Who Will be our Next Radio Football Play-by-Play Announcer?

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

No, Brandstatter didn't pass away.   Yes, like most of you, I would honor Brandstatter as a Michigan Man and a good 'color' guy when announcing.  I note that his dad was an all-american at MSU and his wife is an ohio (YTO) grad.   

However, he's a bit like Brady Hoke, but with a microphone  - you'd love to have him over to the house for a barbeque and an adult beverage but he's not the greatest at his assigned task.    Forced to listen to him do parts of two games this month while I was on the road coaching kids' teams it really crystalized that he is not good at play-by-play and with him in his 3rd or 4th year doing PBP, he's not likely to improve much

So the question is this:  At some point he'll retire or step down, and who would you get to replace him?   Somebody local, in the SE Michigan market?  Do they have to be some type of 'Michigan Man' (or I suppose, Michigan Woman)?   Do you go out of market and get someone from elsewhere?   

Who would it be, and when would you make the switch?

XM

 

 

MGoBoard
Football

The Fugitive

October 1st, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^

he said on air that he applied for the position when it opened and never got a reply from the university.  I believe during that time Dave Brandon basically told Dierdorf he wounldn't take no for an answer to join the radio team so they were not likley to be looking for outside candidates.

I know FBHW is broadcasat in several markets but Gregg is often wearing MSU and Alabama gear (which you can see on their webcam) which kind of bothers me.  I understand why he does it but still. he also said that was his dream job so it's probably just pandering to their stations.

Joined: 01/26/2016

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The Fugitive

October 1st, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^

he said on air that he applied for the position when it opened and never got a reply from the university.  I believe during that time Dave Brandon basically told Dierdorf he wounldn't take no for an answer to join the radio team so they were not likley to be looking for outside candidates.

I know FBHW is broadcasat in several markets but Gregg is often wearing MSU and Alabama gear (which you can see on their webcam) which kind of bothers me.  I understand why he does it but still. he also said that was his dream job so it's probably just pandering to their stations.

Joined: 01/26/2016

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Elmer

October 1st, 2017 at 12:02 AM ^

Since nobody will fire Brandy, can we just put three in the box and move him back to color.  Almost anyone would be better for the play by play, so finding a warm body shouldn't be too difficult.

KInda reminds me when Al Kaline first started working with George Kell.  Man, that was brutal.  Al did improve over the years as a color guy, but play by play is a different animal.

 

Joined: 04/22/2011

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Prince Lover

October 1st, 2017 at 12:12 AM ^

Decade or so....Brando is not a bad color guy, (only if he's for your team bc he's a whiny homer!!) in fact I think he's quite good at that. But he is god awful as a play by play. And that is not his fault. At all. He's just a square peg in a round hole. I've wanted a third guy and have both Brando and Dan do color for awhile. I'm glad someone else agrees!!

Joined: 07/01/2013

MGoPoints: 13070

LKLIII

October 1st, 2017 at 8:21 AM ^

This is exactly what should happen.

Get a quality professional PBP guy who is on the younger side who might possibly become "our guy" for a solid 20-30 years. Doesn't necessarily have to be dude with Michigan connections, but has to show the willingness to BECOME a Michigan radio institution over the years.

Then put Staddler and Waldorf as color guys waxing poetic about the Bo years.

Then eventually either Staddler or Waldorf will retire. Slot in Jansen as the younger half of the Staddler/Waldorf duo.

Keep that dynamic going and eventually whoever didn't retire before (Brandy or Dierdorf), WILL retire. At which point Jansen slides up to the senior seat in the Staddler/Waldorf duo, and we hire a younger guy (former player from the 2000-2020 era) to become the younger half of the duo.

Joined: 11/06/2013

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BlueFish

October 1st, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^

Yes, Brandy is bad at PBP. It's not his fault; he should never have been asked to take that position when Beckmann retired.

The fact is, Dierdorf isn't all that great at color, either. Case in point, the Deveon Smith run where he trucked the BYU safety. Valentin clowned that mercilessly. Not that I care about Valenti, but he was right: it was embarrassing. But I digress. Put Brandy back where he excels, give Dierdorf a firm Michigan Man handshake, and hire someone like Dan Dickerson (or any of the others discussed above).

Also, Tirico isn't coming.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 4654

TESOE

October 1st, 2017 at 1:53 AM ^

student do it.  I used to listen to the student call after Ufer died.  Students care, they bring it and they need the experience.  Make it a 1 credit class and have tryouts.

Eventually you hit a Ufer.  When you do... lock it down until XtraMelanin loses patience.

Not sure if they still do a student broadcast.  It was on the alt CBN station in the day.

Ufer will forever be the voice of Michigan football in my mind.  We need that passion.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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LKLIII

October 1st, 2017 at 8:26 AM ^

I don't know. I listened to the students do a Michigan basketball game on the Big Ten Network for one of our awlful exhibition games a few years back. The whole production was done by students apparently. Streaming online service.

The announcing was terrible.

I'd rather get a pro from a smaller market who is young. Doesn't have to have a Michigan degree but has to show a willingness to become "our" buy over 20-30 years as opposed to only viewing our gig as a stepping stone to a national gig.

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TESOE

October 1st, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^

I'm clearly not as passionate about this but let me say I would never settle for less.  But I would throw the net wider on Michigan talent and look at what comes back.

Many Michigan FB players and athletes have gone on to broadcasting jobs.  Why not offer a class that could sculpt Michigan talent.

I gamecast games in a pinch.  I follow play by play by livebog or open thread.  The game is the thing... not the broadcaster. 

Tony Romo is the new ideal.  That is what we need.  A guy who states any subbing, the offensive personnel the defensive spread and box count every play along with an educated guess at the play call.  Ufer was never that but he made up for it in other ways.  

Getting the right guy is going to take a process instead of sitting on Brand... if you know what I mean.

Plus one for the passion.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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michfan23

October 1st, 2017 at 7:42 AM ^

I guess I'm in the minority. I really like him because he is a total "homer" and its college sports so why not have an announcer who is unashamed to share his allegiances. The tv broadcast is all about not trying to show bias, the radio is sacred and used by the respective team to share a common bond of being unashamedly bias for your team. I suppose this is why I liked listening to Cubs radio broadcasts with Ron Santo. A bad play would happen and he'd lose it in the booth. He wasn't the play by play, and I'll agree that Brandstatter isn't a natural play by play guy, but I still like him.

Joined: 11/06/2015

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xtramelanin

October 1st, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^

its the complete lack of descriptive detail of any on-going play, followed by the lack of even something as simple as down and distance information.   when you're listening on the radio you are dependent completely on the announcer/PBP guy.

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michfan23

October 1st, 2017 at 9:21 AM ^

I don't disagree with the down and distance argument, but I think they have "spotters" who are supposed to relay that information to him and maybe they aren't as quick as they should be with that. Brandstatter does mistake things and get things wrong, that can be frustrating.

I do genuinely respect the difference of opinion and actually enjoy reading the names on this thread. It's a good discussion.

Joined: 11/06/2015

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Naked Bootlegger

October 1st, 2017 at 9:25 AM ^

Haven't listened to a radio broadcast this year, but I listened to a couple last year.   The PBP component wasn't pretty.   I loved listening to the between play banter, but game calling left a lot to be desired.   Game action as it was happening (down & distance, personnel, game time, etc.) was described rather....poorly.   

I hope he's improved this year.    But it was painfully clear that it was difficult to impossible to take the color guy out of Brandy.  And I don't blame him - square peg round hole syndrome.

Joined: 01/28/2011

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Naked Bootlegger

October 1st, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^

I'll also add that it's a different beast when you're listening to the radio broadcast while watching a simulcast TV broadcast.    Simple PBP sins can be forgiven if you have the TV to fill in the gaps, or if you're sitting in the stadium.    But listening to the radio broadcast without visual clues was difficult when I tuned in last year.

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You Only Live Twice

October 1st, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^

and Brandy's not so bad.  Would be better if he could change up a couple of habits, such as the more nonspecific terms "and he's got so and so at the 30" and then you have to wait an agonizing couple of seconds to find out, does "got" mean the man is open?  or a completed pass?

Maybe try switching roles and let Dierdorf or Karsh call plays and let Brandy do his excellent work as the color guy.

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GoBluePhil

October 1st, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^

He was replaced for being critical of the teams play. But he is a great play by play guy. Great tone and very smooth in his delivery. Not a Michigan Man but do we really need a Michigan Man.

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