The Man, The Myth, The Legend Verne Lundquist Stepping Down From SEC on CBS
CBS – Verne Lundquist, the voice of the SEC ON CBS since 2000, has decided to step down from his lead college football role at CBS Sports following the 2016 season. Lundquist, who is celebrating his 53rd year in television, will continue calling regular-season college basketball, the NCAA Tournament and golf, including the Masters® and the PGA Championship for the Network.
Brad Nessler will succeed Lundquist as the lead play-by-play announcer for the SEC ON CBS, joining lead analyst Gary Danielson and reporter Allie LaForce beginning with the 2017 season. Additionally, Nessler will begin calling select SEC games this season in the weeks that CBS Sports broadcasts two SEC football games, as well as the 2016 Hyundai Sun Bowl and select college basketball games. The announcements were made today by Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports.
“Verne has set the standard for college football broadcasting,” said McManus. “Together with Gary Danielson he has played a key role in making the SEC ON CBS the highest-rated college football package in America. After an incredible 17 years, he will be handing the reigns off to Brad, who in his own right is highly acclaimed and respected as one of the premier play-by-play broadcasters in the business. I am very pleased that Verne will still have a prominent role in our college basketball and major championship golf coverage. We are fortunate to have one more football season to appreciate Verne’s one-of-a-kind storytelling as we pave the way for a seamless and smooth transition to Brad.”
“Being a part of the SEC ON CBS since 2000 has been the most significant assignment I’ve been given in my more than five decades in this business,” said Lundquist. “Now, it’s time to step back and take in the aroma of those tulips, those roses, and those daffodils that friends have been telling me about for years. In 2017, I’ll happily step aside from college football and welcome Brad to the booth. I’ve known Brad for more than 30 years and have always admired his work ethic and his on-air presence. He shares the same passion for college football that I do. The SEC ON CBS is in great hands. Brad and Gary will form a great partnership in the years ahead.”
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Damn, horrible news. Kind of thought Verne was going to be one of those guys who never retired. Like he would sit in the booth until he was completely senile mumbling through games and crapping in his pants until somebody had to come and literally remove him. Is Saturday afternoon without Verne even a Saturday afternoon? I guess we’ll find out.
And never forget my favorite story…
Verne is…Mr. Steal Yo Girl.
You met your wife Nancy in 1980 and you were married in 1982. How did you two meet?
We met in a bar — and I hasten to add it was an upscale bar in Dallas. It was a place called Arthur’s. I walked in after I did the 10 o’clock news (at WFAA-TV in Dallas) and I just didn’t want to go home. Nancy and her date were at the bar and her date recognized me from local television and invited me over to have a drink. He introduced me to his date and her name was Nancy Miller. It was their first date, a blind date. So we sat and chatted and her date, Raymond Willie, said to me, “Listen, I know you are single. I’m going to fix you up with a friend of mind and we can all go to dinner.” He looked at Nancy and asked her, “What are you doing Thursday night?” She said, “Nothing.” He said, “Good, you’ll be my date and we’ll fix Verne up with this schoolteacher friend of mine and we’ll go to dinner.” Meanwhile, I’m looking at Nancy thinking she is the prettiest thing I have ever seen in my life. So, Raymond finally left to take care of his business and I asked Nancy, “So, how involved are you with Raymond? She said, “Oh, this is our first date and it’s a blind date.” So I said, “Well forget what he is talking about on Thursday night. What are you doing on Saturday night?” She said, “I think I am doing whatever you are doing.”
That’s stone-cold bold, Verne.
We had our first date on March 22, 1980 and it changed my life. We will celebrate our 31st anniversary on April 8. Nancy had been married twice and I had been married twice. Neither of us had children. We took a couple of years to work things out before decided that the third marriage would work for us both and obviously it has.
Verne! You dirty dog! How about this slick motherfucker Verne Lundquist just straight up stealing dates and wifing them up? Fucking ruthless! Wouldn’t expect it from a guy like Verne. Thought he was just some well meaning old bastard with a golden voice and propensity for getting super excited about meaningless things?
Nope, dude is a stone cold killer on the dating scene. Grip your bitch tight or you might come back from making a business call and find Verne balls deep in your lady whispering sweet nothings into her ear as he puts a ring on her finger. That’s how Verne rolls.