The mighty Munson: A singular voice that will resonate forever

Larry Munson is and always will be Georgia football. He was not just an announcer he was part of the program and will forever be linked to UGA as long as they keep fielding a team between the hedges.

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Rest in Peace Larry … Walk up a staircase of sugar in your hob nail boots right into the best suite in Heaven. ( or in the broadcast booth and tell us how it is up there!)

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Bulldog Nation will never have another like Larry Munson. When I was young, it was tradition at my house to turn down the TV volume and listen to Larry call the game on the radio. He’ll be missed.

Rest in peace.

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Mark, in a piece full of great lines, this one “Any broadcaster could give you the down and distance; only Munson could give you the agony and the ecstasy” stands out. Thanks;

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Amen …

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Rest in Peace.

Feels like a little connection I had with my father and grandfather was lost today.

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RIP Larry – There will never be another one like him,
Mark – A tremendous blog by you. Deaths of legends (e.g. Smokin Joe) bring out your best writing but unfortunately they seem to be coming way too close together.

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What “Hail Munson said…”

There will never be another like Mr. Munson. I saw him once in the grocery store and told him, “Larry, you don’t know me but I love you.” He just gave me a big ol’ smile. I can’t read his famous calls without choking up and that was BEFORE he passed. Prayers for his family and may he rest in peace…except for every game when we beseech him to “pull for us Bulldogs.”

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I knew this day was coming soon. I cried anyway.

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Larry Munson was the only one who could truly convey the real urgency of the game: “it is our way of life against theirs!” God bless him and his family.

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I re-read this twice. And I have concluded that this was a very honorable epitaph for Mr. Munson. He was what he was – which was UGA, and will be immortalized. Very well done.

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Heavy heart tonight. I grew up listening to Larry with my dad. I turned down the TV once that evil took over college ball and still listened to Larry. He was a voice in my life and made me rich for having known him. God be with you, Larry. Hunker down, my friend.

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well done Mark, as usual

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Larry will always be the voice of the Bulldawg nation. He was one of us. He made us feel like we were sitting there with him watching the game. He was our like uncle telling us a story. We hung on to every word he said. He always said get the picture. He was a painter who told us like no other could ever do. He will be missed but live in our hearts forever. I know this coming Saturday that he will be looking down on the Dawgs telling them to hunker down one more time. He and Lewis Grizzzard can sip on a nice beverage and smoke a victory cigar. God bless him and his family. Thank you for a well written article Mark.

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Enter your comments here

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Brilliantly. You captured exactly why Munson was so unique and such a rare talent. There won’t be another like him. I feel lucky to have been a Georgia fan through so much of the Munson era.

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Nice work/tribute, Mark.

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(Sorry, Mark. Accidentally hit the Submit button too soon.). Excellent column! I hated when I came to the end. I hope you repost the column re the Braves broadcast by Larry. I have not seen it before, but I’ll bet it’s a classic.

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What a beautiful tribute, Mark. Larry Munson meant a lot to us and in a few short words you’ve reminded us why. Reading this, people who weren’t there during Larry’s tenure will still be able to “Get the picture.” Thanks a million.

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God Bless the man who helped me grow up on Georgia Football…………….RIP

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I grew up a Dawg fan in a Tech family. They had Al Ciraldo; I had Munson. We were lucky to have those two as the voice of our autumns, but only Munson could take the Lord’s name and weave word tapestries with it. My ears told me that that name wasn’t used in vain, especially when uttered in exultation for my Dawgs.

We miss you, Larry. Requiescat in pace.

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There never was and never will be anyone like LARRY MUNSON. He is in my heart and spirit and will never die. He is a sports guy for us guys. Sugar falling from the sky and hobnail boots and Lindsay Scott are testaments to the guy who was the guy. Larry, you ARE so cooollll!!!!!

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Next time UGA makes it to the Sugar Bowl, all Bulldogs fans will say “Look at the sugar falling out of the sky”, and We will know you will be the one pouring it down on your beloved Bulldogs from heaven. God needed a play by play man so he called Larry Munson home.

R.I.P.
Larry Munson

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It hasn’t been as exciting to turn on Georgia radio since Larry had to leave and it never will equal that time again when it was but at least we had him call those games as only he could for all those years and that can’t be taken away. Thanks Larry…

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The greatest Bulldog ever.. Seriously. The man loved Georgia Football. Fishing, movies and pretty women.. Enough said.

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This man illuminated some of the most memorable moments of our lives as Georgia fans. I miss him every fall Saturday and always will. R.I.P., Mr. Munson.

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I remember so many games that I couldn’t attend due to distance. I remember my buddies and I huddling around a radio listening to our first game in 1980…
Listening to every single word of Larry describing the UGA vs Tenn game with Herschel leading the way.
Larry Munson….better than being there!

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Thanks Mark for a great article. I, like so many will always have fond memories of those fall days in Georgia when Larry was rooting for the Dawgs along with the rest of us. Nothing like it.

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Grew up with you in Athens Larry.
Love you and miss you.
Go Dawgs!
There will never be another…

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I first remember Larry announcing for the Braves. He’d describe a line drive down the line as being “3/4 of an inch foul…He just missed a triple”! Then of course he came to UGA. After the Rex Robinson field goal in Ky, I actually called him and told him I thought he was going to have a heart attack and give us one too!!! He just laughed, but was most gracious.
Rest In Peace, Larry. You’re one Damn Fine Dawg!!!

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maybe Larry willl have a little pull with st pete on the other side and give uga a little special help.

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A friend in the press box, it seems strange to many of us around the UGA family that he gone never forgotting. As many games I been too I never heard his broadcast live every though he was there and was a presents to everyone. He was miss by everyone around when he was force to retire many years ago. Many years ago, I remember talking to him about UGA hopeful trip to the Rose Bowl that never happen. He and I was looking forward to that trip; however, the last minute where the BCS change there minds we when to New Orleans instead. Believe it or not, the Rose Bowl game would of been his last UGA broadcasting game; I believe why he did not make that trip to New Orleans because it was like another road game to him that year because of his health reason he did not travel with the dogs.

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R.I.P Larry Munson. The best play by play man in history.

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I was at UGA from ‘73 to ‘77. Mark, as I read your column and the comments, I found myself tearing up. Well done, sir. I was recalling the times that I listened to the away games in my dorm room, and after I left, when I had the opportunity to watch them on TV, like many in here, I would turn the TV volume down, and find the radio broadcast. I now understand why to this day I still get nervous and tensed up when the Dawgs are in a tight game. It is because of our beloved Larry Munson. My wife and daughters are not into sports, plus they all grew up here in Tennessee, so they can’t understand.

Larry Munson, RIP

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He was the best that I have ever heard. I am a Gator fan that attended the U of F but whenever the two teams played, I would listen to Larry. I knew he would pull for the Dogs but I didn’t care. It will be a long time before we forget some of his calls. No one like him.

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Larry was the same age as my Dad who died a couple of years ago. When I was a kid we’d have two radios in the fishing boat, one with Pop in the back tuned to Munson, and one on Tech and Al Ciraldo up front with me. We seemed to miss all the TV games because we were out fishing with my brother Ralph, Larry, and Al. Now they’re all gone.

The voices of Munson and Ciraldo wafting over Lake Lanier – I wonder how we ever caught anything.

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Thank you Larry, your voice still rings over the years and in my BullDawg heart. I was working in the tobacco field on that glorious Saturday afternoon when you begged Lindsay to run and broke your chair, and the stadium fell down…..

I will never forget it, and will cherish that moment always. There are many others, but that is a memory never to be forgotten. Thanks Larry from a grateful Dawg, RIP.

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Even with the Dawgs on the cusp of the SEC Championship, this is a sad day for the Dawg Nation. Rest in Peace Larry, we’ll miss you

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As a freshman at Georgia (1980), I had gone home the weekend of the Clemson game. Get the picture: memorable clear blue Saturday afternoon picking peanuts in Pavo, Georgia; tractors in green, combines in yellow. Listening to Larry call the game that Scott Woerner almost won the game by himself. Larry had me so wrapped up in the game I stopped my tractor and ran across the field stopping the other operators to tell them we won. He made our lives richer.

Rest in Peace, Larry.

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Mark, a great column–one of your best ever. Larry was a unique talent, a verbal artist who could put your rear end right there in the bleachers next to him. He suffered losses along with us, exulted in paroxysms of joy when we pulled out an unexpected win, and was a true Dawg to the very end. I’ll never forget when he single-handedly stopped the Homecoming parade in the early ’80’s once to have a student bring him a beer. Cigar in one hand, PBR in the other, he allowed the parade to recommence its route only when he’d had a sip and pronounced it good.

I thought about Larry this past Saturday on the way into the game, and about how he deserved to be there one last time. I missed him then; I will miss him forever.

God bless you, Larry Munson.

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Great column remembering Larry and some really wonderful posts of us sharing our memories involving Larry. Larry is the reason why I temper my enthusiasm in any game Mark. Sad day in Dawg Nation…

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My Favorite Uncle and I spent a lot of Fall Saturdays fishing, in his lake and listening, to Mr. Munson. If the game was on TV we would turn down the volume and listen, to him, on the radio.
Rest in Peace and God Bless your family.

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A good time to break out the “Best of Munson” DVD’s. Fix a good drink, smile, shed a tear, and relive some great memories. Thanks Mark for a great article.

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Wonderful article Mr. Bradley. You captured every detail of great man. Thank you so much.

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Larry Munson represents the best of college football in this day and age of the worst in college football.

This Buckeye has been a fan since moving to Atlanta in 1986.

There will never be another one quite like you.

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I was exiled in Hoover ,Alabama for work in the early eighties-on football weekends I would drive to the top of Oak Mountain to receive the Georgia game broadcast by a station out of Anniston on the Ga-Ala border.Larry’s voice would flow through the airways and help soothe some of my loneliness and homesickness as normally only a call home to my mama could do.He was the Best,I will always miss him come gametime.My 4 kids (All great Bulldawgs) grew up thinking turning the tv sound down and Munson up was normal. Great job with your tribute Mark-Thank You.God Bless Munson.He and Lewis can now go fishin and talk about women and Georgia football together…..

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Lets go Georgia—————-We all loved you Mr. Munson.

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Larry Munson’s voice was as much Georgia football as Georgia football itself. Oh how we will miss him. Forget turning the volume off of our tv, we would turn off the tv if we could listen to Larry! It was so pure of an art listening to him, that when he asked us to get the picture, we got the picture, painted on every sunspilt fall with a sea of red and black, and why in the world would we mess it up with watching it with our eyes when we could see it in our mind.

I can almost here him say, and I don’t know, do you really think we can beat this team? Really? And they have this coach who has come here from up north and has done wonders with that team and here they are, all yellow and purple and My God, he has them believing they can do the unthinkable and give us a run for our money today. Erk has his hands full today and I don’t know, we are all up against it now. Can lady luck give us just one more chance, I mean one more is all we are asking for, isn’t it? Whachagot Lorin?

“My God, he is just a freshman!” ” Run Lindsey, Run!!!”

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Larry Munson will always be recognized and known as the voice of Georgia football, but it wasn’t just his profession that makes Munson legendary. It was his life’s work as a whole. No matter one’s loyalty to their program of choice, I’d just like to say we are all sorry for our loss but nonetheless a richer people for having him a part of this world. RIP Munson…

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I think we should black out Grant Field Saturday in memory of the great one. And I think the team should wear their black jerseys and helmets.

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… only Munson could give you the agony and the ecstasy. You’ll never write a better line.

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Munson had to be a great one. I’ve never seen so many tears shed at Bradley’s place. I always loved it when Larry would say, “get the picture”. He would then describe the very grim situation the Dawgs were in at the time. Larry carved himself into UGA football history, one radio boradcast at a time. I hope they erect some sort of tribute to the man at Sanford Stadium. Go Dawgs! Sic’em!

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Not only a D G D but a TOP DAWG

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We’ll miss you Larry. So many fond memories. Thank God for those times I’ll never forget.

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Rest in peace sir.

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Condolences to the Munson family and to the Bulldog fans out there. This is a tough loss as Larry Munson was a man that was larger than life. One of the best football announcers ever.

May he rest in peace, in a booth that never gets cold.

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Good stuff, MB.

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Nice job from a Ky Blueblood! I knew Munson was special when I was calling on a client in Easley, SC one day and he told me when the Dawgs and Clemson played each other; he would rather listen to Munson call the game then his own announcer…

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The reason I sought to attend UGA back in 1971 was hearing Larry Munson on WSB radio during my high school days. Surely this University of Georgia must be something very very special. It was…and is. As will be always, Larry Munson, now called to higher duty and eternal reward.
Thoughts are with his blood family and his also beloved bulldawg family.

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Damn good Dawg!

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Larry Munson was one of a million. For Munson fans we all wish that he could live forever and continue to call UGA games. I can imagine that himself and Jesus are having some great conversations right now about his life and how he touched thousands of people.

Rest in peace Larry, the BEST DAWG EVER!

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Mark,
Well said. When I came to Ga In 1986 my first exposure to Bulldog football was hearing Larry on the radio. He was the best and very comparable tom the late Johnny Most from the Celtics. Both homers that made you feel then game.

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Always enjoyed Munson. He was entertaining and loyal to his team without being an SEC hack (unlike his replacements). He will be missed by fans outside of the SEC for his humor, wit and knowledge of the game. May he rest in peace.

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First off great article Mark very well written, second thanks to all the classy comments from the Tech and other schools fans . Lastly I grew up listening to Larry for well over 30 years he was the favorite uncle you loved spending time with, even if it was only a football game it mattered and his visits with us mattered. Larry you will be deeply missed, but man were we lucky to have the opportunity to spend that time with you!

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Even us Gators remember. http://forum.gatorsports.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16196&p=289632#p289632

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I met Larry Munson once in a Norcross Irish pub having a beer and peanuts with a pretty lady. I said, “Hello, Mr. Munson……….and Go Gators!….with a smile.” He did not smile or say anything back. A true Dawg…..and a truly great announcer. RIP, Larry Munson. You brought a lot of joy to Georgia football fans.

…….and played the piano for Frank Sinatra……..NICE LIFE.

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Thank you Mr. Munson for all of the great UGA memories I have due to you! Those plays/calls will live forever with me. From the time as a young boy and listening to the call of Appleby to Washington, as a high school kid listening to Herschel’s debut and Belue to Scott, as an UGA student and being “hosed” at Auburn, and of course the UT face crush as after graduating. For me, you and your calls were and always be a wonderful, colorful ribbon in my life. Thank you Larry!

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Thanks Mark for a great column.

I grew up listening with my dad to Larry call the games on the radio. If we were lucky enough for the games to be televised, we would turn the volume down on the TV and listen to Larry. There was never any other place that I wanted to be and in 1981 that’s where I went. Larry Munson made everyone feel the games and the atmosphere in Athens. I miss hearing his voice calling games. I get teary-eyed every Saturday in Athens when the band plays The Battle Hymn of the Bulldawg Nation and they show great plays on the Jumbotron. Listening to Larry over the speaker while the band plays — “Glory, glory to old Georgia! Heroes have graced the field before you: men with the hearts, bodies, and minds of which the entire Bulldog nation can be justifiably proud. A tradition of unbridled excellence demonstrated by these individuals and many others spans more than a full century. And now a new breed of Bulldog stands ready to take the field of battle to assume the reigns of their Georgia forbearers and continue that tradition, understanding that there is no tradition more worth of envy, no institution worthy of such loyalty, as the University of Georgia. As we prepare for another meeting between the hedges, let all the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear the red and black with two words—two simple words which express the sentiments of the entire Bulldog nation: Go Dawgs!” brings chills.

Thanks Larry for everything! You will be sorely missed. Once a Dawg – always a Dawg! How Sweet It Is!!!

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RIP Larry, you were the best that has ever been or will ever be when it comes to calling UGA football. I can remember listening to you with my Dad back in the mid to late 70’s, when there was only one TV game a week and we relied on Larry to “get the picture” many times. I think it is a great tribute to the legend he was that we have other schools leaving such nice comments about Larry Munson. When the oppositon is a fan and has respect for you, it truly tells the story of what a great job you have done. Prayers to the Munson family, your loss is a great one but know that Larry will never be forgotten.

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Munson was a good man.

Just curious why the AJC feels compelled to take cheap shots at Starkville, MS in his obit? Trying to be cute with yoru writing cheapens what Larry was all about.

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Excellent Mark. You captured Larry.

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Good bye, Larry, and thank you for the voice of my football teenage years.

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@Suches and @Angie- Good stories guys. Thanks for sharing. I’ll blog about it later. Maybe post it on here.

Angie, I went to UGA in 81 as well. Got to go back last week for the Auburn game. I am a few states away now. Locals say to me, “You have lived here for 20 years. When are you going to transfer your loyalty to the local college team.” All of us DAWGS know that is a stupid silly question….the answer is…NEVER!!

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Vince Dooley is right, there will never be another like him. He was the best. Rest in peace Larry.

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Larry was the best dawg of them all. I used to listen to georgia games back in the 80’s just because of that great voice. Larry was simply the best ever. He made you feel like you were sitting in the stadium- he even described the uniforms. Congrats to georgia on east title. RIP.

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Rest in Peace, Larry. You are/were the most significant Bulldog in the history of the school. No one will ever come close. This is even sadder for Bulldog fans than Grizzard’s death. The Bulldog Nation’s heart is breaking.

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I loved his calls on running plays, no matter who the back was. “4-5-6, give him 11 yds”.

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@PreyDawg – Amen to that!! Even after finishing school, I still listened to Larry. My daughter and son grew up listening to him and now my daughter is in the Redcoat Band. She misses him as much as I do.

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Never understood the attraction -however condolonces to the family

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A great idea, BIT. And Hindu go screw yourself. Today ain’t the day for anything but tributes. If you got nothing positive to say, shut your mouth.

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Great article Mark. It is nice to see that Dawg and Tech fans can agree on one thing. Larry Munson was a legend and will be missed. R.I.P. Mr. Munson.

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Stunned. Heartbroken. Thanks Larry for memories that will live with me to the end of my days.

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[...] Larry Munson passed away Sunday night from complications associated with pneumonia. Munson was 89. As Mark Bradley nails it in the AJC, “From property being destroyed on St. Simons after Belue-to-Scott to the Knoxville noses [...]

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as a GT fan and someone who enjoys a good Bulldog loss, I will say that I’ll miss Munson too. I’ll pray for the Bulldog nation and the Munson family. Sorry for your loss.

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Rest in Peace Larry. Heart goes out to his family and the Bulldog nation.

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For Larry Munson:

http://stendek.tumblr.com/post/13110725272/voice-of-dawg-football-silent-with-death-of-larry

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Hindu Elvis Pimp you handle speaks volumes about you, right now your making your mother very proud. Larry RIP you will be missed , thanks for the memories !

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We’re going to need a little divine help to with the SEC championship. Now… Larry’s up there to give us a little extra help.

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I will never believe that Munson played second fiddle to any Kentucky announcer….

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This Georgia Tech fan will miss you Larry. You were one of the greatest football announcers ever. Period!

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RIP, Larry. We should all bring such passion to our profession as you did.

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Larry is and will always be a Georgia legend. Lets name the press box at Sanford for him.

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This long time Tech fan is praying for your family during this time. Though you were a Bulldog, you were one of the best at what you did. Hopefully you and Al Ciraldo can call the game up in Heaven this weekend.

Go Tech!

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Mark, why do all the stories say he died at 89? He was born in Sept of 1921, that makes him 90, doesn’t it?

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I believe that Larry came to Atlanta with the Braves, and did the Braves’ games with Milo Hamilton for a number of years before he went to UGA. He was equally good as a baseball announcer, but perhaps a little less passionate. It was great to hear Larry when you were on the road. I recall driving back from a California road trip in college and hearing Larry’s voice on a Braves’ broadcast somewhere in Arkansas. He was certainly one of a kind.

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Thank you Larry for all of the Georgia Joy!
I celebrated the victories and suffered through the losses with you.
You took me to the game when I could not go.
S

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Was just commenting on Saturday how much I missed him. Feel bad for current crew because he is irreplaceable and makes anything that follows mediocre at best……..I remember begging my parents to take me with them to the games in the late 70’s and early 80’s which they did but often it would be an adult only trip for the big games like 21-0 win over BAMA in 76 and Ga/Fl 1980. After sitting on the couch and pacing through the den hanging on every word, I ended up happier that I had listened to Munson than if I had gone to the game. RIP Larry. Unquestionably the greatest of all time. Are you the best? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!

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LARRY YOU WERE SIMPLY THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANNOUNCER THAT EVER LIVED.MY ROOMATE AND I WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET AND TALK WITH YOU AT A UNIVERSITY FUNCTION AND WALK YOU TO YOUR CAR TALKING GEORGIA FOOTBALL-THAT WAS A BIG TREAT FOR US.YOU WILL BE MISSED.

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“Any broadcaster could give you the down and distance; only Munson could give you the agony and the ecstasy.” And that’s the truth.

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“Lorne, whatdayagot?” “Well, Larry, UGA III has shut it down today, just like our defense.” Classic.

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Amen and amen Brother.

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Blogging at it’s best- thanks to you Jackets and Gators who weighed in to share your affection and respect for the Voice of the Dawgs.

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How we loved to listen to Larry on the radio and watch the TV at the same time. He touched the lives of many. May he forever enjoy GA football.

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RIP and Godspeed Larry Munson. You are already missed.

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Mr. Munson, rest in peace.
Signed,
A Tech fan

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Well written article Mark. Larry Munson truly is/was Georgia football to so many people over the years. I remember sitting in the living room with my Dad watching games and having the tv turned down and the radio blaring. He helped to shape a lot of great memories for a lot of folks and will truly be missed.

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As a Vol fan, I can remember coming back to visit my parents in ATlanta in colllege. We’d go out to dinner on a Saturday evening and listen to him on the radio. It was as if you’re buddy was realying the game to you over the phone…

“oh my Gawd, we just fumbled….”

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Larry Munson: The only person I liked with any affiliation to UGA besides the UGA sorority houses.

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God Speed Larry!

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Larry you are the best. RIP

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p.s. Larry say hello to Grizzard!

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You will be missed by this Jacket Larry. One of the best football voices there ever was.

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This Die-Hard Yellow Jacket takes his hat off to Larry Munson, a damn good announcer. RIP.

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steverino: you are a disrepectful TROLL!!!!!

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My brother wrote me after we heard of Larry Munson’s passing, that it is so sad that so many will never know a Saturday of hanging on his every pessimistically hopeful word. Just not the same with anyone else.

Dawgs fans name their family dog Munson and every knows why without to ask. A living tribute to the man we loved to listen to. Larry is legend. He is Georgia football and we are all better fans for having grown up listening to him call the games. He will always be THE voice of Georgia football.

Thank you, Mark, for a great tribute piece I have already printed it and saved it for future resding.

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God Bless Larry Munson. He gave me many, many hours of great joy–something that is priceless.

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steverino
November 21st, 2011
10:21 am

Refreshing to see that a man’s death has put you in such a festive, nostalgic mood.

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Tech grad here. I will miss him.

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Nailed it MB – thanks

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I will never forget the night Herschel Walker made his debut in the 1980 season opener against Tennessee. To hear Larry Munson descibe Herschel’s first touchdown–and this was back in the day when no team could be on television more than two or three times a year and the only way to keep up with game was on radio–was pure beauty. I am an Auburn graduate but I still loved to listen to Larry Munson call a game. Eli Gold at Alabama and Jim Hawthorne at LSU are the only two present day radio broadcasters who even approach Munson and the other great announcers of old.

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Can you just imagine if he was able to call the upcoming SEC championship this year….it would be so classic Munson “little Georgia vs the mighty fill in the blank”

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Years ago at the GA/SC game, I was tossing the football outside our hotel with my husband when I heard that incredible voice. I thought someone had their radio on, but then from behind a bus came the face of that unmistakeable voice and you would have thought I saw a Hollywood movie star the way I just starred!!! No one will ever remotely compare to Larry. The Bulldawg nation has many broken hearts today.

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“Run, Lindsay!” was Classic Munson and said what every Georgie fan was thinking back in that long ago UGA-Florida game on the way to a national championship: http://youtu.be/OXQSAxLVMUM

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He spoke at a Bulldog meeting in Cols. and was introduced “if you can’t listen to Larry on the radio then the next best thing to do is get a ticket and go to the game”.

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Beast

when are you paying up on the bet????

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Munson one of the best ever- I’m sure him and Al will both be calling the game Saturday to all in the Heaven’s on Saturday- Sad Day for dawg fans. Al saying Toe meets Leather and Larry saying Hunker down!

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[...] Lengendary UGA broadcaster Larry Munson dies at age 89 By Chip Towers The Atlanta Journal-Constitution From AJC Staff Enlarge photo Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com UGA officials have confirmed that legendary UGA broadcaster Larry Munson passed away Sunday night in Athens. He was 89. Related Bradley: Mighty Munson [...]

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Yes boys and girls there was once an era where no television coverage existed and artists painted the pictures in our heads with words. Most painted stark photographic scenes and Bradley hit the hobnail, if you will, on the head. Larry Munson was a Van Gogh of the spoken word. His impression of a fall Saturday in Athens was left floating in the air in living rooms and barber shops all over the state. With a voice containing all the gravel of a country road we sometimes didn’t get the exact detail but the color palette used painted a scene that was felt to the core. This is the death of a true artist in his craft. Godspeed.

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Haunt Tech

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What makes announcers like Munson so enjoyable is that they don’t even pretend at impartiality. They are “preaching to the faithful.” And Munson was faithful to the end. God Bless Him.

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Words have meaning. Munson delivered them audibly and with style and emotion. Mark, you just delivered them in-writing with equal style and emotion. Thank you.

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Mark I know I have an emotional tie to this but dang, that was one awesome article. You nailed it.

Get the picture. 1982. 785 South Milledge, Athens Georgia. Sitting on the front porch with 75 of my closest friends. One keg and one radio, no TV. All is silent as the gravel voice pleads out of the speaker.

“I know I’m asking a lot you guys, but hunker it down one more time!”

Auburn quarterback Randy Campbell throws incomplete on a final last ditch effort fourth-down pass. Georgia is able to run out the clock to claim the SEC championship and an invitation to the Sugar Bowl.

And the gravel voice erupts with,

“Look at the Sugar falling out of the sky, look at the sugar falling out of the sky!”

I looked up. You did too.

God bless you Larry Munson. The Bulldawg Nation is in morning. You are one DGD!

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OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG Larrys gone!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG !!!!!!

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Cuz: what you wrote reminded me of the ‘80 Georgia-Florida game after Lindsey Scott’s game winning touchdown- “I gave up, you did too. we were out of it and gone-miracle”.

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Larry was the “perfect” uga man !!!!!!! I remember when Georgia was going to raise their academic standards and Larry complained, that we would be just like Vanderbilt——true georgia man, Win, but just dont graduate,

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RIP Larry. The Bulldawg Nation is in morning for a DAM GOOD DAWG!

Enjoy meeting all the other GA legions in heaven and remember to let the rest of us in when it is our time.

To your family: our thoughts are with you and may you remember all your good times.

Lynette BSA ‘79

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Beast

Given the way this blog works, it’s ok with me if you don’t change your blog handle.

I give you props for going along with it.

Why don’t you sign every blog post at the end of it with

sincerely,

BeastofTheEastEatenByDawg

for about a month or so?

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That’s a great piece of writing.

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What happened? Did he get stepped on by a Hobnail Boot?

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You know, what of the best things about Larry broadcasting a game was his abilty to paint a picture for every play during a game. I remember when I was first living in Atlanta and listened to both Tech and Georgia games on the radio (before Florida games were broadcast on TV).

Larry would call a running play like this: “Belue yanks the ball from under center, turns, hands the pigskin to Hershel…..(pause)……5…6…7….yards….down he goes….5 guys pulling, trying to get him down….my gosh, my gosh….they got him down!”

I would then turn to the Tech game and Al Cirrado (sp) would call a play like this:

“There’s the snap (you would then here the crowd roar)…..and CIrarrdo would be sayging: “There he goes. Wow. Down he goes.” Sometimes you didn’t know who was running the ball, how many yards were gained, or where the ball was after the play was over. All you heard was Al getting excited.

This is why it was so great to listen to Larry on the radio. It was like reading a good book and picturing the scene you were reading in your head…..except the picture Larry painted was much, much more vivid.

Larry…..you were the best. Your immediate family, your Georgia family, and your college football nation family…..will miss you greatly.

RIP.

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One additional note: First time I saw and spoke to Munson was when he was riding in the Homecoming Parade down Milledge Avenue (can’t recall if it was 1979 or 1980). He was sitting in the back of a convertible (on top, not down in the seat) drinking a Stroh’s Beer. Spoke to him and asked if he had anymore of those 45-inch records of James Brown’s version of “Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs” which he and others had been handing out (James Brown was in the same parade). What a funny scene! Also got to speak with him on New Year’s Eve afternoon at Jackson Square in New Orleans. A kind man who always was willing to have a conversation with us fans.

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Tenn Vol…..

I saw the play on TV (to my sorry I was not listening to the radio and Larry)…..and I can tell you that the honnail boot landed squarely in the face of the Tennessee players….and I am sure everyone listening to the Georgia broadcast could see that hobnail boot as clearly as a multi-colored fish while snorkling off a island paradise beach.

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As a Tech fan from birth, cursed some Dog fans might say, I grew up listening to Al and Larry call games. Their styles were completely different but both voices were in their own unique way perfect embodiments of the two fan bases. Larry was a great one. Indeed, the last of a generation. And I’d be lying if I didn’ say that makes me a bit sad. R.I.P Larry.

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@ Tenn Vol,

LOL, maybe Lindsay ran over him!!!!

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You too….War Eagle.

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Tenn Vol and War Eagle…..

There is classless….and then there is disrespectul classlessness. You two fall into the second category. Shame on you.

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LARRY MUNSON AND JOHN WARD AT TENNESSEE WERE THE GREATEST EVER!

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War Eagle….

Not the place for it here. Please. Show some respect.

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I think the Gators may have led Larry to partake a little too much of the hops brew there towards the end of his career. I know for a fact just how much he disliked the Gators…..from personal experience from the one time I met him in that Norcross Irish Pub. Beating the Gators….seldom as it was in the later years….brought him so much obvious game-day job and personal delight, I am sure.

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@Tenn Vol yeah clown we are, we wouldn’t come on a UT site and trash a UT legend. Grow up!

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that should have read….

“So much obvious game-day joy.” Sorry.

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I believe Larry Munson calling games on the radio led to ESPN and other TV broadcasts replaying the calls of the team’s radio announcers during the games……with Larry’s voice always being the best of the best. I was so sad the day I heard he was retiring from the booth…..and made deeply sad by today’s news of Larry’s passing. What a gift to the college football nation he was. Glory to you Larry to doing that. RIP.

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To: The University of Georgia,

Our condolences from Tuscaloosa, Al. Munson was and is a “Legend”. He will be missed in the SEC. The SEC is a family and we need to support each other in these times. Just like everyone has us from the devastating tornadoes that destoyed our community but with alot of help we are getting through it.

UA

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A great day for memories….. I easily recall the ‘73 game at Neyland: I was in my bedroom, just me and Larry: still one of my favorite calls as Georgia beat UT. After those years at Vandy, Larry was really happy to put on on the Vols. And years later in the parking lot at Neyland, listening to the little FM signal with the Georgia network pregame show, I remember this: “The UT band just went by playing that song. I shot ‘em a bird.” My UT buddy looked at me with pure incredulity on his face.

As a boy, my dad and I would go to games every week, leaving my mom home with an old tape recorder. She’d try to get the big plays on the cassette so I’d have the highlights to listen to when I got back home.

I didn’t go go Georgia, but that didn’t damper my love of the Dogs at all. In my dorm room at Davidson (never did get used to pulling for Cats) one night listening to the scratchy in-and-out of WSB, I heard Lindsay Scott run the second half kick-off back against LSU in Baton Rouge….and a few weeks later the “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” from Lexington.

And my junior year abroad just happened to be 1980. I got to go to Knoxville and see Hershel’s first game (Mom had the call on tape when I got back.) before I left for Scotland. I could pick up the Armed Forces network from Weisbaden–not real clearly, but enough. The Georgia-South Carolina game was the game of the week: I sat in a centuries-old room listening to Munson, explaining to my Scottish roommate how football works. He didn’t understand the nuances of American football, but the passion in that voice was something that that Scottish kid will never forget.

College football fans have lots of reasons to be passionate about their teams. Georgia fans have more than most. Thanks to Larry Munson, we have a better understanding of what passion really is.

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If his family doesn’t mind… Larry should be interred at Sanford Stadium. The press box should immediately be renamed for Larry.

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Between the memories and the eyes welling up with tears, I’m finding it really hard to focus at work today! Larry’s gone . . . and my heart feels like it’s been stepped on and broken with a hobnailed boot. Whoever said it earlier on this blog is absolutely right. He was the best that ever was or ever will be.

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Rickster…..

The first part of your post is weird….and I hope not. The second part is just right….and I hope they do….today!

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War Eagle: mournnig the season WE had? Your pathetic football team is still smarting from the BEATDOWN, yes, BEATDIWN Georgia gave them. Save your ridiculous, classless comments for an Aubie blog, you disrespectful MORON!!!!!

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2HellwithGA, your link confirms for me something I’ve thought for a while: some enterprising person should make a compilation of Munson’s calls of onfield disasters. He was just as good – if not better – when the chips were down, when he was the Greek Chorus as everything was falling apart.

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I’ll never forget the one time I ever saw Larry close-up. It was 11/29/80 right before the last home game of the 1980 season (and my freshman year). It was also the last game ever at the Tracks. We rented double decker scaffolding and spent the night out there the night before. The next morning was complete bedlam with bonfires and parties still going on from the night before. Me and a few friends were smoking a left handed cigarette when I looked up and saw a Georgia State Trooper coming our way. Thinking he was coming for us we quickly extinguished our smoke. Turns out the trooper was only there to escort Larry around the tracks so he could soak up some of the atmosphere before game time and meet some of the fans. We beat Tech that day 38-20 to complete our perfect regular season and I didn’t get arrested.

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Thanks for all the amazing memories.

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All the heroes of my youth keep dying. How can you love someone you never met, so much? Thank you forever, Sir Larry. Say hello to my parents please.

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Great article, Mark. Larry Munson took the place of the need for televised games. He was the sportscaster’s sportscaster and truly the Voice of Bulldog football. As a Ga Tech AND UT alumnus, I’ll always remember Larry’s Bulldog broadcasts. Rest in Peace, Larry Munson.

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Sugar is now Falling from Heaven !!!!! Thank’s Larry … R.I.P.

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As Reagan’s surgeon said on the day he was shot, “We’re all Republicans today, Mr. President.” On THIS day, we’re all Bulldogs!

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“On purely technical terms, he wasn’t the paragon of play-by-play, either.”

I don’t think anyone has mentioned that Larry had a problem giving out the score. There was no just tuning in the game to see who was leading. For most games, Larry would only say the score when one team scored. Oh, you could figure out if Georgia was ahead or behind by listening to him talking, but often you would have no idea how close the game was until the next time someone scored. Then he’d reveal the actual score, if he remembered to. Sometimes he didn’t and you had to wait until the next score in hopes that he’d tell you the score then. You could go 20-30 minutes without him ever saying what the score was in the game. That, I figured, was my punishment, for not tuning in at the beginning of the game and listening to the entire thing…

He was one of a kind. RIP Larry Munson.

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I grew up listening to Larry call all the Georgia games. When they played on TV, we always turned the sound down and listened to Larry call the game. Today I wept for a man I have only met once but knew him as a member of our family.

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Great article, Mark, thanks. Hard to grieve for someone I didn’t know personally but the world sure feels a little lonelier today.

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RIP He was a true legend to Georgia football!

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One of the greatest. RIP

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Munson,

You were the best.

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Im in shock that anyone from any team would post such trash as to be dis-respectfull to Larry Munson.Over many years I have seen the Dogs trashed on here as well as the Dawg coaches and us fans,but dont take it to such a level as to dis-respect Munson.This is totally out of line and un called for!!!!

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…..halfway through the first quarter Podunk State was “acting as if she wants to score”

Mark, great tribute to the great Larry Munson in your wonderful column….!
In that one sentence above, my mind’s eye was able to relive the joy of a Munson broadcast and it made my heart soar…..!!!

Thank you for that…!

lmh

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we

Well, I can only hope that he is fishing pain free right now.
Rest in peace.

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It was the fall of ‘78 and UGA was playing @ Kentucky. We had around 30 fraternity brothers and friends at our apartment. A keg of beer, good food and the radio turned on full blast listening to the mighty Munson. That last UGA drive and Munson’s description was nothing short of brilliant. Spinetingling, nerve racking, pulsating drama at its best. Everyone there was going ” A little bonkers “. We all drove out to the airport after the game and thousands there greeted the Dawgs on their return. Larry Munson at his prolonged best and a night I will always remember. RIP Larry and thanks for all the memories.

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Lewis an Larry….together again……nuff said

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Mark—That was expressed as well as one could possibly express it. Larry Munson was an acquired taste, but having grown up in Atlanta, I know of no one who didn’t acquire it. I feel honored to have gotten the opportunity to listen to Larry, Al Ciraldo, Milo Hamilton, and Skip Caray.

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Just got a call from the pearly gates from Larry! “Home game today here in Heaven-Get the picture!”

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Mark, You wrote that as well as Lewis Grizzard could have written it and that makes me proud for you. Larry Munson would have been proud too. You caught the essence of the man we all loved to hear call a Gawga game no matter who the opponent might have been. Thanks. That is good stuff.

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Class of 93 – sorry for your loss…losing my grandmother still stings 16 yrs later.

Bradley, i’ve been down on you of late, but this is as fine a piece as you’ve ever done. Thank you for the great job on a man so many of us dearly loved.

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Mark,

A wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Larry’s sense of time, place and portrait was magical. He would have been proud of this column. You just kicked the whachamacallit out of it!

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Larry’s radio broadcasts were more vivid than any television picture.
Who can forget his “he’s got five, ten, fifteen, eighteen yards ….”. It was up to the listener to figure out the yardline.
Or “He turned him upside down.”

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“Get the picture”…. We’ll all miss you Larry. Thanks for the memories!

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Excellent column, Mark.

My favorite Larry Munson memory was when I worked in the UGA Sports Information Dept. as a student assistant in the early 80’s. I was lucky enough to sit in the press box each home game and keep some innocuous statistic. Early in the 1982 season, Georgia was playing California, and as it was in those days, it was close in the first half, but Georgia won going away. Cal was running the “run and shoot” that year and threw the ball most of the time. At halftime, I went to the men’s room and Larry Munson came up right next to me. I asked him what he thought about the game thus far, and without missing a beat, he lamented about Cal “throwing all those passes all over the field” and something about how the Dogs were in big trouble…. It was just like he was on the radio. I thought it was very humorous.

He was a great guy and will be sorely missed.

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The voice of the dogs may be gone but he will live in the hearts of Ga fans forever RIP mr munson and may god bless your family in their time of need Thanks for the memories

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What did he die of, liver failure?

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Gator, At Uf you are correct. A pervert would do that in silence. A generous, kindly, gentleman would be open about his good will to all women….No one complained so he was not a pervert. Since you made the comment you must have three fingers point back at yourself.

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