‘From Herschel to a Hobnail Boot’
Triumph Books
No offense to Scott Howard or anyone else who ever mans a microphone for UGA football games, but in the hearts and minds of the Bulldog Nation, there’ll never be anyone who approaches the status of Larry Munson.
As coaches and players came and went, the one-of-a-kind broadcast legend was the constant in Georgia football for more than four decades and became one of the most beloved figures ever at UGA. It doesn’t usually take much prompting, either, to get Dog fans to wax nostalgic about their favorite Munson calls.
So it’s a double treat that “From Herschel to a Hobnail Boot,” the brisk new memoir Munson has written with longtime sportswriter Tony Barnhart, comes with a CD that includes Larry’s picks of his 10 favorite calls from his days in the UGA broadcast booth.
Munson also discusses the calls in the book, which opens with his difficult decision to retire last year when he concluded that after rehab from brain surgery his voice just no longer could do what he wanted.
Told in the voice of Munson, the book then recaps his early life in Minnesota; his brief career as a musician (topped by playing piano for a week with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra behind singer Frank Sinatra); replacing Curt Gowdy on University of Wyoming football and basketball broadcasts; moving to Nashville to do minor league baseball, a hunting and fishing show on TV and Vanderbilt basketball and football (he still had to work in a sporting goods store to make ends meet!); and his two years as part of the Atlanta Braves broadcast team (before running afoul of Milo Hamilton’s enormous ego).
Then comes the heart of the book: his years as the voice of Georgia Bulldogs football, beginning in 1966. He also briefly covers his time calling Georgia basketball (1986-95) and the Atlanta Falcons (1988-91).
Munson reminisces at length about the Dooley years (Georgia won SEC championships two of Munson’s first three years as announcer), and spends somewhat less time on the years under Ray Goff (a good recruiter but “sensitive” to criticism, Munson says) and Jim Donnan (who had a chip on his shoulder and never really warmed up to Munson).
Then there’s the return to football prosperity with the arrival of Mark Richt — producing a couple of Munson’s favorite calls. And, yes, just as in the broadcast booth, when Munson talks about the Dogs, it’s “we” and “us.”
Barnhart stays out of the way other than to write a warm introduction about what Munson meant to Bulldogs fans and provide parenthetical information on the games Munson mentions.
And the favorite calls? No real surprises, but there’s nothing quite like reading Munson’s recollections of them while you listen to them on the CD. The ones he picked:
1. The 2001 game in Knoxville, known forever as the “hobnail boot” call.
2. The 1980 “Run, Lindsay!” call in Jacksonville.
3. The 1975 Florida game’s Appleby-to-Washington “thinking of Montreal” call.
4. The 1980 “My God, a freshman!” call in Knoxville. (Munson says WSB got complaints about his language.)
5. The 1982 “Hunker down, you guys!” and “Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!” sequence at Auburn that kicked Munson’s legend into high gear.
6. The 1978 “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” call of Rex Robinson’s game-winning field goal at Kentucky.
7. The 1984 win over Clemson thanks to Kevin Butler’s 60-yard field goal (”The stadium is worse than bonkers!”).
8. The 2002 pass from David Greene to Michael Johnson to beat Auburn and send Georgia to the SEC championship (”Touchdown! Oh, God, a touchdown!”).
9. The 1978 come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech (”There’s a man open! Arnold!”).
10. The call of the 1973 Andy Johnson score against the Vols that had Munson yelling, “My God! Georgia beat Tennessee in Knoxville!” He says that last call was the one that really prompted the Bulldog faithful to embrace him as one of their own.
Good times. And even better because of the way Munson described them to us.
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179 comments Add your comment
Flowery Branch Dawg
September 10th, 2009
7:48 am
Larry will missed, but the memories will last forever!
GO DAWGS!!!
coach joe
September 10th, 2009
8:08 am
tim tebow for president
fatjoe
September 10th, 2009
8:22 am
Hey Dawgs….
Are we that bad off we have to think back to the Munson days? We have a freaking game Saturday against SC. Get your heads right. You too BK!
JB
September 10th, 2009
8:22 am
Lot’s of things different in Athens other than Larry being gone. I think Mark needs some “fresh and energized” coach’s on his staff. One blogger said it best this week, If Bobo and Martinez were available, name an SEC school that would hire them in the same capacity? The answer is no one.
They are working for a man who will cover their short comings, but SEC is big time business with big time money, mostly coming from a fan base, who I don’t think is unrealistic to the point of being 12-0 every year, but wants a well coached team who has a chance to win every game they play. As of now, we don’t have that.Yes, we lost some talent last year, but who didn’t. Bama looked pretty competitive Saturday Night. We looked lost.
RAMBLE ON!!!
September 10th, 2009
8:22 am
45-42
Saint Simons
September 10th, 2009
8:23 am
((((( 24 10 ))))) hahahahahahaha
((((( Cox for Heisman ))))) hahahahahahahaha
((((( Samuel the next Herschel ))))) hahahahahahahaha
(45-42) wORLD TOUr
September 10th, 2009
8:25 am
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the stomping of the dawgs.
We will make those poor, dumb farm boys
Wish they’d stuck to slopping hogs.
When our team is victorious
We will sing a mighty cheer:
“We’ll do the same next year!”
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia!
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia!
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia!
The cess pool of the South!
Larry was great...
September 10th, 2009
8:27 am
…no doubt about that. But, you have to remember that he, and all of the late, great announcers, were products of the initial foray into broadcasting live games in many sports – maybe not the first at UGA or any other school / pro team – but the initial wave as broadcasting became entrenched in every day lives (who could ever forget Dizzy Dean and PeeWee Reese on the baseball Game of the Week – He slud into home plate”). Most stuck with their teams for long periods of time, so you are correct that there will PROBABLY never be anyone to match Larry, or Al Ciraldo, or Woody Durham (38+ years at UNC, and Wes’ dad), or probably even Wes (though he is second generation at Tech). As these legendary voices die off new voices will come on board and most “will never be able to match good old (enter your choice here)”.
l-dawg lover
September 10th, 2009
8:34 am
L-Dawg aka Try selling out a 55k seat stadium aka 1-888-TECH-TIX
George G.
September 10th, 2009
8:38 am
“The 2002 pass from David Greene to Michael Johnson to beat Auburn and send Georgia to the SEC championship (”Touchdown! Oh, God, a touchdown!”).”
Really? That was one of the worst calls ever. Larry didn’t even know who caught the ball. That’s redonk.
optionoffense
September 10th, 2009
8:46 am
l-dawg lover -
The sell out the stadium crap is so old and amusing. Again…since you idiots can’t seem to get it through your thick heads….our alumni base is by and large a successful group. When you get a degree from Georgia Tech you go all over the country for jobs, even all around the world. It’s not like UGA where everyone get a degree in P.E. and teaches a volleyball class at the local high school and can make every game. Hopefully you understand.
AltamahaDawg
September 10th, 2009
8:47 am
How difficult is it to delay the radio broadcast 1 second?
Cuz
September 10th, 2009
8:48 am
Look at the sugar falling out of the sky…….
We all looked up.
dean
September 10th, 2009
8:48 am
fatjoe, it’s a dadgum book review. Get your head out of your…Good grief.
Coach Nick Saban
September 10th, 2009
9:05 am
Why are you writing a column about Munson whenever the Puppies are about to start the season 0-2?? Shades of Jim Donnan, to be sure.
Coach Nick Saban
September 10th, 2009
9:10 am
What am I talking about? Uga is likely to be 0-4 at the end of September. Jesus, where’s Coach Johnny Griffith when you need him?
Coach Nick Saban
September 10th, 2009
9:12 am
You dumb-a$$es should have hired me after that 06 season…..you would be thinking MNC right now….Oh, wait…..UGA fans ALWAYS say MNC in the pre-season!
Denver Dog
September 10th, 2009
9:13 am
Option offense you and your band of losers are again making excuses. You don’t know what you are talking about, most of you dorks are worried that they stadium, like other Tech built structures will fall down, or you will be blown up by one of your suicide bombing alumni, or you will be accosted by one of your sexual perverted professors, or some game member will attack you on the concrete campus, or you will fall into an open manhole which your quality students stole the cover. But wait you go to DeVry, so you are not a student or alum of Tech. 15,000 seats, what a joke
A great announcer indeed. Shoot, I remember when he called the Braves one year.
Coach Nick Saban
September 10th, 2009
9:16 am
Since last week, though, that MNC is out the window…..the SEC title will be out the window when Spurrier gets done with you this week and has another famous Spurrier quote for the press like in 07. “It’s not like they are some powerhouse team…..Vandy beat em last year, and so did Kentucky”…….Coach Steve Spurrier, 2007.
Pago Flyer
September 10th, 2009
9:18 am
You’d think somebody in the AD Office would have enough common sense to name the Media (press) Box after Larry Munson NOW!!!!!!!!
JB
September 10th, 2009
9:20 am
for most Tech grads, it’s a long way from India to come back for a game.
RonnieGarDner
September 10th, 2009
9:20 am
Scott (Curley) Howard seems like he scripts his next great call. Example: “There’s a huge dog pile in the endzone. That was so corny. He gets too excited over routine plays. He needs to be himself, it will happen. He is much like the guy at Tennessee thta followed John Ward. Kesling stutters, mispronounces,tells the score wrong,gives wrong down/distance. Howard is hard to listen to for many of those reasons. When UGA plays I turn the radio off and listen to the TV announcers.
1eyedJack
September 10th, 2009
9:20 am
Cuz – great example of how gullible UGA fans really are, no wonder you keep thinking you wuold have one each game except for just a couple plays here and there, that you really have a beter team than the one you lost to except for a few bad calls, and that CMT is the second coming of Tim Tebow. I bet you actually think the black jerseys magically appeared when CMR turned out the lights.
The Ol Ball Coach
September 10th, 2009
9:21 am
It’s not like they’re some powerhouse team. OSU beat em last week, and now we are gonna beat em this week.
The Ol Ball Coach
September 10th, 2009
9:23 am
1eyedJack, just who the hell is CMT?
What do you mean the MNC is out the window...
September 10th, 2009
9:23 am
…UF won with one HOME loss last year; LSWHO won it with 2 losses! UGA still has a mythical chance!!!!
Scott Howard...
September 10th, 2009
9:25 am
…said the score was 6-0 at least twice in the second quarter last week!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
September 10th, 2009
9:27 am
fatjoe, I’m not playing Sat and you’re not either. So I’m going to think back to the Munson days for a while this morning because it’s fun and I want to. And I’m thanking Bill King for providing the fodder for these fond memories. And speaking of getting your head right, look no farther than a mirror
Denver Dog
September 10th, 2009
9:28 am
Open your other eye you dumb hilbilly, then you can see what the world really looks like. Saban, maybe you should look back at some of the winners in your history, if you really have one: Mike Price, Shula, Perkins, Curry, any more that you ‘d like to add. Bama and Tech had more coaches in the last 15 years, than UGA had in the last 60
1eyedJack
September 10th, 2009
9:28 am
Ol Coach: CMT = CMR you idiot, the r is right next to the t on keyboard. You must be a GA fan who has a hard time figuring out even simple math let alone simple logic, and can’t get past obvious typos. You going to start critizing people’s spelling and grammer on blogs also?
L-Dawg
September 10th, 2009
9:28 am
GLORY GLORY TO OLE GEORGIA!!!!!
SO EXCITED TO CHEER IN SANFORD SATURDAY AS OPPOSED TO BOOING FROM A BAR
GO DAWGS!!!!!
2 DAYS TIL THE HOME/SEC OPENER!!! WHAT A GREAT TIME OF YEAR!!!!
Herschel Talker
September 10th, 2009
9:31 am
BILL: I WOULD THINK SOMEONE WRITING THE UGA BLOG WOULD KNOW THAT THE HOBNAIL BOOT GAME WAS IN 2001, NOT 2002. JEEZ, MAN.
Denver Dog
September 10th, 2009
9:34 am
1 eyed, you must be a non grad of anywhere, that never learned how to type. You appear to be an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. Just admit that you made a mistake and say so rather than tyring to blame it on someone else. You need some help from your friend Life Coach. Just to get it correct though, you are not a UGA fan, but you come onto a UGA blog, make a stupid mistake, and blame someone else. GEE you could be Obama’s twin.
JPW
September 10th, 2009
9:35 am
It’s really sad how many Tech fans come on to a UGA blog to talk nonsense. You’re just making yourself and your school look classless. I’m sure there are plenty of Tech blogs you can spend your time on.
Paul's Johnson
September 10th, 2009
9:36 am
1eyedjagof:
“Ol Coach: CMT = CMR you idiot, the r is right next to the t on keyboard”
So what does that mean? That you’re too stupid to hit the correct key!
You’re a loser, douc..bag tool!
Sanford Drive
September 10th, 2009
9:40 am
This is old, but an interesting read regarding Tech’s offense.
http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-you-cant-just-play-assignment.html
Sanford Drive
September 10th, 2009
9:43 am
The sad part about Tech is that their team is actually good, but nobody cares. People would rather watch a crappy UGA than a great Georgia Tech.
UT96
September 10th, 2009
9:49 am
The Hob Nail Boot game was in 2001. I know because I was there and one the most painful losses I’ve ever had to endure. We had just taken the lead on a long run by Travis Stephens on a perfectly executed screen pass only to blow it because that it idiot Fulmer decided to kick it short and go into a prevent defense.
mrb
September 10th, 2009
9:50 am
the hobnail boot call was 2001, not 2002
#2 BAMA FAN
September 10th, 2009
9:54 am
I love the calls from Larry Munson when the dawgs were beating the vols!! GO DAWGS!
1eyedJack
September 10th, 2009
9:54 am
Sorry, I have a admin assistant who normally does my typing, I am a horrible speller, and don’t proof what I type because I don’t have any complex about trying to type things perfect for you morons. But I do just love the fact that you guys can’t respond to how delusional GA fans really are about their loser team, loser coach and loser fans. GA fans actually think telling your kids to rush the field to get a excessive celebration penalty was actually a great coaching move. When that just proves how classless CMR and GA fans are, because everyone else in the world knows that telling your kids to break the rules to gain an advantage is cheating. But CMR learned from the best at FSU, where they late hit quaterbacks, just like GA put late hits on Dez Bryant in the first quarter (which is probably why they gave the make up calls to OSU later in the game).
Ozzy
September 10th, 2009
9:54 am
I’ve been trying to teach my Bulldog to “sic em”, but he just keeps whining, rolling over and playing dead.
Is that normal for the breed?
I’m going to have to put him down if he keeps it doing it.
Large Orange
September 10th, 2009
9:56 am
I have an online poll. Please vote for who you think is the biggest dumbass to ever post on here. 1. Paul’s Johnson 2. Denver Dog
All entries must be in by 8:00 this evening as both of these stooges have to be in bed by 8:30. I know it will be a tough call as both have shown to be equally stupid at times.
Bull Butter
September 10th, 2009
9:59 am
Sanford Drive—-I had rather have a bad case of the swine flu than watch UGA play the way they did saturday.
Coach Nick Saban
September 10th, 2009
10:01 am
Denver Dawg…….You may have less coaches than Bama over the last 60 years, but you also have less National Titles, too. Put that in your pipe….along with the wacky tobaccy….and smoke it!
Sanford Drive
September 10th, 2009
10:02 am
UGA paid for that excessive celebration penalty and then some. Let’s move on from 2007. Everyone else has. Also, every team has had a late hit penalty called on them at some point in time.
don't be a hater
September 10th, 2009
10:03 am
Large Orange – that is a tough question, they are both so stupid I think they are probably the same person. But if I had to pick I would say Denver Dog. He just types so much, but says so little.
Large Orange
September 10th, 2009
10:04 am
Herschel SmackTalker….if it came down to choosing men over your fatass sister, it would be a hard choice. I can handle her fat but if she only had more than 4 teeth. Yeeeeeeech.
The Ol Ball Coach
September 10th, 2009
10:04 am
1eyedJack, does someone with this handle look like a uga fan to you? I thought you were supposed to get a quality education at GT. Guess you’re proving me wrong. Either that, or you are way too sensitive, you ignorant ba$tard.
Cuz
September 10th, 2009
10:04 am
1eyedJack, switch to decaf.