Carl Grapentine's 50th Anniversary as Voice of the Big House
The Big House will be celebrating Carl Grapentine's 50th Anniversary as Voice of the Big House today! Here are a couple of short clips celebrating the Voice, announcing two Wolverine favorites! Hopefully we'll be hearing these a lot today.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:43 AM ^
Just hearing those clips makes me want to be there so much. What an atmosphere and his voice just adds to it. Go Blue!
October 5th, 2019 at 9:48 AM ^
Well this one’s a fucking lock then
October 5th, 2019 at 9:53 AM ^
I miss the way he used to call the band onto the field. It used to be:
'Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting the 225 member Michigan Marching Band....'
Now it's 'Ladies and Gentleman, the Michigan Marching Band...'
Not sure when it changed. Still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:58 AM ^
October 5th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
"Llllllllllllllllllaaaaadies and gentlemen..."
October 5th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
*235-member
October 5th, 2019 at 11:22 PM ^
Before your time he used to say, "Ladies and gentlemen: 190 Marching Men of Michigan..." (Cheerleaders were all guys, too.)
October 6th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
We changed it somewhere around 2008 or so. Whereas the pre-game number is still around 235 (that's how many people fit in the "M.") we march in the upper 300s for halftime. The director felt using 235 gave an unrealistic public representation of the true size of the band.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:56 AM ^
For clarity's sake, this must be as the band announcer. He has been doing the game announcing for much a much shorter time. Great voice either way.
October 5th, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
Yeah, he became the stadium PA announcer around 2005 or so, when Howard King retired.
October 5th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
I love Carl, but when Howard King used to say “Good afternoon, and welcome to the University of Michigan Football Stadium...” I would get goosebumps.
October 6th, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^
You are correct, sir. I've been announcing for the MMB since 1970. (49 years ago, making this my 50th season). I filled in for Howard King announcing the game play-by-play for the first half of the 2005 season. He returned to finish the season but then retired. So, officially since 2006 for me.
October 5th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^
Nothing contributes more to the in-person gameday atmosphere at Michigan Stadium than Carl Grapentine -- with the MMB as a close 1b. We are so lucky to have him
"Baaaaaaaaand, take the field!"
October 5th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
One of the greatest sounds I have heard in my lifetime. It sends chills up my spine when I hear it.
October 5th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
Let’s not make the same mistake we made with Ufer.
This time, keep some of his DNA so we can clone him and hear his voice at Michigan Stadium for eternity....
October 5th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
Michigan has been well blessed with PA announcers. Glenn Williams for years at Yost, Howard King, Grapentine... it has been good. Says something that Grapentine only got the main job a decade or so ago, but has been so good at this for so much longer.
October 5th, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
But then we have the too-excited Crisler Arena guy.
Could Carl do basketball, too?
October 5th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
I believe he missed the 2014 game against Maryland for health reasons. As soon as I heard a different voice say “Welcome to Michigan Stadium....” I knew that game would not end well.
October 5th, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
Win it for Grapes!
October 5th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
His "Eddie McDooom" call, with an extra "o" or two thrown in there, was fantastic. Such a shame McDoom transferred. Also this:
October 5th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
ROFLMAO!
Sounds like a genuine and great guy!
October 5th, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
OH WOW!!!
Yeah, for as long as I can remember he's been the voice; then again I'm only 43! Happy Anniversary to him, keep rockin' it!
October 5th, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^
amazing!