Eli Gold?

[CoolBreeze]

I love Eli Gold!

My dad is blind so I grew up listening to Eli. When I lived in B'ham (and when I'm there visiting now) we always turn down the volume on the TV to listen to the broadcast. But most of the time I am listening to the broadcast over the internet and there is nothing that makes me feel more at home than listening to Eli and Snake with their pleasently biased commentary. What I really like is the fact that they give credit where it is due concerning the opponent and really reflect in their broadcast the tradition that is Crimson Tide Football. Man am I looking forward to September!! RTR!!!

 

[BAMARICH]

Belle...

You are correct about the age. However, I was a die-hard fan long before a 92 NC year. I don't question whatsoever the passion Snake has for the Tide. I do question, however, his color ability. After posting yesterday, I thought about someone like Roger Shultz. Listening to him on the radio, there is true passion, entertainment, and (it seems from just listening) some expertise. It drives me crazy to hear vanilla comments time after time on our broadcasts.

 

[mikeua69]

The Snake was a great addition to the broadcast. Can't imagine it without him.

 

[Bama-94-00]

Basketball

While listening to Eli's show last year on WJOX, he stated that the reason he no longer did the basketball games is because Coach Gottfried wanted an announcer separate from football because the football season ran into the basketball season. This meant that Eli would miss some basketball games. ..

Thanks, I never heard that. That's a good reason/excuse for replacing Eli for B-ball.
In any event Bama has a better and dedicated basketball commentator with Chris Stewart.

 

[Capstoner]

Chris Stewart rocks. He will be the next guy.

Eli does a great job and it is his as long as he wants it. I saw him in Wings on a couple of occasions away from the "mic" and I found him to be a jerk personally though. But he does a good job with the mic.

 

[PsychoJoe]

Just to be the negative voice here, Eli is my least favorite football play by play man. The first radio guy that I remember was Maury Farrell, then John Forney, Paul Kennedy and now Eli.

I am not always where I can watch the game while listening to the radio broadcast, so at times I depend on the radio announcer for, of all things, accurately describing a play, how much yardage it gained or lost, what down it is, and how much yardage is needed, etc. Eli, from day 1 in the booth has been confusing in this regard.

An example:

"It's Bama's ball, 1st and 10 on their own 20. Castille goes off tackle for seven yards, up to the 25, making it second and 6. " Try figuring that out while you are at work and can only listen.

John Forney absolutely ruled. A lot of Alabama people did not like Paul Kennedy, but to me his call on Bama's last drive in the Van Tiffin game versus Auburn is my all time favorite.

 

[rxdawg]

I say don't mess with a good thing! KS and Eli do a great job!

 

[derek4tide]

I'm 38 yrs old. I grew up listening to John Forney and Doug Layton live from Legion Field. I miss those days....Fall is not the same without those 2 doing Bama football. I know time marches on, but those were some the greatest calls in college football history.

 

[TideHead]

An example:

"It's Bama's ball, 1st and 10 on their own 20. Castille goes off tackle for seven yards, up to the 25, making it second and 6. " Try figuring that out while you are at work and can only listen.

Better yet...

Croyle hands off to Castille. Big, huge gaping hole up the middle. He goes for one yard.

Or, how about this...

Darby breaks free to the 40. He's to the 35, 30, 25, 20. A fifty yard touchdown run for Ken Darby, and Bama leads. Hey, Eli, where did the last 20 yards go?

Sorry to be negative. I know that Eli loves Alabama football, but I personally have just never been much of a fan of him.

On the subject of Snake, he always cracks me up because on a touchdown play, the instant we score while Eli is still describing it, Snake will go, "Touchdown!" I never will forget a few years ago against East Carolina when we blocked an extra point and ran it back 97 yards for 2 points. As we crossed the goal line, Snake goes, "Touchdown.......Uh, 2 points, Uh." It was so funny because he couldn't figure out what to call it.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Agreed...

I am not always where I can watch the game while listening to the radio broadcast, so at times I depend on the radio announcer for, of all things, accurately describing a play, how much yardage it gained or lost, what down it is, and how much yardage is needed, etc. Eli, from day 1 in the booth has been confusing in this regard.

An example:

"It's Bama's ball, 1st and 10 on their own 20. Castille goes off tackle for seven yards, up to the 25, making it second and 6. " Try figuring that out while you are at work and can only listen.

Believe me, I've lived many frustrated moments confused because of this very thing (the radio is my only fix). But Eli's grown on me over the years and a Tide game for me is just not the same without listening to his commentary. That doesn't mean that I won't be left scratching my head at times (or down right cursing ) but I still wouldn't have it any other way (well, except maybe watching the game on the tube while listening to him). And concerning Snake, I just think he does a great job and I think they make a fine team in the booth. RTR!!!

 

[thunderz7]

I don't care how long Eli stays around,
he does love Bama.
On TV games I listen to the Bama brodcast more often than I listen to the TV announcers. (as I think most TV announcers are incompetent-Eli is as good or beter as at least 50% of the TV guys)
But I hope when he is gone we get a REAL RADIO play-by-play man.
As a radio play by play man Eli is pathetic.

If you watch on TV, and listen to Eli, and know our players and anything at all about football, you have to see how many mistakes he makes in commentary and player identification.

On games I can't get to and/or no TV,
having to rely on Eli on radio is a nightmare,
Snake's color is often the only hope of knowing whats gooing on in the game.
Heck, Eli has three different definitions of "the original line of scrimmage".

If you ever get the chance check out a JSU radio broadcast of a Gamecock game.
That's real radio play by play, you always know down and distance, time on clock, wide side of the field, formation, the discription of the play in progress is great, everything you could see if there, you hear.

Eli is a Bama man, but he is not a play by play man.

T7

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I'll have to admit...

that Eli can be really frustrating, when he can't get across the most basic information about what's going on. It's a little comic that John Forney had the same problem, particularly after his stroke. Farrell was better any we've had since. He knew the game better and never failed to convey the basic facts about what was going on...

 

[PsychoJoe]

Hey HSV, you must be an old fart like me to remember Maury Farrell.

 

[boilerbama]

Wonder how much longer Eli will stick around?

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Psycho...

I was a freshman in 1957...

 

[TideFaninFl]

I like Eli and Snake, and I remember JF and DL

All had a love for Alabama football. The mistakes can be overlooked sometimes, as long as the result of the play is an Alabama touchdown :biggrin:

It is hard for me to hear the Alabama broadcast (I can sometimes get it over the internet), but I enjoy every moment of it......


Goodness I am ready for football season to start.... I am a bit scared given our recent past (due to injuries), but if Bama can win it's first 4 games, then I think we will have a VERY good year....