony!
HH
May 4th, 2009
2:52 pm
The old boy that handles the play calling of SEC games on CBS summed it up nicely. On one occasion of an Auburn-Georgia game some years ago, he described Munson as “Simply the best”. He was right on the money.
Oh you herschel walker you!
May 4th, 2009
2:57 pm
Oh you herschel walker you! Oh you herschel walker you!
How gay is this guy? Talk about a jock sniffer! What was he 50 when he decided he would grovel over the athletic feats of an 18 year old?
How GAY GAY GAY! Yikes!
Jock sniffer alert! Jock sniffer alert! Larry Munson in the house!
Monticello Dawg
May 4th, 2009
3:20 pm
Some comments on the other longtime Southern announcers mentioned: I thought John Ward was very good- basketball and football. Cawood Ledford was my favorite basketball announcer- great voice. Referred to the Wildcats as the cats, as in “the Cats are running.” Al Ciraldo’s voice was annoying, but I liked him because his love for Georgia Tech was obvious, plus he had his own unique catch phrases, such as “toe meets leather,” “brothers and sisters,” and the like.
DawginLex
May 4th, 2009
3:21 pm
To all the haters, you are simply jealous because we had him and you didn’t.
m,
My favorite was 1997. “Bobo throws in the corner, TOUCHDOWN, Oh my God, in the corner! Oh my God, it shouldn’t have happened.”
GT
May 4th, 2009
3:38 pm
You know there are some things a Yankee just wouldn’t understand and Larry is one of them. Even a Tech fan and lifer like me misses that “sugar from the sky”. When we occasionally beat Georgia I would turn it over to Munson, nobody did a death scene better than he did. When you were a Yellow Jacket that was the ultimate reward.
swimdawg68
May 4th, 2009
4:19 pm
I was a Jr. at UGA when Larry began his career. I no longer take a radio to the games now that Larry has retired. When I was in Vietnam in 69 Larry sent out a special shout to me by name as he was broadcasting the Fla. game. In 1999 the only time Larry broadcasted a High School game on GPTV was the Oconee County State Championship game at Warrior stadium What a thrill for me it was, as I would hear Larry call out my son’s name on TV as he was a starter for Oconee County that night.
The only Fla. game I have missed since 1964 is the 1969 game. What memories I have of all the great calls made by Larry through the years. I already miss him, it just seems unnatural for Larry to not be in the booth on game day.
He truely was the best! No one will ever be able to replace him.
DAWG
May 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
I can still hear Larry proclaim, “time out on the field, this is the georgia football network”. One of a kind, we will not ever see his likeness again
Gen Neyland
May 4th, 2009
7:05 pm
Bamafan : I spent some of my best years in Nashville. Born over in Cookeville. Can recall some Munson chatter/static coming through the transistor radio calling Vandy games…
Congrats to Minnesota Munson. Job well done…
gatorman770
May 4th, 2009
8:12 pm
Even though I bleed royal blue and orange I enjoyed listening to Larry’s unbridled enthusiasm over the years.
Boss Hogg
May 4th, 2009
8:33 pm
Not a dawg fan, but used to enjoy Larry on the Hometown Radio Show with Gary McKee on WSB weekday afternoons. He would provide reviews of movies he would see & who he went with. Very entertaining show.
Jacketinwisconsin
May 4th, 2009
10:02 pm
I’m a lifelong Jacket Fan and proud of it. But, I always admired the way Larry Munson could call a game. You felt like you were sitting there right with him. His excitement and passion for his “DAWGS” were something to admire, even if you were the opponent. Congrats on a great career, Larry. You’ll be greatly missed.
Slow Freddie
May 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
I’ve been watching UF football games since 1950 when I was still in high school. For the games I didn’t get to see in person, I had to listen to thE miserable play calling of Otis Boggs on radio. Anybody who claims Boggs was a great announcer never had to listen to him. His standard call of most running plays was, “He spins and drives……….and loses 3 yards.” Boggs’ play calling matched the team’s performance during most of my years as an undergraduate at UF……..PI$$POOR! At least Munson would have made it sound interesting even when we were getting our butts kicked.
Hart co.
May 4th, 2009
10:39 pm
Best dawg ever lived, played 43 years! What a career! Any body know his win/loss record?
Hobnail Boot
May 4th, 2009
10:49 pm
Wah you expose me and make me cry. Wah my face is flat. Wah my nose is broke. I can’t get over it. Waaaaah we lost that game! Wah I wear adult diapers! Wah those chickens look sexy…………
Nachos
May 5th, 2009
7:03 am
Eli Gold and the Snake are the best……. Nothing better than Stabler starting to celebrate a win during the broadcast!
Spike
May 5th, 2009
7:06 am
Broadcst Hall of Fame… YEAH YEAH YEAH!!
Mark
May 5th, 2009
8:18 am
Munson hooked me on UGA football as a sixth grader in 1978. From Carmen Prince getting in the end zone for Clemson’s only loss to the FIRST Lindsay Scott call in Baton Rouge. Then it was on to Lexington for YEAH YEAH YEAH followed by TICK TICK TICK as time ran out on the Gators…I remember sitting in the old Richway Parking Lot on Old Natl Hwy while Mom shopped and I listened to our conference title hopes die as Auburn tied us on the Plains. Then Dad taught me the art of turning down the TV and listening to Munson during the wild 29-28 thriller over tech. But most of all I remember a high school Key Club function where we scheduled Munson to speak but he had car trouble and got there two hours late…the crowd over 200 or so had left and Munson walked in to see about half a dozen disappointed kids stacking tables and chairs from the event that didn’t happen. He said, “Well, I’m hear so let’s talk” and entertained our questions and shared his stories for at least the next hour or so.
KR
May 5th, 2009
8:44 am
No one could make a 6 inch gain sound like an 80 yard run quite like Larry Munson. It is a well-deserved honor for him to be inducted to the Hall of Fame.
As an Auburn fan, I still miss Jim Fyffe. The new guy isn’t bad, but it’s just not the same.
m
May 5th, 2009
9:10 am
Possibly Munson’s best call ever right here.
Click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CLeU2mFsk
Gator Mike
May 5th, 2009
9:38 am
As a totally loyal Gator, I believe in saluting a true professional. Larry Munson was fun to hear on the radio during the FL-GA Game regardless of who was winning. Wehn we were getting hammered by the Dawgs in the 70s and 80s, he often irked me, but some of his comments made me chuckle. His award is well deserved, and he is a credit to UGA and the SEC. He was always a loyal and professional DAWG and he never displayed the sort of childish immaturity we see in Knoxville these days.
Go Gators!
AL Ciraldo Fan
May 7th, 2009
8:46 am
You know I am all for broadcasters being inducted into the HOF, so what about Al Ciraldo? Toe Meets Leather! When is that happening Wes Durham?