February 12th, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
“Shoelaces flopping in the wind”
RIP to the voice of Michigan Football of my childhood. So many memories, and his voice echoes through our minds to this day.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:30 AM ^
I didn’t know who he was until I saw this post. I’m just a casual but I was at that game and have watched that clip many many times. Legendary.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:42 PM ^
I go back to when he started what must be 50 years ago at WJR. They had a must hear 15 minute sportscast, the Sports Final, at 11:15 pm. Beckmann filled in when the main guys (Bob Reynolds and Paul Carey) took a night off. Then Carey took to doing PBP for the Pistons and being sidekick to Ernie Harwell and Frank moved up. Then Reynolds retired and Beckmann became the top guy at the to sports outlet in town. He had quite a run.
February 13th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
Pretty sure that show was called Sports Wrap. In any event, a buddy and I were reminiscing about that show and how good Frank was. I had to listen to it on the sly, since at that time of the night lights were out and we were supposed to be sleeping.
February 13th, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
I remember listening to Red Wings games after bed time. Had a ear plug attached to the transistor radio, which was hidden under the blanket. I was convinced I was putting one over on Mom and Dad. Now, having raised a few kids myself I realize my parents totally knew.
And the show was called Sports Wrap in its later variations. It was Sports Final when Bob Reynolds and Paul Carey were principal hosts. That was the 11:15 edition with all the scores. The 6:15 edition I seldom listened to. It was dinner time and dinner was a command appearance in my house. No radio. No TV.
February 13th, 2022 at 2:45 PM ^
Appreciate the correction! I don't recall being old enough to listen to the Sports Final variation, only Sports Wrap after Frank took over.
No radio or TV during dinner at our house, either, a rule I carried over to my own parenthood, and added the "no phones" clause.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
Really doesn't matter what the name of the show was called. Let's just honor a great man in Michigan sports. He was awesome and loved all Michigan sports.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:52 PM ^
As a Michigan fan, we were very lucky to have him. RIP Frank.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:55 PM ^
He was so good you could just picture the play as it happened. He described the line-up ahead of the play and all of the details you needed as it proceeded. RIP, Mr. Beckmann.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:00 AM ^
Frank was a pro's pro when it came to Michigan Football play-by-play (and briefly Tigers baseball too).
Imagine having to step into the shoes once occupied by Bob Ufer and then later doing likewise replacing Ernie Harwell for Tigers broadcasts---he handled both assignments with grace and class.
May he rest in peace and may his family always cherish their memories of him.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
I thought Rick Rizz and Bob Rathburn replaced Ernie the first time? Was Frank after them? Or was he the second time?
February 13th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
After Rah! Rah! Rizz and Razzle-dazzle Rathbun were cut loose.
Those two were a bad fit from day one.
February 14th, 2022 at 8:25 AM ^
I guess I could probably find a broadcast somewhere... but I wonder how "bad" Rick and Bob actually were/are to our 2022 listening sensibilities. I think that so much of it was an overcorrection to the fact that they "weren't Ernie" and Ernie was basically being forced out, which wasn't their fault. But caught in the crossfire of the fan revolt was the idea that Rick and Bob were objectively bad at their jobs, and that was part of the reason why they must go.
(looking it up now, I didn't remember it was 2 years of Rick and Bob. In my brain it was just one year.)
It's not new to the time nor the location, but a type of regional xenophobia then begins to creep in. "Oh we have to have someone who knows the market." Do you really need to be from the tri-county area to be able to effectively talk "Tigers Baseball"? Do they need to be able to know who Bernie Smilovitz was? Guys like Lary Sorensen are then groomed for a big move. And don't get me wrong, Lary is/was fine. He always seemed like a genuinely likable person.
But I truly wonder how "bad" were Rick and Bob? My guess is, probably not really all that bad.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:32 AM ^
“And there he goes!” as Woodson flies down the sideline on his punt return vs Ohio State will never not give me chills.
What a voice.
February 13th, 2022 at 7:29 AM ^
And his call of Rodgers and Hammerstein making a sack back in the 80s was his most hilarious classic. Much as Ufer was the most entertaining play caller, Beckmann was the most solid. Great voice. Great personality. Miss both of them. Needless to say, as I cruise areas outside of Detroit, I also miss WJR.
February 13th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
his call of Rodgers and Hammerstein making a sack back in the 80s was his most hilarious classic.
A bit of Rogers and Hammerstein starts at 3:30 of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05QMzCSRuvg&t=323s&ab_channel=MichiganAthletics
February 13th, 2022 at 12:33 AM ^
Sad to hear. May he join Bob Ufer in singing Michigan's praises in the great beyond ...
February 13th, 2022 at 12:39 AM ^
RIP top one of my favorite PBP announcers. When Beckmann was on the radio, I always had it on over the games on tv. Always missed his voice calling the Michigan games.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:38 AM ^
72 is too young in this day and age, IMO. Hope his friends and family can take joy from the years they had with him
February 13th, 2022 at 6:08 AM ^
I didn't get to go to many games as a kid, but my dad and I watched every single game together with the TV sound off and the radio on. Even with the sound delay back in the ancient days of cable, we still preferred to listen to Beckmann and Brandstatter. Something about his voice with the ambiance of the stadium in the background conjures up a feeling like you're there.
He interviewed my wife on his show once. He was incredibly gracious and respectful. RIP.
February 13th, 2022 at 6:58 AM ^
great announcer. i enjoyed listening to a few minutes of the link that someone put up on friday that had a collection of his U of M football calls.
didn't know that the 'march of dimes' was a passion of his, raising over $2 million dollars. wow.
God bless him and his family. dementia is something virtually all of us have or will deal with: a loved one, a family member or even, sadly, some of us.
February 13th, 2022 at 8:22 AM ^
Frank retired barely over a year ago so it is very sad that he did not have a chance to enjoy it very long. Godspeed to his family.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:06 AM ^
RIP Mr Beckmann ?
February 13th, 2022 at 9:21 AM ^
Thank You for some of those amazing Tigers and Michigan football play by plays. Rest In Peace Frank.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^
Here's a minute of Frank Beckmann with his PBP call during the final game at Tiger Stadium back in '99:
https://twitter.com/tigers/status/1492880027297456129?t=PoK8TGVTntbMonB_u1mGyw&s=19
February 13th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
thank you for posting that. never heard that one before. as an aside, i was at that game with my brothers and my dad. that grand slam by fick is probably my second most favorite tiger memory (behind gibby hitting gosage's 3-1 pitch out of the park in game 5 of the '84 series). the stands went bezerk, people were crying in the stands, it was just tremendous. beckmann's call is fitting for that moment.
February 13th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Holy cow, thank you so much for posting that. Between Franks death and seeing that old glorious ballpark, I am getting a little misty here. So many memories of that place growing up.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
It's shocking how quickly this happened. He was just taken off the air in March 2021? I listened to him in his final months a couple times a week and could not detect he was slipping into dementia. Another example of retirement speeding up health issues? See also JoePa's cancer.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
Sad to hear. He was VERY good at what he did - which was made all the more evident to me every time I'd hear a more recent radio call. RIP Frank Beckmann.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
I loved pre-cable when you could sync up the radio to the TV broadcast and mute the TV. I remember it was Jerry Hanlon for a while. Who else was there post Ufer?
February 13th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
I'll never forget his voice. Listening to the 1985 OSU-Michigan game on Armed Forces radio at 3am local on the bridge of the USS Durham (LKA-114) as Kolesar took in that pass from JH. We were in port, Subic Bay Naval Station Philippines. I was just a young LTJG then, Michigan grad, stomping up and down on the deck. Forgot I was right above the XO's stateroom. That morning at breakfast,he looks at me and says "I guess Michigan won huh?" Lol. Frank Beckman is always going to be in that favorite memory. Hard to remember too that most games were not on TV in the 80's, we had to listen to them. Thank God for that man! RIP Frank!
February 13th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
Thank you.
Edit: great story, too. ?
February 13th, 2022 at 11:07 PM ^
Thanks. I was just glad he wasn't mad, truthfully. I appreciate your sentiment, and it is a great memory! Go Blue!
February 13th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Lovely memory, thanks for sharing. That game was something.
February 13th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
Just listened to the 98 rose bowl game ! RIP great man !
February 13th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
He was way better than Ufer.
Ufer was unlistenable. RIP Beckmann.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing. I know Ufer is an "icon" at Michigan -- but if he were associated with any other team we'd completely mock him. I'm sure he was a good guy and all, but I found listening to him extremely difficult. Beckmann was great -- and his voice was just A1 for radio. Wonderful stuff. RIP.
February 13th, 2022 at 3:38 PM ^
Yeah, well, that’s just your opinion, man.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
RIP Frank. You were one of my favorites. Prayers to his family
February 13th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
So many good memories called by Frank Beckmann.
Rest easy.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:01 PM ^
Frank was a terrific football broadcaster. Condolences to his family. Way too young. Thankful for having been able to listen to him. RIP Frank.
February 13th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
So many memories of Frank calling games. I think one of the first ones I remember was when I was on my way back from an overnight camping trip in 1986 and Frank describing one of the plays of the Michigan/Iowa game.
"Andre McIntyre stuffs the play, picked him up, and sent him backwards."
I could just visually picture the play happening in my mind. He was a legend.
February 13th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Still remember coming back from the UM-Ohio "Woodson" game in 1997 listening to ESPN radio and hearing them open the CFB section with highlights from each team's home announcer. The opening clip was listening to Frank call Charles' 77-yard punt return and how his voice erupted when the punter was blocked down, clearing the lane for a sure TD.
February 13th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
R.I.P. Mr. Beckmann
February 13th, 2022 at 6:15 PM ^
"And there he goes. Charles Woodson, down the sideline. He's gonna go all the way. Touchdown Michigan"
February 13th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
No kind of tribute or acknowledgment by the athletic department in any way is absolutely shameful. Not even an mgoblue.com note? Did he have beef with them when he retired or something? I can’t believe I found out from the mgoforum.
February 13th, 2022 at 8:05 PM ^
You expect a tribute after the University publicly reprimanded him for his DetNews OpEd supporting racial slurs? He was lucky not to have been fired.
February 13th, 2022 at 8:00 PM ^
Budd Lynch Bill Fleming and Don Kremer were vastly better PBP radio announcers for UM football than Beckmann and Tom Hemingway was head and shoulders better than Ufer. Beckmann was better PBP guy than Brandy, but that is a really low bar,.
And then there's the other part of his career as a despicable right wing bigot and firebrand Limbaugh wannabe...but let's stick to sports.
Beckmann was the the sixth best UM football PBP announcer in my memory.
February 13th, 2022 at 10:48 PM ^
Blue78 you may be too young but we had the best in Van Patrick and Mel Ott for Detroit Football when they had a team. College, Lindsey Nelson.
February 13th, 2022 at 10:48 PM ^
Blue78 you may be too young but we had the best in Van Patrick and Mel Ott for Detroit Football when they had a team. College, Lindsey Nelson.
And old farts are allowed double posts.