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
Dawg Man 87
August 26th, 2010
6:24 pm
Finally.
He should have left when Larry retired.
Time has passed them by…
Tom in ATL
August 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
So many favorite Loren moments:
Charles Grant REALLY likes…..boiled peanuts.
Well Larry, down here on the field you can really feel that wind a whippin……oh, I’m sorry that’s just one of the sideline fans…..
Freddie Gilbert’s got a bruised knee, Freddie Gilbert’s got a bruised knee. Back to you Larry.
He’s not the MOST famous person from Hawkinsville, that would be Young Jeezy.
Alabama Communist
August 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
Meanwhile back in the Dawgs Team Dressing Room, Dowdle was assigned the task of cleaning the Team jockstraps in a WSB cost cutting move by charging a dime per strap to the Dawgs Alumi Club……..
Jm
August 26th, 2010
6:27 pm
Loran belongs in a rest home. Good bleeping riddance.
Bulldawg78
August 26th, 2010
6:30 pm
People get real.
Loran should have retired years ago.
Like Larry, he waited far too long.
He added nothing but stupid comments.
He was an embarrassment to UGA.
Notso Fast
August 26th, 2010
6:32 pm
It was just time for a change.
Fred
August 26th, 2010
6:35 pm
Thanks for the mammories Loran.
jdawgs34
August 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
You know you really hate to lose a tradition, but we all knew it was coming. My problem is that ISP and the new company run the show, we should have control. I coule see this at the Galleria the other night with CMR…congrats to Dowdle for getting a great second retirment job at the greatest place…UGA…double dipping that salary….
kevinstthm
August 26th, 2010
6:38 pm
I certainly hope that this was Loren’s idea! Loren, is to Georgia football as Peanut Butter is to Jelly.
Jeff
August 26th, 2010
6:41 pm
I agree with Mr. Dawg and Griff at 5:02 p.m… very well said. I grew up listening to Larry and Loran with the biggest Dawg fan I know, my father. It was part of UGA football history and their voices during a tense game will be missed.
I like the addition of Chuck Dowdle… he is a true professional and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. Talk to anyone in the business, they will tell you Chuck is genuine, kind and knowledgable. He will be a great addition to the crew.
I only have one bone to pick with the Georgia broadcasts… I loved Eric Zeier as a player, but I am NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL with him as a color analyst. He doesn’t excite me at all or get edgy at all. Please, to those in charge of the Georgia broadcasts, look at some other options for the future. Truth be told, I’d kinda like to hear ol’ Kevin Butler do color sometime… he’s not afraid to say what he really thinks. But overall, Scott Howard is good with a lot of passion… Hondo and Loran do a great job on the tailgate show… and I think Chuck does a great job with the postgame interviews.
Can’t wait for the season…. go Dawgs!!!
Red Dog
August 26th, 2010
6:41 pm
Looks like Chuck has been eyeing this position for a while. Sudden retirement from WSB TV. Hmmmmm.
Jeff
August 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
Oh and I agree with jdawgs @ 6:36 p.m….. giving ISP control of UGA broadcasts was IDIOTIC. ISP is TERRIBLE. They do Ga. Tech games… ’nuff said.
Georgia sports broadcasting is a valuable commodity and should be treated as such, not just “another college program.” UGA should have ULTIMATE editorial, talent and content control.
To Georgia: FIRE ISP! Take control of the broadcasts. They already sound like other schools’ broadcasts with their lame, generic bump music… they are OUR games and OUR broadcasts… Glory Glory to ‘Ol Georgia!!!
10SEConds
August 26th, 2010
6:49 pm
This is actually a pretty fair arrangement. We get the benefit of Loran’s historical knowledge on the pre-game and perhaps a more active observer on the sideline. I’ve been a Dawg fan and listener for about 40 years, so I’ll miss Loran, and I believe he had unusual access to coaches and players because of his history, knowledge and connections, but he’s not the value add that he once was. I’ll go a bit further and observe that I prefer his written words to his spoken words. Sometimes we got more than we really needed from the sideline. I remember one broadcast from, I think, the late 70’s, in which Larry impatiently cut Loran off to get back to the game–one of Larry’s great strengths was his focus on the action–and when Larry went back to the sideline for Loran, there was silence! A rare moment of discord, and perhaps an example that even Larry found Loran too wordy at times.
Red
August 26th, 2010
6:52 pm
Enter your comments here UGA fans can’t be satisfied with anything.
Jim Tavegia
August 26th, 2010
6:52 pm
Who cares about Chuck or the rest of them. The game is what matters and none of them has a crystal ball that works, so while they rant about woulda, coulda, shoulda; listen to some music until the game starts. Why can’t people who retire, stay retired.
jaxdawgfan
August 26th, 2010
6:53 pm
They say some people have a face for radio. Loran has a voice for the newspaper. He sounds like Gomer Pyle and is guilty as charged of so many meaningless comments and silly questions so I wondered how he got and kept his job… then I found out he was the producer. All that said, you won’t find a more dedicated Dawg fan.
Someone new at his position is probably a good move… and Loran will still have 3 hours prior to games to continue his “tradition.”
mark white
August 26th, 2010
7:01 pm
The Barney Fife of UGA has finally been put to rest
WestOfAthens
August 26th, 2010
7:12 pm
Out with old, in with the new? Complacency, that is.
May seem to be a good fit. We’ll wait and see eh?
HBTD
Loquatious T. Futtbuck
August 26th, 2010
7:20 pm
“Well, Larry, the grass down here is green, and you can’t drop the footbowel, Larry, and, uh, I fogotted what I was going to drivel, uh, back to yoyLarry!”
trojan94
August 26th, 2010
7:20 pm
Josh is a moron for the comment he made earlier!!!
Danny G
August 26th, 2010
7:21 pm
There was a time when I could not watch a Dawg game without the radio on. Now, it really doesn’t matter. All of the icons are gone, so I might as well listen to the announcers on TV. At least they will be insinc with the game.
Thanks
August 26th, 2010
7:23 pm
Glad he is being replaced. His post game locker room questions were just dreadful and not relevant most of the time. I do wish him well however.
gtbob45
August 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
One old senile Dawg replacing another old senile Dawg where is the story here.
joe
August 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Oh God, Chuck Dowdle is downright awful. He ruins the Mark Richt show to the point where I can’t watch it. Last thing we need is Chuck on the sideline.
joe
August 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
“Glad he is being replaced. His post game locker room questions were just dreadful and not relevant most of the time.”
Have you ever seen Chuck Dowdle conduct an interview? What the Mark Richt show to see how he ruins that show.
Lifelong Dawg
August 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
I’ve always liked Loran, but we all need to face the future at some point, and Loran isn’t part of it. UGA will still play football on fall Saturdays whether Loran is on the sidelines or not. That’s the only tradition that really counts, after all. We’ll still appreciate Loran and Larry and their contributions to the University.
Howdy Dowdle
August 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
This guy is soft as Mr. Rogers. He dares not to ask CMR any hard ball questions.
What a goof !
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
Chucky Doodle
Ruined the Mark Richt show
Im tired of all the stupid crap thats put on that show
I want to see the replay’s and what the call for each play was and why
Not Water Girl wants to know
Or what the players are eating for breakfast
Howdy Dowdle
August 26th, 2010
7:44 pm
The Mark Richt Show seems to be a spin off from Mr. Rogers neighborhood.. Have to agree with Paul has a small Johnson on that point as well.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
7:49 pm
Mr. Rogers that was a good one
How a about Sesame Street or Barney
Your right though
I think the hardest question Doodle has asked Richt is what will the water girl be cooking for dinner
Rusty
August 26th, 2010
7:53 pm
First Larry, now Loran. A piece of my childhood just died.
JJC
August 26th, 2010
7:54 pm
Well Larry I’m down here on the sidelines talking to Coach Richt… I’m sorry, my mistake, no I’m not.
michael
August 26th, 2010
7:57 pm
loran spoke at my awards banquet in 1977 but i am still a yellowjacket. good speaker though.
puff
August 26th, 2010
7:58 pm
Loooooooooooong overdue. Should have happened years ago.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
Chucky whats going on down there on the sidelines
Well Scotty
I just talked with the water girl and she believes the Kryptonite kool-aid will be the deciding factor to an undefeated season this year
Beaming it back to you Scotty
messin with sasquatch
August 26th, 2010
8:02 pm
was he partyin in buckhead?
messin with sasquatch
August 26th, 2010
8:04 pm
superman is gone to denver, relax……………
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
Chucky Doodle
Give us a sideline report
Well Scotty I just found out that Russ took a dump and a Arkansas player slipped on it
Beaming it back to you Scotty
BA Smyrna
August 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
No one may see this post, but I had to anyway. THANK GOD! Loran Smith has ZERO talent. I asked every year why in the hell this guy had a job. He sucks. It made no sense why he was in broadcasting. I wish him well as a person, but he had to know someone on the inside to get that job. Just awful.
crusher dawg
August 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
Put Chuck in the broadcast booth. He’s better than any of the ones they have now.
Castleberry
August 26th, 2010
8:11 pm
Who remembers the details of Loran making Jim Donnan blow-up about the heat cramps
question? I remember Donnan shot back at Loran saying something like ” I dont give a damn about heat cramps. ”
I believe Adams fired Donnan soon after the heat cramp episode on live radio.
michael
August 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
those were loran’s red panty’s
SatillaDawg
August 26th, 2010
8:15 pm
Whattayagot, Loran?
Uh, well, uh, well, uh, well, uh, Larry….!
Give that Bulldog legend a bone. We won’t forget you, Loran.
Thanks for all the great years on the sidelines.
Now, let’s get ready for another great season of Bulldog football, folks.
Only nine days to kickoff!
Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em! Woof, Woof, Woof!
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
8:15 pm
Well if we have Loren to thank for getting rid of Jim Dummy
Well then he did UGA a favor
Thanks Loren
Glen B
August 26th, 2010
8:16 pm
Is nothing sacred??? Wasn’t it Loran who reported from the sidelines about Hershel’s shoulder popping out in the New Orleans Sugar Bowl. Captivating memories. Surely the new AD didn’t make this decision.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
August 26th, 2010
8:22 pm
No
Chuck Doodle and the CSS network did Im sure
defactodawg
August 26th, 2010
8:22 pm
Thanks Loran but it has long been time to go. Now, If only we could get a broadcast professional in the play-by-play role, the broadcast would be worth listening to. Scott Howard is ineffective on his best day and generally unbearable the rest of the time. If Scott would try to craft his own style, there may be hope but his attempts to out-Munson Munson leave him as a parody of himself.
Please end this experiment in perpetual homerism and bring a talented broadcaster to the booth.
the real Old Gold
August 26th, 2010
8:26 pm
THANK GOD! This guy is the absolute worst. I don’t listen to a lot of UGA broadcasts, but sometimes in the car I can catch UT or UGA football when I’m out and about and this guys was a channel changer. My neighbor is a UGA season ticket holder and we both used to make fun of him all the time. Good move for the “Dawgs.”
SatillaDawg
August 26th, 2010
8:29 pm
You know, I kind of agree with you defactodawg.
I have never cared for Scott Howard, who gets players and even TEAMS mixed-up at times.
With all the money Dawg fans pump into the program, we should get a return on our investment. I’m not against homerism per se. I loved Larry.
But Scott is no Larry…nowhere close.
And never will be.
cattle dawg
August 26th, 2010
8:29 pm
Loran is from Wrightsville I believe, and whats the deal with Reggie Browns high shcool coach?