Durham on Carolina job: ‘Not about me right now’
In the wake of his father Woody Durham’s retirement after 40 years as the voice of North Carolina football and basketball, Georgia Tech play-by-play man Wes Durham declined to entertain a question about the possibility of leaving Atlanta to succeed his father.
“There was a basketball coach who lost to Syracuse a few years back, and he was asked a similar question,” Durham told the Raleigh News & Observer Tuesday, referring to North Carolina coach Roy Williams‘ interview following Kansas’ NCAA championship game loss to Syracuse in 2003. “And I’ll answer it the same way: I respect and understand that you have to ask that question, but it’s not about me right now.”
Durham referred an AJC interview request to that statement. Durham has called football and basketball for Georgia Tech since 1995. He is also the play-by-play voice for the Falcons and co-hosts the “Barnhart & Durham” show on 790 the Zone. In January, he was named Georgia’s sportscaster of the year for a seventh time.
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95 comments Add your comment
go heels
April 19th, 2011
10:38 pm
Enter your comments here
go heels
April 19th, 2011
10:39 pm
bye tech
S'paw_99
April 19th, 2011
10:40 pm
I would hate to lose Wes, he’s great. But if he leaves, I’d be happy to take the job. I’ll do the Falcons too, heck I might even help w/ a few Braves games each yr.
Buzzzed
April 19th, 2011
10:40 pm
He has too much going on in ATL now other than tech to pursue that job even if he wanted it which I don’t think he does.
Wardo
April 19th, 2011
10:46 pm
I love Wes and would hate to see him go. But he would be the logical choice for UNC. I just hope we don’t lose him. He’s a good one.
I sue engineers for a living
April 19th, 2011
10:48 pm
Wes would increase his audience by about 12 fold if he did go to UNC
Jeff
April 19th, 2011
10:53 pm
I’m a lifelong Georgia fan who usually can’t stand Tech… but it’s just the teams I dislike, not necessarily all the people. That being said, Wes Durham is one of my FAVORITE people in Atlanta. I met him before, and he’s a very nice, very classy guy.
From a sports perspective, as much as I don’t want Tech’s teams to always win, it is a lot of fun to hear Durham’s broadcasts. He brings and energy and a passion to his craft, and he is very knowledgable and very descriptive. I can’t tell you how many Falcons games over the last few years have had me literally leaping out of my chair as Wes Durham screams about a huge play for the Birds. His call of “Touchdown Atlanta” is one of the sweetest sounds of the fall!
I hope, for Georgia Tech’s sake, that Wes stays in Atlanta. He’s an icon around here, both for his work with the Jackets AND the Falcons. You have a good one, Tech fans…. I hope you get to keep him for many years to come.
To put it another way: I grew up with Larry Munson, and he’s my favorite broadcaster of ALL TIME for all the wonderful memories he gave me through my childhood and teen and college and early adult years. And when he retired, my first thought was “Dang, I wish we could get Wes Durham.” I love Scott Howard, but Wes brings so much to games that I wish he was calling my team’s games.
Good luck with your decision, Wes, but I hope you stay in Atlanta and work for your beloved Jackets and Falcons!
I sue engineers for a living
April 19th, 2011
10:56 pm
I mean if he leaves, all the fans can just summon Mark Price to come in.
rico
April 19th, 2011
10:57 pm
Wes started at tech in 1995, not 1985. I really hope he stays!!
Kane337
April 19th, 2011
11:09 pm
Don’t leave Wes!!!!! I love listening to your play-by-play for the Falcons. I also listen to your radio show on 790thezone. Please don’t leave!!!!
Jeff
April 19th, 2011
11:14 pm
Rico, I think you’re right… it was mid-90s. How long was Al Ciraldo around? Didn’t Wes replace him directly? Ciraldo was another classic… he and Munson were cut from similar cloth.
Golden White
April 19th, 2011
11:23 pm
Jeff, obviously I am a Tech fan but here in south central Georgia ” Tech Broadcast ” are hard to get . But “Georgia Broadcast” are on a lot of channels and I have listened to a bunch of them . So I agree , Larry Munson was the best of all time . I remember where I was when he was saying ” Sugar is falling from the sky”. I would even take a portable radio to the” Dovefield” to shoot birds and listen to Larry Munson call the game .
Jeff
April 19th, 2011
11:29 pm
Thanks, Golden… that 82 Auburn game was the famous “Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!” He had a lot of classic moments. I think Wes means the same thing to a lot of Tech fans as Larry did for us Georgia fans… I hope he stays for many more years. He really is the voice of the Jackets for a ton of fans that I know.
kshizzle
April 19th, 2011
11:34 pm
He can make a bigger legacy here. If he stays here for his career he will rival Ciraldo in GT lore. If he goes to UNC he’d just be another Durham. He is for sure a fan of GT and the Falcons. I cannot imagine he would be able to easily change to a UNC and/or Panthers fan. Bunch of BS. He’s staying.
George Stein
April 19th, 2011
11:36 pm
You represent the best of UGA, Jeff. The same can’t be said about you, sue engineers.
Dog Kicker
April 19th, 2011
11:43 pm
Wes you are in Atlanta what you father was in Carolina, I hope you will stay and continue to make your mark here!
Rodney Dangerfield
April 19th, 2011
11:43 pm
Wes is great! Don’t go to stuffy old UNC. If you leave the Atlanta radio I will have stop listening to sports radio because I know old Barnhart is miserable when you guys are talking about anything other than the “mighty” SEC. Without you Wes, the ACC would not exist in the Atlanta market.
Let's go!
April 20th, 2011
12:02 am
Jeff, thanks for the Class brother. I wish you’re UGA brethren were the same. Then again, some of my guys are pretty sour too. I hope Wes stays, but I understand if he does decide. I would hate to lose him. I love to hear him call. The year Calvin broke lose against Clemson was a shout heard throughout my household. The 99 GT/UGA game with the last second field goal, Classic.
GTKurt80
April 20th, 2011
12:04 am
Question is, has UNC had their eye on Wes as dad’s replacement? They certainly knew that retirement was coming. How much money are they going to throw at Wes to make him think about it. He certainly is probably doing pretty well with all the jobs he has dollar-wise, probably couldn’t squeeze anymore in if he had to. He certainly is happy with his success. Wes might look at the offer and see if it’s an “offer he can’t refuse.”
Hope Wes has a very high number, sure would hate to lose him.
I sue engineers for a living
April 20th, 2011
12:12 am
Where in the h—- did I state ANYWHERE I was a UGA fan??
Another example of the extreme paranoia and obsession you GT fans have with all things UGA.
GO DUKE!!
buzz2
April 20th, 2011
12:17 am
Hell no he can’t go…But I don’t believe in keeping a man back..IF..he can better himself. God bless what ever you do.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
April 20th, 2011
12:32 am
UNC is very interested in hiring me, but they have concerns about the size of my bottom….in case you have not seen me before it is HUGE.
GTGreg
April 20th, 2011
12:39 am
A Puke fan AND a lawyer? Forget the third… two strikes and you’re out! Plus, why in the crap are you coming on this blog and talking smack about your archrival (or rather, Daddy program) thinking about poaching our sportscaster?
Wes is great. I sure hope he has grown some deep roots here, because I like him every bit as much as I liked Ciraldo.
holland
April 20th, 2011
1:18 am
wes you are the best ever please stay at GT
Kauai DAWG
April 20th, 2011
2:31 am
I’m a huge Georgia fan but have to admit Wes is great. Very knowledgeable and most entertaining and an excellent voice. I can see why he would go to the heels but he’s carved out a pretty good spot next to the Varsity.
Ed Stone
April 20th, 2011
2:39 am
Carolina is a good job and the “Triad” is a great place to live. I am a NC native I do know that Atlanta is the greatest city in the country. Ralaigh/Durham/Chapel Hill is a close second. I couldn’t imagine why Wes would leave this city if not for money.
Jason
April 20th, 2011
2:41 am
Wes is not a nice guy. He is a fat dump that is a terrible family man!!
Jason
April 20th, 2011
2:41 am
A good sportscaster but terrible guy
Ed Stone
April 20th, 2011
2:50 am
I’m fat and you’re probably fat too Jason but what do you know about his family life. What an idiot…
blazerdawg
April 20th, 2011
4:01 am
Love Wed Durham….most likeable aspect of Tech athletics….more a part of their brand than Al Ciraldo…hope he stays….Chapel Hill, yaaawwwwnnnn.
Mike Fields
April 20th, 2011
6:40 am
Wes, you’re never going to get Vickie to wear Tar Heel blue! Don’t go.
Larry
April 20th, 2011
7:02 am
Leave Atlanta to relocate to east-central North Carolina?
Not a chance!
ormewood
April 20th, 2011
7:23 am
Chapel Hill would be a pretty nice place to live. Quality of life would be great there. For those bashing the town, I suspect you’ve never been there.
He has a great gig here. I think he’s one of only four or five guys who do NFL and college play-by-play full-time. He obviously grew up in the Chapel Hill area, no doubt pulling for UNC.
We should all be so lucky as to have career options like Wes likely has facing him. He can’t make a bad decision, IMO.
John
BYRDDAWG
April 20th, 2011
7:50 am
WOW……that would really stink!
51WTGW50
April 20th, 2011
8:06 am
Can Carolina pay more than TECH and the FALCON gig he has now? I don’t see him leaving the Falcon’s thing right now. ATL is easier to fly out of with all the small airports he can board his charters for. He leaves the Tech games to get to the Falcon games. I think Wes stays with ATLANTA teams over NC teams.
The Real YellowJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:11 am
I have alway liked the guy here.
Just wish the Falcons had their own announcer.
Gary
April 20th, 2011
8:13 am
Hope you stay here wes. Love hearing you call tech and falcon games.
Hayseed Dixie
April 20th, 2011
8:17 am
As much as I hate to say it, it probably won’t be Tech that keeps him in town- it’ll be the Falcons.
The NFL is the greatest sports league in the world, period. And despite the playoff last season- the Falcons are still on the rise. Who wouldn’t want to tell that story?
I hope he gets a raise and stays in Atlanta. Wes is my favorite play-by-play guy of all time.
Ken Sugiura
April 20th, 2011
8:18 am
Rico and Jeff- you are right. dumb typo on my part. thanks.
the reaction has been what i’d expect. play by play announcers can be as much or more a part of a team or school’s brand as the athletes or coaches, and that seems to be the case here.
BobinBuford
April 20th, 2011
8:28 am
Best call? The FSU fumble in the end zone from 2 years ago. I thought Wes was going to fall out of the booth on that one.
Who cares (the original)
April 20th, 2011
8:29 am
@Jason. Don’t care if you like Wes or not, or anyone for that matter. What basis do you have to call him “fat dump that is a terrible family man!!”???
That is a uncalled for shot, and you should hope to have 1/10th the class that he has.
Go Jackets!!!
UGASlobberknocker
April 20th, 2011
8:30 am
I cant see Durham leaving Tech for UNC given his Falcons deal and the huge difference in the Atlanta and Raleigh markets. He has too much going on here .
I like Durham a lot on both the Tech and Falcon broadcasts even though I do think he is too big of a name dropper.
51WTGW50
April 20th, 2011
8:37 am
Slobberknocker
He also has his 790theZone gig with Barnhart. I don’t think he wants to go. He is BIG in a Big market.
collegeballfan
April 20th, 2011
8:37 am
Memory says Wes applied for the Tennessee job several years ago.
UNC would not be a move up if the Falcon job is secure. Between Tech and the Falcons he must be doing pretty well money-wise.
FullMetalJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:39 am
Wes would be greatly missed if he leaves, and I am sure most Tech fans really hope he will stay. While I don’t think money would be the issue, Tech should pony up some incentives if necessary to keep him. I believe many fans don’t realize how professional and how much better Wes is compared to so many other college broadcasters. I remember Larry Munson commenting before his retirement that Wes was the best in the business when asked about the “younger” broadcasters. Obviously, that was not something he had to say, it was something he had to believe to say it. Travelling around the Southeast on the weekends and listening to a lot of football broadcasts, I know Munson is right.
GT65
April 20th, 2011
8:41 am
WHO CARES@8:29…agree 100% we don’t need that crap!
Mr. D as my son says…We hope you stay. Keep up the good work with GT & Falcons.
Thanks Ken for the report. Any and all news is important on GT. Keep it up.
GT FAN4EVER
April 20th, 2011
8:45 am
DONT LEAVE WES!!!! Your OWN Story is here with GT and the Falcons!!!!!!
FullMetalJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:45 am
Despite the strong ties and obvious emotional bonds of the Durham family with UNC, I think Wes is his own man and realizes the advantages of the Atlanta media market and living in the metro area. I am sure UNC will court him but hopefully he and wife Victoria feel like Ga. Tech and Atlanta are home. We at Tech sure feel like they are family.
FullMetalJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:48 am
By the way, Wes’ show with Tony Barnhart on the radio is the best sports show in Atlanta. Unfortunately, one or the other is often on assignment, but their experience and rational insight, together with the humor and beach music bumpers, make it excellent listening.
NovaJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:49 am
I Sue Engineers,
Talk about ACC myopia! More people already know Wes than ever knew his father. Most people outside of the ACC don’t know who Woody Durham is and those that do think of him in terms of being Wes’ father. Wes may feel some heart tug for UNC, but his head will tell him that he has a much bigger audience in Atlanta.
FullMetalJacket
April 20th, 2011
8:51 am
Al Ciraldo was a beloved legend and ‘old school’ all the way, but when Wes came here from Vandy he retained some of the old school savvy while adding his own clear, concise, accurate play by play and analysis.
Ken Sugiura
April 20th, 2011
8:51 am
thanks. just put in durham’s call from clemson-tech in ‘04.
Red Clay Hound
April 20th, 2011
8:53 am
Here’s hoping he stays. I don’t pull for Tech in anything, however he does a great job and you can’t help but like the guy. That’s called class when you respect someone and they transcend a rivalry.
juvenal
April 20th, 2011
9:00 am
poor radio here, away games usually on tv, at home games & watch without the distraction of ear phones-don’t think i have actually ever heard him call a game, fragments i’ve heard, a tad too histrionic for my tastes………..
GT Letterman
April 20th, 2011
9:06 am
Wes is a friend. I would hate for him to leave Tech, but following his father would be a great legacy for them both.
51WTGW50
April 20th, 2011
9:07 am
Ken
Thanks for the GState stuff too. Are you still going to cover the Panthers?
You might add the Nesbitt ripping the Fumble away from the FSU player too.
Perhaps
April 20th, 2011
9:07 am
Mick Mixon to CH?
Buzzzed
April 20th, 2011
9:07 am
FSU fumble in the endzone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyGQ_lyd83E
Whatsthegoodword
April 20th, 2011
9:10 am
Whatever. He’s the radio guy. I don’t care. He can go call games in Athens if he wants…
Everybody Hates Attorneys
April 20th, 2011
9:15 am
Maybe Wes will get a raise out of it.
GT45
April 20th, 2011
9:16 am
You don’t need to leave, Wes. You are building your own legacy here.
GT65
April 20th, 2011
9:18 am
Ken see if you can get some info on Chris Bolden de-commits from Miami and would love to play for GT. Maybe see If Coach Gregory has interest etc..He would be a great fit and wants to be at GT.
so long
April 20th, 2011
9:20 am
GOOD RIDDANCE and take Barnhardt too
so long
April 20th, 2011
9:22 am
never did pronounce the word “THROW” correctly, left the “R” out as well as leaving the “R” out of through
Ken Sugiura
April 20th, 2011
9:30 am
GT65 – don’t know if you saw this, but my colleague Michael Carvell reported this about Bolden. Not sure what Gregory would be willing to say, as he’s not allowed to by NCAA rules.
http://bit.ly/i5saGr
51WTGW50 – I’m no longer covering Georgia State. That’s now Doug’s turf.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
9:36 am
Durham has a tough decision to make. He is obviously loved and respected in ATL. He could go to UNC and do well.
Tough call. I hope he stays.
I want Munson back too. Notice we haven’t won squat since he left???
ormewood
April 20th, 2011
9:50 am
The UNC play-by-play gig is significantly better than Tech’s gig. Bigger fanbase, preeminent school in its state, bigger radio audience, opportunity to call national championship caliber games. Simply a fact.
But the Falcons gig is one of only 32 such gigs in the country. It’s a job that play-by-play guys aspire to. I’m thinking the Falcons job is the one that will keep him in town.
Wes Durham mum on replacing father | Sportscasters Talent Agency of America
April 20th, 2011
9:58 am
[...] Zone. In January, he was named Georgia’s sportscaster of the year for a seventh time.Read more at the Atlanta Journal Constitution where this story was originally published. [...]
JM
April 20th, 2011
10:12 am
There is no doubt that Wes Durham is the best sports announcer in the state. He’s a great professional. I hope GT and the Falcons can keep him in Atlanta.
Chaddd Scottt: No one will take my calls
April 20th, 2011
10:15 am
Wes Durham is a 100 times better than Larry Munson EVER was.
And no, I am not a jacket fan.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
10:39 am
chaddd scott,
you are not a DAWG either if you don’t love Munson. He was the best. Never to be repeated-the mold was broken.
Walker
April 20th, 2011
10:48 am
Wes is the Best. He is also a great partner on the golf course. Would Hate to see him leave.
JoeFan
April 20th, 2011
10:49 am
There is almost no chance Wes would leave Atlanta for the NC job. He has to much going for him here including a high profile city and position with the Falcons. The only positve about the NC job is the basketball gig.
Donezo
April 20th, 2011
10:49 am
Wes is a complete jack-hole! We, a GT organization, tried to use some audio for a charity event to raise money and awareness for children affected by HIV/AIDS and he tried to charge use for his voice. IT WAS FOR CHARITY…benefiting children in the Atlanta area and he is concerned about a 20 second clip with his voice on it shown to a whopping couple hundred or thousand people.
He can leave and go be useless somewhere else.
Donezo
April 20th, 2011
10:52 am
dawgin lex,
Larry Munson didn’t know left from right, north from south.
Maybe that isn’t a problem in Athens since 90% of the fan base probably doesn’t know the difference either.
juvenal
April 20th, 2011
11:09 am
prefer play-by-play guy to tell you where the ball is-let the color guy shout……..
Get back to World of Warcraft, nerd
April 20th, 2011
11:30 am
Why wouldn’t he leave a cesspool like Atlanta for a great gig in NC
Plus he would get to see some Basketball which he doesn’t get to do down here.
Heels Rock and Rule
April 20th, 2011
11:43 am
I’m for Mick Mixon at UNC, former sidekick of Woody’s, and voice of the Panthers. Also a UNC grad, and very intelligent. It comes across in his commentary. I don’t think Wes is a UNC grad, but I am just guessing on that one.
Heels Rock and Rule
April 20th, 2011
11:45 am
I think that the UNC crowd would like to see someone other than Wes. No knock against him though.
Ramblin Man
April 20th, 2011
12:09 pm
@ Heels Rock, Wes went to Elon and not UNC, so hopefully Mixon is the guy.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
12:15 pm
Thanks donezo for that insightful commentary.
Since I graduated from Georgia, I guess I’m a big dumb redneck too.
We didn’t have to look at Munson’s diploma to know where he stood regarding the DAWGS. That’s why we loved him. He might not have been smart like you but he sure as heck could pi$$ y’all off calling a football game. Dude got booed walking into the stadium at Clempson. Name me another announcer from a rival scholl that ever happened to.
Munson was the best.
Heels Rock and Rule
April 20th, 2011
12:25 pm
“It’s 31 degrees down on Peach Tree and cold as a dawg”. (Munson on his Sunday evening Bulldog Show)
Hummon
April 20th, 2011
12:31 pm
Speaking as a Georgia fan
Wes is better than our guy, and our guy ain’t bad.
Not Disappointed
April 20th, 2011
12:33 pm
Wes is a great guy and excellent announcer. He has so much going on in Atlanta. I don’t see him leaving, but I’ve been wrong before! @Jeff, UGA Fan. Nice Remarks!
Ramblin Wreck for Life!
M. B.
April 20th, 2011
2:34 pm
Honestly, people, Larry Munson’s “Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!” call is the most stupid comment I have EVER heard a sports commentator make! JUST STUPID!!!
It’s A Mid-Week Link Thing
April 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
[...] broadcaster in his own right and voice of Georgia Tech basketball and the Atlanta Falcons, on whether he would succeed his [...]
furman b
April 20th, 2011
3:37 pm
would love to see that gasbag leavetown. but make him promise to leave the falcons too. for BIG FAT WES it is all about HIM and less about the GAME. GO GO GO GO GO TO UNC
chic daddy
April 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
maybe UNC could hire the ultimate jive talking pimp daddy and alum – STU SCOTT
BOOYAH!
Tall1
April 20th, 2011
4:14 pm
I too would hate to loose Wes. He’s a class act and he knows his stuff on the college and pro levels, If he went to Tar Heel country, I would miss getting to look at Victoria every Sunday in the pew at Northside Methodist, or sitting down the row from her at Tech basketball games
Ken Sugiura
April 20th, 2011
8:03 pm
tall1 – i’m sure wes will take that into consideration.
PTC DAWG
April 20th, 2011
10:11 pm
WD seems like good people to me. Best of luck to him in his career.
original ole yeller
April 20th, 2011
10:37 pm
Wes, please pal do lot leave the jackets. We love you$$$$.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
April 21st, 2011
2:31 am
Thanks for your kind comments…..I thank you from the bottom of my gigantic bottom.
Okay, then
April 21st, 2011
9:55 am
Not a good sign for Tech when the primary reasons he would stay here have little to do with the Tech program. Instead Falcons (he could commute?), a radio show (could still do that from Chapel Hill).
GTechsta
April 22nd, 2011
12:08 am
what he is saying is “no one has asked me from UNC, so this isn’t about me.”