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
Tuckergirl
August 27th, 2010
7:30 am
As so many of you have rightly said, Chuck’s not a bad guy but why is he getting every sports reporting gig in the state now? First the Braves, now UGA? There’s a lot of talent out there so maybe we should give somebody else a shot.
JJ
August 27th, 2010
7:40 am
Dantzler will never be hired for anything other than the host of one of these pregame shows or call-in shows. He’s got more baggage than a Delta flight from Atlanta to China.
Not to mention that any Georgia native who professes to be a NY Yankees fan, and thinks Chris Berman is a “legend” and sports icon, should be banished from working for anything to do with UGA athletics anyway. This is the South, bubba.
Sam
August 27th, 2010
7:43 am
not a GA fan but will miss Loran – Chuck is a jerk – have come across him many times in the past and always arrogant
Timbo
August 27th, 2010
7:49 am
Loran has been stealing money for years.
obama sin Laden
August 27th, 2010
7:55 am
PHASJ has it right. It is a good decision to get rid of the 2 bit reporter(Per donnan). Bad to put doodle in. No upgrade what so ever. Butler or one of the other guys are da bomb.Rotate em to see which one the FANS want.
jimmymack
August 27th, 2010
8:01 am
the president said he wamted to change the tradition, well peice by peice he is doing it
jimmymack
August 27th, 2010
8:01 am
Enter your comments here
bozo
August 27th, 2010
8:37 am
Our play by play crew of Scott and Eric has to be the WORST in history. Hell, I had just assume liten to the TV guys.
Loren, awful announcer, but NOBODY loves the Dogs more than him (well, maybe Dan McGill).
Our crew is becoming more and more generic. Wasn’t Dowdlw diong Tech just a few years ago. Huge step up for him.
At least Larry and Loren had some personality.
Oh yeah, I like Hondo okay – nice guy (for a Yankee) in person too.
The Pepper Rodgers show
August 27th, 2010
8:38 am
To me, the funniest sideline show was when GT’s H Coach Pepper Rodges yanked his head phones up the sideline toward himself and he pulled so hard that they went airborne and hit him in the head and just about knocked him silly. Pepper fell to his knees …………right there on a nationwide color tv broadcast.
Man, was he knocked cold ………Pepper looked like Obama, when the POTUS gets the weekly jobs report on HIS recession and ever worsening housing situation, that he caused.
GO Dogs.
bozo
August 27th, 2010
8:38 am
I wish Chip Carey (a Dawg) was our play by play guy.
bozo
August 27th, 2010
8:39 am
I’m with Jake 100%.
Hey "Pepper Rodgers Show"
August 27th, 2010
9:04 am
Know what’s funnier??!?! Ealey’s driving skills! Must be tough to be a Dawg fan…everytime you wake up another arrest of a UGA player is on the front page. ALL….SUMMER…LONG!!!
AD Stinky Fingers
August 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Meet the thUGA Criminal of the week, Washaun the moron. My boys are following my fine example right out the door. Washaun, I be introducing you to Courtney Furhmann. She nasty, just like you like ‘em.
2010 Fulmer Cup Champs!
August 27th, 2010
9:05 am
We did it guys! Most arrests of any school…and that’s not including our idiot Athletic Director!
GO DAWGS!
hatfieldgeoff
August 27th, 2010
9:07 am
“Wha da ya got Loren” – Nothing, … for 36 years he had nothing. But Loren, 36 years is a pretty good run for the worst sideline reporter in history. How about UGA and WSB start using people based on talent and not on how wealthy and highly placed they are with the Athletic Association and the Bulldog Club
Mark Richt just said....
August 27th, 2010
9:08 am
Washaun is suspended for the first 4 minutes of the first game!
Shoot!
Richt is too tough on these kids!!!
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
9:10 am
AD Stinky Fingers kindly puck yourself …..at high noon in the middle of Peachtree Street..thank you.
hatfieldgeoff
August 27th, 2010
9:14 am
Can we please get a DMV compliance officer for the program.
They're having a press conference at noon to discuss Washaun's future
August 27th, 2010
9:16 am
Mark Richt declined to be there as he has a tanning appointment at 11:30.
AD Stinky Fingers
August 27th, 2010
9:21 am
how2fish, so let me get this straight. I should “puck” myself because the UGA AD and many of his athletes are criminals, is that right? All I did was call it out. Get used to it for the next 50 years, you are going to hear about Damon Evans and the thuggary known as UGA.
No wonder UGA never really addresses the criminal, unethical, and downright incompetent behavior of its athletic program. You ignorant dawg fans just lap it up and say thank you sir, may I have another.
la lafayette
August 27th, 2010
9:26 am
just suspend ealey for the creampuff game. Get him back for the USC game—no big deal. Players gotta party sometimes.
Clarke County Jail Team
August 27th, 2010
9:28 am
I heard Richt has asked the sheriff to hold at least 1 practice in the yard at the jailhouse to save money on travel, since several of the players are in the slammer for various things or will be during the season. It makes sense—richt is always thinking ahead.
sr citizen dawg
August 27th, 2010
9:32 am
first they didnt extend Coach Dooleys term as athletic director.
secondly, Munson retires.
third: Loran is off of the sideline game interviews in favor of Chuck know nothing.
4th. Tailgating is restricted even further.
One can only conclude that the only TRADITION continuing at UGA is the tradition of SEND US YOUR BUCKS.
Its almost enough to turn ya into a _______ fan.
Charlie Brown
August 27th, 2010
9:51 am
Smith was an embarrasment to UGA and the football team. What a loser!
Dixiedawg
August 27th, 2010
10:00 am
Scott Howard is doing an outstanding job calling the plays. He worked with Munson long enough to get a lot of his enthusiasm. He is a true BULLDAWG. He had a great mentor. Loran was great on the sidelines. He has had some health issues so I think it will be good for him to stick to the pregame shows. Good luck to the entire broadcast team.
PRODUCE WIZ
August 27th, 2010
10:09 am
Enter your comments here
PRODUCE WIZ
August 27th, 2010
10:10 am
let’s see.Munson and Smith, georgia homers. Who’s paying them? Gators, Jacksts? Tigers? any other stupid comments, please delete
Gary
August 27th, 2010
10:17 am
I am a long-time a dawg fan (since the mid 60’s) but count me as one who never cared for Loran at all. His high-pitched whiny voice and lack of polish had no place on a broadcast with one of the legendary voices of the game, Larry Munson. I do give him credit for his frequent humble admittance to his lack of talent. I always assumed he got his job by being friends with influential people in the athletic program and I think he pretty much admits that. That being said, I still respect him as a “dam good dawg”
Charlie Mac is a jag
August 27th, 2010
10:34 am
Charlie McAlexander has been fired by more SEC schools than any announcer in conference history. Why in the world would UGA have him involved in ANYTHING? He is a bad announcer and, according to countless tales from Vandy, Kentucky, and South Carolina, a complete jacka$$. Putting him on UGA’s air is very embarrassing for all involved. BOOOOOOO!
Wreckem
August 27th, 2010
10:34 am
I’m by no means a uga fan but I do appreciate the long tradition of Larry and Loran. Sports radio has lost some great men over the last years. Don’t be sad dawgs at least you have a new tradition, football players being arrested. I believe the count is up to 8 as of this morning. I can’t understand why Washaun left the scene after he was instructed not to. Dumb.
SOOHSO
August 27th, 2010
12:07 pm
Did Washaun leave have any connection to red panties?
ugaman
August 27th, 2010
12:38 pm
thats a man who loves uga. good man who i enjoy hearing. larry and loren were like batman and robin.
ugaman
August 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
charlie brown is the real loser. see above comment.
jake
August 27th, 2010
1:16 pm
georgia techs student body comprises of orientals and super ugly women . they live among the hood rats and gay urban dwellers …
Ben There
August 27th, 2010
2:15 pm
Jake, you nailed it at 5:50 AM and again at 1:16PM. Nice to see that there is someone that knows UGA and the North Avenue Trade School! However, you left out Harry’s….. and McGarity is back!
Ben There
August 27th, 2010
2:18 pm
Jake, you left out MBI’s, too.
Aaron Murray for Heisman
August 27th, 2010
2:25 pm
Hey, how come when a Georiga player gets in trouble, the pu#@y Georgia sports writers close the threads? Funny, when it’s Florida or GT it’s open season, man up Tucker!
jake
August 27th, 2010
3:32 pm
It’s gonna be nice when the Dawgs win the National Championship this year!
Tech sux!
wcm87
August 27th, 2010
4:34 pm
This is a travesty!! And by what I reading, it seems I’m in some sort of parallel universe. Maybe, it’s me that needs to be put out to pasture but this is just bizarre. Loran, Munson, we love you guys and you will always be the voice of the Dogs.
wcm87
August 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
I don’t know about ya’ll but I smell a Mike Adams nearby.
billp222
August 27th, 2010
6:09 pm
No Larry Munson-no more Loran Smith ? Hell- Georgia might as well quit playin
boohoo
August 27th, 2010
9:02 pm
Great move , Loran was horrible, the man had no business on the sidelines but at least you could understand what he was saying although it was mere blabber . Have you heard Robert Edwards attempt to speak the english language———– horrible. One more thing CMR with all the support staff that you have at UGA dont ya think somebody could check Drivers licsence of all players I mean its not that hard. Just another embarrasment and reason why uga will never be more than average.
South Ga Girl
August 27th, 2010
9:03 pm
billp222 you are right.
Loran is the best! Great guy, true southern gentleman, humorous, kind, funny, smart,humble, great writer and all around nice man. Nicest dawg I know. UGA will miss him on the sidelines. At least now he will get to actually see the game.
a dawg in aubarn
August 27th, 2010
9:31 pm
watching wilder JR. now. glad to see him going to fla state. no pass blocking skills. he is going to plat DF no doubt about it UGA’s need to look at the RB from manatee and the DT. his # is 90.
Dalton Dawg
August 27th, 2010
10:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Dalton Dawg
August 27th, 2010
10:24 pm
“Freddie Gilbert has a bruise on his knee, Freddie Gilbert has a bruise on the knee”………………
JGB
August 28th, 2010
12:05 am
I agree completely with some posts above. Jeff Danzler definitely should be our play by play announcer. No doubt about it. Its time to do what is right for the people who like to listen to the radio during the games. Otherwise, and unfortunately, I will continue to watch the games without the radio.
12-2
August 28th, 2010
2:12 am
All-time scoreboard for the Fulmer Cup :
1st: Illinois Fighting Illini 51 points 1 Fulmer Cup 2007
2nd: Georgia Bulldogs 48 points 1 Fulmer Cup 2010
2nd: Florida Gators 48 points
4th: Penn State Nittany Lions 42 points
5th: Arkansas Razorbacks 38 points
5th: Missouri Tigers 38 points
7th: Alabama Crimson Tide 37 points 1 Fulmer Cup 2008
8th: Iowa Hawkeyes 36 points
8th: Tennessee Volunteers 36 points
10th: Marshall Thundering Herd 35 points 1 Fulmer Cup 2006
11th: Nebraska Cornhuskers 33 points
12th: Florida State Seminoles 32 points
NXS
August 28th, 2010
11:48 am
Glad to finally be rid of Loran’s inane sideline comments, but Dowdle? Are you kidding?
Dawg Traditionalist
August 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
Loran is one of the great ambassadors of the Georgia program. I admit his sideline reporting pails in his comparison to his writing, but Loran has earned the right to call his own shots. His love for the Georgia people is unmatched. First Vince, then Larry, now Loran. At lease Loran is still involved, but it’s a shame.