Get well soon PA announcer Carl Grapentine
First game I can remember that Carl Grapentine wasn't behind the stadium mic for the MMB. A friend in the press box told me he has a non-life threatening illness that prevented him from traveling from Chicago this week. Hope he makes a speedy and full recovery and is back where he belongs for Wisconsin. He added to his duties as the MMB announcer when he took over the play-by-play announcing for Howard King several years ago.
If the play-by-play voice sounded familiar to you today, it was Bobb Vergiels who is the PA announcer for the Detroit Tigers. Kept waiting for him to announce that Curtis Granderson was taking over in centerfield.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:30 PM ^
Hey Michigan Fans, who wants a Piiiiiizzzzzaaaaa? - Bobb Vergiels
November 6th, 2010 at 10:30 PM ^
Slippery Rock was tied when they showed the score. Anyone know if they pulled that out?
November 6th, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
Curses. Damn you, Gannon....damn you!
Reading the SRU recap, looks like the Rock turned the ball over 6 times, yikes.
November 7th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^
Bad things usually happen when you don't pull it out.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
They lost 24-20 unfortunately
Edit: Beat me to it
November 6th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
Missed you out there today. I started quoting your pregame stuff right before it was suppose to happen ("Good afternoon, and welcome to...") just like I always do and then all of a sudden I got BOOMNOTGRAPENTINED and was left wondering what the world was coming to.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
really unfortunate. i've always hoped that we could find a guy that sounds just like Carl when his time comes God-forbid. I wasn't at the game today, but hearing anything different would be real weird.
at least they didn't let the MBball play-by-play guy call it. "Broekhuizen for a thhhhrreeeee POINTERRRR!" (while rolling his tongue on the "three")
November 6th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^
THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON!?!
head explode.
November 6th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
i've always hoped that we could find a guy that sounds just like Carl when his time comes God-forbid.
The cool thing is that we basically did that a few years ago when Howard King retired and Grapentine (who used to only be the MMB announcer) replaced him. A lot of people didn't even notice we changed PA guys.
November 7th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
for me whenever I think of the classic Michigan Stadium PA voice is "Laaadies and Gentlemen, preeesenting the 235 member, Michigan Marching Band... Baaaand take the field!" -- which I believe has always been Grapentine as I believe you said.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
I cringe every time I hear "Now batting, Brandon Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggeeeee. Please don't bring that to the Big House
November 6th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^
I actually cringe more when I hear, "Now batting, Gerald Laaaaiiiiiiirrrrddd"
November 6th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
I agree. It did not feel like a normal Saturday in A2. He does an okay job with the tigers but he needs to stay away from football.
Who was the kid that introduced the MMB?
November 6th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
The MMB announcer was a former MMB member and staff member.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
Nobody can replace Carl. Hopefully he'll be back soon. I went to a game in 2004 that Carl missed because of a minor stroke. I believe he's only missed 3 games in the last 37 years. The only other game he missed was because of the birth of his first child back in the 1980's.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:57 PM ^
For what it's worth, Carl had a heart attack and was absent for the first several games of the 2005 season. Ironically, not two weeks prior to the start of the season, he gave an inspirational speech to the MMB in which he bragged about never having missed a game in nearly 30 years.
Even on TV, it's not the same without him. Get well soon Carl!
November 6th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
It was the 2004 season, but yes, it was weird then, and it was weird today. Love Matt Burrows, he's a great guy and all, but... Missed Carl today. Get better soon!
November 6th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
by outing our secret 12th man on D. Ya know, Gordon Cameron.
November 6th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^
That was pissing me off too
November 6th, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^
Carl Grapentine- The Voice of God
November 6th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^
You need to do yourself a favor and call the Revelli Hall office phone number after business hours sometime. Carl Grapentine is also the voice of the Michigan Marching Band answering machine. And it's incredible.
November 21st, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^
Do you have the number handy? I will call it just to listen to the message.
November 7th, 2010 at 7:09 AM ^
Bobb Vergiels, "Gordon Cameron on the tackle."