OT: Carl Grapentine on the radio
Carl retired from radio earlier this year, but he will be on WRCJ 90.9 FM today at 10. You don't have to wait until the Indiana game to hear them dulcet tones.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
I loved the segment in the podcast where Brian talked about other band announcers from different schools (i.e. Penn State). It's easy to forget how lucky we are to have such a great voice doing the PA.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:08 AM ^
I realized this a few years back when I went to the Michigan vs Kentucky elite 8 game. The PA guy kept saying "Caress" Levert, and was yell talking the whole time.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
Caress LeVert is Caris's creepy twin brother.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^
With a contract to do PR for some soap company
November 7th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
Either that or he's all hands.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:22 AM ^
Something about not being fully clean unless he's zestfully clean goes into this post, and when I construct the joke, it will appear here.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
One of my lasting takeaways from Northwestern this year was the PA guy (unfortunately). After every Wildcat first down he ended with “Mooovve thoooosse chaaaiins!”, reminded me of some bad high school dad/announcer.
Carl’s voice is one of the best at announcing for sure, but his dulcet tones go beyond the broadcast booth. I sat near him while performing Bach’s Magnificat with UMS’s summer sings a few months ago and he’s a primo basso. (Remember Mr. Grapentine is an Mgoblogger and posts now and then on band threads).
November 7th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
Well, what do you expect of any announcer who shares a city with f***ing Hawk Harrelson?
That man may be the single worst announcer ever. Hawkisms, giving a play the silent treatment, etc.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
Except Hawk has the best home run call in the business. “You caaaaan putitontheboaaaaaaaaaard, YYYYESSSS!”
November 7th, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
I can't stand Hawk. At all. But at least he's annoying. So many of these guys today are bland and unmemorable.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
I absolutely loathe the White Sox, totally out of spite for the Hawk. You could replace him with one of those sound effects machines, except instead of sound effects each button just holds one of his stupid cliche Hawkisms.
I understand this is how the Tigers will replace Rod Allen.
November 8th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
Carl was on the classical station in Detroit (now defunct) for several years before he took a similar job in Chicago. One of the WRCJ hosts recently died so maybe he is doing some filling in.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
I've been to most of the conference's stadiums (plus ND) and none of the other public address announcers I've heard come remotely close to Carl. Other PA guys get ridiculously overamped during big plays, constantly repeat cheesy catchphrases or just have plain annoying, non-PA voices. Carl remains consistent (though he's not afraid to add a little chutzpah when it's needed, i.e. "McDoooom") and simply tells you what happened in a professional manner. He is the best.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
He is awesome at what he does - sort of like Bob Ufer and Ernie Harwell. We won’t fully appreciate what we have until a less capable replacement inevitably takes over.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
I now realize what I need in my life. I need Carl Grapentine to read me bedtime stories. Actually, read me anything. Verse. Prose. Transcripts of the most recent MGoPodcast. Please make this happen, Carl. Cure my sleeping ills via a Grapentine Podcast. Your voice can heal me.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
Sadly, when Carl leaves the Michigan Stadium booth, we will likely get one of those wildly fan-boy announcers to scream "Mooooove those chains" or something similar. It is the way of the major college football world.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
Yeesh. I don't want to think of another announcer saying, "Baaaaand, take the field!"
November 7th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
It’s happened more than a few times over the past 10-15 years when Carl has had health issues or other commitments. And it’s... weird, to say the least. I’m of the opinion the next voice needs to do their own thing, Carl can’t be replicated.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
Yeah, I was there for one of the games he missed a couple years ago. It was....really weird.
November 8th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
Our basketball guy when we hit a 3-pointer sounds like a moose having multiple orgasms. It's horrible.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
Carl Grapentine it not OT, he's a Michigan treasure.
If you didn't catch the MGoRadio interview with Carl it's worth a listen.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
I would love to hear James Earl Jones do at least a part of a game. Now THAT would be awesome.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
It may sound odd, but I don't think there is a better match of a voice to a stadium. That booming voice cascading over that giant bowl ... it's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
I'm not sure how many people on this blog know how long he's been the band announcer. He was doing it in 1977 when I was a freshman at Michigan, so I know it's at least that long. In my Michigan fandom, I've never known anyone else doing the announcing.
November 7th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
He was hired by Revelli in 1970. He said so at the Band o Rama.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
I suggest that after Carl retires, they should use a recording of him saying, "Band...take the field" rather than having his replacement try to do that.
November 7th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
Nah. They come and they go. There were announcers before Carl who had their own style, and there will be others after who will have theirs. Just hope the band administration makes a good decision when that time comes (and I hope it's a long ways down the road).
Fun fact: They used to make Carl re-audition every year for the announcer gig, which became a bit of a running joke and moment of levity for all until it was decided enough was enough.
November 7th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
Carl vs. PSU guy was more of a blowout than the game. The combination of God-given pipes and the professionalism IMO are/were matched only by Paul Carey (for us old guys). Carl does add the subtle flair when appropriate but always with an understated delivery. We are blessed at Michigan Stadium as Howard King was almost as good for many years beforehand while Carl was only announcing the band.
November 7th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
Wow. Thanks, everyone!
For the record: I began announcing for the MMB in 1970. This is my 49th season.
I started announcing the games in 2005. Howard King was ill and we ended up splitting that season. Full-time since 2006.
Hawk Harrelson? Noooooo.
Bedtime stories? Hey, why not?
November 8th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
Speaking of Howard King, are there any recordings of his announcing? I honestly can't remember what he was like.