Loran Smith replaced as UGA sideline reporter
(Updated 8 p.m.)
ATHENS — After 36 years as sideline reporter on radio broadcasts of University of Georgia football games, Loran Smith will not be in that role this season.
He’ll be replaced by Chuck Dowdle, the former WSB-TV sports director.
Smith will continue in his other long-time role as co-host, with Neil Williamson, of Georgia’s three-hour radio pregame show, the “Tailgate Show.”
Georgia associate athletic director Alan Thomas said the change of sideline reporters had been “contemplated” since the 2008 retirement of legendary play-by-play voice Larry Munson altered the “dynamics” of the broadcast.
“I had 36 good years on the sideline,” Smith told the AJC Thursday night. “It’s been fun, and I appreciate the support of the Georgia people.
“I had a good time, and I look forward to more good times. I don’t have to be on the sidelines to enjoy the broadcast and my role.
“I finally get to sit up in the press box where I can see,” Smith added with a laugh.
Smith said he joined UGA’s radio broadcast team in the early 1970s and has served as sideline reporter continuously since 1974. Munson’s hand-off call to Smith became a familiar and enduring part of UGA lore.
Munson’s exact words varied from time to time, Smith said. “‘Whaddaya got, Loran?’ That’s how it started, and I think it became interchangeable,” Smith said. “I think just whatever came to mind. He might have started with my name or might have concluded with it.”
Smith, 72, said he leaves the sideline with “a lot of good memories” and confidence many more are yet to be made under coach Mark Richt’s leadership.
“I’m just looking forward to the future,” Smith said.
Thomas said Smith remains an important part of the broadcast team on the pregame show. Having Dowdle serve as sideline reporter is “a natural progression” of his role on the post-game locker-room show, Thomas said.
In another change to the radio lineup, veteran SEC broadcaster Charlie McAlexander will join Jeff Dantzler on the “Bulldog Game Day” show, which airs one hour before the “Tailgate Show.”
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302 comments Add your comment
Munson FAN
August 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
Larry aways said Loran first, then said whatayagot?
ugag is irrelevant
August 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
yet another nothing story about a nothing school
We'll miss you Loran
August 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
It was most certainly “Loran, whatdoyagot?”
HBTD
August 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
And yet ugag you continue to read them and comment. Interesting.
The Tick
August 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
it was Loran, whadda got?
are y’all fans or what?
dam
thom
August 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
AWESOME – LOVE CHUCK! GREAT UPGRADE – WILL MISS LORAN! http://www.wedgeorgia.com
Dawg85
August 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
ugag has a textbook case of Dawg envy.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
Chucky has had nothing really to do with the program until Richt got here
This is crap,
Give it to Kevin Butler he calls it like it is
And again My headphones were just tossed in the trash
Give me a break
getting to old
August 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
I can hear
“Loran, whatayagot”?
in my sleep.
Ted Striker
August 26th, 2010
5:40 pm
Glad he will still be on the pre-game show and I always enjoy his columns.
p.s. Maybe he’ll call Munson up on the tailgate show and ask “Whatchagot Larry” about an hour before kickoff one Saturday. That would be priceless to me.
ozzfest
August 26th, 2010
5:40 pm
FOR ANYONE WHO WAS LISTENING TO THE 1996 SOUTHERN MISS POST-GAME….JIM DONNAN JUST CRACKED A SMILE.
how2fish
August 26th, 2010
5:40 pm
Well I’m glad Loran will still be with the broadcast team I’ve never been a huge fan of his sideline reports, however his and Munson’s exchanges are the stuff of Bull Dog legend I wish him the best and hope he is part of the team going forward for years to come.
THANKS, The Tick
August 26th, 2010
5:41 pm
Thanks, The Tick
I’m glad a REAL FAN finally got it right.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
Scooter Howard and Chucky Doody
Boy thats a dream team announcing crew
Boy thats like listening to Mississippi States broadcast if any of you heard that crap
Zeir and Butler please
Boca Baby
August 26th, 2010
5:43 pm
Welcome Charlie Mac! I love your radio voice even though, in your enthusiasm and heat of the moment, you sometimes place the emphasis on the wrong word.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Crap
Crap
Crap
Crap
Russ just Crapped himself
Boca Baby
August 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
Then again, with Charlie Mac on board Scott Howard better watch his back.
Loran, what you got?
August 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
Well, Larry after ’bout 100 years I still “got” absolutely nothing.
Otto
August 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
Will we hear a “wassup Chuck?” ala Peanuts and Charlie Brown?
Sad day
August 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
My prayers are with Loran’s family………
Our AD
August 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
http://flashlightmediagroup.com/sabanmovie/
Athens, Georgia
August 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
Hey Tim Tucker,
On AUTHENTIC Munson Radio……..
The question was:
.
LORAN, WHATAYA GOT ?
edward
August 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
I always liked Loran and will miss hearing him on the sidelines. Since I can only listen to most games on internet radio in pittsburgh, he always helped me feel like I was at home again. Chuck won’t be able to reproduce that feeling
Thenumber34
August 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Travis, many of the best play-by-play guys were/are a little on the quirky side, so as to your referring to JD as a ‘nut’…well, the best play-by-play guys seems to be a bit nuts (ie. Larry Munson, Jon ‘Chucky’ Gruden, etc).
As far as being a nugget, I guess it takes one to know one, and perhaps you have a nugget fettish.
Koogan
August 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
The problem with Dantzler is he can’t stop talking about himself. If they go to him on the sidelines, he’ll want to discuss what he’s wearing, where he’s going after the game, where he was the last time UGA played Tennessee, etc., etc.
Really?
August 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
The man is a tool and should’ve been gone, along with Munson 20 years ago. Neither one of them had any idea what was going on during the game.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
Chuck whats going on down there
Well Scooter
The Water Girl just handed me a candy bar and some of that green kryptonite kool-aid
I love this stuff
Back to you Scooter Howard
StevieDawg
August 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
THANK God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Malcolm X
August 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
Smith is even worse than that guy Munson. Glad they got of Munson a few years ago. Past time they got rid of Smith. Talk about a homer.
slawb dawg
August 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
yahoo, never heard a reporter so outtatouch, misinformed, etc. as Loran.
RJ DAWG
August 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
It’s about time!Loran needed to go before Munson.Loran was terrible over te last 5 or 6 years and askrd some dumb questions.I wish we could have kept Larry Munson forever.Loran Smith needed to go he was lucky to be around as long as he was.It was tie to move on.Chck will do a better job.
Savannah, GA
August 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
I bet Furman Bisher knows how Larry always addressed Loran.
GaDawg59
August 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
I miss Larry and I will miss Loren. A nice gentleman and a great ambassador for UGA. I think this means we are all gettting old. lol
I would like to post a letter by the late great Coach Russell if I may.
I hope this brings back great memories and inspires you as much as it does me.
Gentleman: (and Lineman)
The football season of ‘80 will be my seventeenth as a Georgia Bulldog.
During this time there have been many thrilling Saturdays of competition, each with it’s indivdual memories, because each game has it’s own personality.
There are two Saturday traditions and experiences which have remained basically the same throughout the years for me and I would like to share them with you.
The first one concerns THE RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. These are my people because they love the “Dogs almost as much as I do. Oh, I know they do some crazy things-liek turn over our opponet’s busses sometims and now and then they throw one another down the bank and into the street below. But they stamp out Kuczu and they pull for us to win and that ain’t bad.
If you can get off the bus to the cheers of THE RAILROAD TRACK CROWD and walk down those steps to the dressing room and not be inspired to play football as best you possibly can, something important is missing beneath the Georgia jersey you wear. It is impossible not to be inspired. They choke me up!
The season of 1980 will be the last for the RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. A great Georgia tradition will have passed with the new addition to our stadium. The view from the track will be no more.
Your team will the last Georgia Team to be greeted and cheered by
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
Chucky Doodle
What is new down there
Well Scooter Howard
The Water Girl wants to know what the score is
Back to you Scooter
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
GaDawg59
Was that you on Rivals radio the other day
GaDawg59
August 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
THE RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. Wouldn’t it be fitting if their last team was also the best Georgia Team ever. Think about it!
Another Saturday tradition which has mean so much to me over the years can be stated very simply: “THERE AIN’T NOTHIGN LIKE BEING A BULLDOG ON STURDAY NIGHT—–AFTER WINNING A FOOTBALL GAME”. I mean like whipping Tennessee’s a** to start with, then ten more and then another one.
This is the Game plan. We have no alternate plan.
Sincerely,
Coach Russell
Traditions will alway live even our people change. Dan McGill, Loran and Larry will always be in our hearts as Coach Russell is.
Go Dawgs.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Chucky Doodle
Whats new
Well Scott and Eric
Water Girl wanted to know what is a pass
Larry, I got nothing
August 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
Don’t care for Dowdle all that much, but Loran has had nothing for 20 years. About time.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
6:04 pm
Chucky Doodle
Whats new
Well Scott and Eric
When do think we will have a bathroom break those burrito’s are kicking in
Smiling Jack
August 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
Some people have to build themselves up by comparing and calling names. Then there are others who have to just tear down by name calling. What sad creatures they must be. Chuck Dowdle will do a fine job. Time for changing of the guard is never easy, but necessary. If you haven’t noticed time marches on…changes occur..we continue to adjust. Go Dawgs! It will be a great year!
Cookie Monster
August 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
I’ve listened to Georgia games since I was 5 and I’m 40 now….and Loren will be missed. And Larry most definitely said “LOREN, WHADDYA GOT????”
ATL Native
August 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
Mr. Smith is a great Southern gentleman and a fine man. Thank you Sir for the memories, pregame shows and all you’ve done for UGA!
george
August 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
Get ready, side line reporter this year, head coach next year.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
6:15 pm
Time marches on and changes do have to be made
But make the right change
Kevin Butler would do much better and is more knowledgeable than Dowdle about the program and the game.
Sorry but this is crap and Im sure a behind the scenes power play
Worm
August 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
@69dawg-Charlie MC is a Vandy guy..Left there and went to South Cackalacky..Good guy..Hope Dowdle gets a hat, cause he’s sure to mess up his doo down on the sidelines..What’s upChuck-Well, I’m having a bad hair day won’t cut it!
ANTI 69 DOG
August 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
Hey 69dog… Charley Mac is NOT! a UT man. He hates UT and is a HUGE Vanderbilt fan! Get your facts straight!!!
Big Dog 98
August 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
Finally.
jerry
August 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
Whaddayagot Chuck,…..sucks.
Matt
August 26th, 2010
6:20 pm
Loran has GOT to be the worst excuse for a sideline reporter in all of college football. What a joke, he never added anything of substance to any broadcast and his post-game questions were laughable. Good riddance.
Rod
August 26th, 2010
6:22 pm
The Tick, I’m you. When I was 10, Loran came to my Granddad’s best friends funeral. I would guess the people that don’t like hearing Loran really don’t have UGA in there blood and are relatively new dog fans. Bulldog traditions just were not handed down to them from their parents and grandparents. This was a great post you made.
nothing against chuck … he’s just miles below Loran … light years even. I will never understand the lost love for Loran over the past 5 or 10 years. I think someone just started the precedent (to downgrade him) and it became all the rage to pile on. Totally undeserved. He’s still the same great Dawg he has always been. Consider this exchange on the tailgate show when visor boy went to the
Redskins: Hondo: “Well I for one wish him well in the NFL.” Munson: “I’ll go along with that. What do you say, Loran?” Loran: “I hope he dies … I can’t believe y’all!!”
In my book if you ain’t on Loran’s side, you’re on Spurrier’s