The day was June 2, 1998, 13 years ago this past Thursday.
In that day, the communication device of choice to send out important athletic department information to the media was a "Fax Expander."
There was a master list of all media, and once the button was pushed, the course of history was changed. The information surged its way through cyberspace and reached the intended recipients within mere seconds.
There was a release sent to all Tennessee media that day that read as follows:
"MEDIA CONFERENCE SET FOR WEDNESDAY: The University of Tennessee Athletic Department will hold a media conference in the Team Meeting Room on the second floor of the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center on campus tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3) at 11 a.m. The media conference will involve Vol broadcaster John Ward."
The die was now cast, and whatever would happen, would happen. All that was left now was the inevitable discussion on the talk shows.
The next day, the official announcement came that Ward and sidekick Bill Anderson, on the air since the 1968 Georgia game, were stepping down as the Vol Network football broadcasting team.
Ward, who had broadcast Vol basketball starting in 1964-65, was also stepping down from Vol hoops, effective with the final game of the 1998-99 season.
During this time the duo became the most popular sports figures across the width and breadth of Big Orange Country.
"When 107,000 people show up for a football game or 24,000 come for basketball, part of the legacy goes to John Ward and Bill Anderson for creating an aura about our place that has just been tremendous," AD Doug Dickey said. "I appreciate all they have done, and all they have meant to us."
Ward was succinct, as always.
"I have a prepared statement, and I'm going to read it."
Here came the news.
"It's time."
With that, he sat down, although he did answer questions later.
Edwin Huster of the Vol Network observed, "You can't imagine John without Bill or Bill without John."
John Ward brought home the story of Vol athletics as no other man could. It goes back to the time John was the public address announcer at Shields-Watkins Field, his taking over the football and basketball broadcasts.
When the Vols earned a second chance to win the 1998 Arkansas game after the famous "Stoerner Stumble," Ward offered this piece of unsolicited advice over the airwaves to the coaching staff.
"Just give it to Henry," he said.
The staff obliged, giving Travis Henry of Frostproof, Fla., the pigskin. He had five carries for 43 yards and the game-winning score with mere seconds left. It was a grand and glorious day. Ward defined the moment, just as he had throughout his career.
In hoops, there was the magic year of 1966-67, when the Vols surprised everybody by winning the SEC, and Ward's broadcasts of Tennessee games were the hottest show in town.
When the Vols were at home, everybody was at the brand new Stokely Athletic Center on campus to see the games in person, many with portable radios listening to Ward's broadcast.
Tennessee won the SEC title that year in a triple overtime game at Starkville, Miss., when sophomore guard Bill Justus canned two free throws to give the Vols the victory. When the game ended, Ward said something like this: "Wrap it up, tie it in orange and white, and send it to Bill Justus, care of Gibbs Hall, Knoxville, Tennessee."
The beat went on over the years. There were the "Ernie and Bernie" years when Ward did the radio broadcast on an ever-growing Vol Network, and everybody in Stokely went home to watch the game replay on Channel 26 or Channel 2 with Ward's radio call of the game dubbed over the video.
John was the glue, the frame around the broadcasts and the coaches' shows, doing the job the right way, whether it was after a big win or a tough loss. The shows started on time, finished on time, and were high-tech for the day.
In the fall of 1995, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees named the fourth floor broadcast area of the Neyland Stadium Tom Elam Press Box the "John Ward Broadcast Center," honoring his years of broadcast service. Ward made football and basketball play-by-play, especially basketball, into an art from.
There was a wonderful John Ward story from an unlikely setting.
John and his wife, Barbara, once took a trip on the Orient Express. Just before the train left the station, John and Barbara were in their seats when another man and his wife got on the train. The man walked past the Wards, looked in John's general direction, and said, "Bottom!"
That's the way things appeared 13 years ago, announcing the press conference to "involve Vol broadcaster John Ward."
Tom Mattingly is a freelance contributor. He also blogs at the Vol Historian.
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Comments » 47
vol75 writes:
Listening to John Ward on the radio was better than watching the game on TV. Perhaps the greatest Vol of all time.
elbtenn#502977 writes:
Loved the "5-4-3-2-1 Give him 6! Touchdown TENNESSEE!"
ChrisUTvol writes:
The Very Best!!!!!!!
tmartin writes:
I get goose bumps just reading his lines. I can hear him saying "just give it to henry" like it was yesterday. Nothing else is more synomomous with UT football than that voice.
Its fortunate that we rarely have to listen to a game on the radio anymore, b/c just like our program, the announcing has gone from championship level to less than mediocre.
bobbarbilly writes:
When John Ward was broadcasting Vol games, I did not need a TV.
Caspian writes:
While announcing Bernard King's first game after a spectacular made shot...
"Ladies and gentleman, get your tickets."
stevefrommemphis writes:
...and don't forget Bill Anderson, who will always be one of my favorites of all time. He was a man of few words who deeply loved the Vols. Whenever he said: "Well, John, ..." you knew whatever was going to come next was an insight which made a lot of sense.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I recall listening to Ward announce an overtime game in Lexington when King took over the game, just dominating the vaunted Wildcats. After a series of impressive rebounds against their tall timbers, Ward exclaimed "Ladies and gentlemen, this young man can play this game!" I'll never forget his call of that game and the way he painted a picture for us of what King was doing.
richvol writes:
Ward was the greatest ever...ever.
GreerVol22 writes:
Old school radio guys had to tell a story. News casters just read q-cards. I remember many a Saturday playing in our yard with the radio on...and I was at the game. I have never had that connection with Kesling and the gang.
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
"Pandemonium reigns!"-John Ward
CrankE writes:
No one is better than John Ward. When he called it, you didn't just listen to a game, you lived it.
DaveRamseyRocks writes:
My fondest memories of John Ward include me being 10 years old listening to UT football on a small handheld radio while playing with a football out in my back yard, living out the plays as he described them. He will forever be 'The Voice of the Vols'.
If he could be coaxed out of retirement for one game per year, a pay-per-view telecast, I am sure it would set records for purchases! I know I would buy it!
DownTheField15 writes:
"NO SIR-EEE!"
'98 Florida game - still gives me goosebumps!
vol49 writes:
To me, John and Bill made broadcasting an art form. I was in the seat at the game watching the Vols when John and Bill called it. True legends that were always southern gentlemen with dignity and class. Always respectful of an opponent and always at the top of their game. They were and always will be a part of the Volunteer family.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We shall never see his ilk again.
'King of the Volunteers" and "Give him 6" were in a class by themselves.
RockyTop1 writes:
I loved growing up listening to John Ward. I also had the honor to become frinds with John while a cameraman at WNIR in Knoxville. He was a true gentleman on and off the air!! Great article and tribute to the best of Tennessee!!
I also was voted Tennessee fan of the year at Corncobs in Nashville when I gave John's countdown for the 1998 National Championship. Ending with tonignt the moon is Big Orange!! GBO and VFL!!
shipperman#280095 writes:
My favorite was his last game, our National Championship game. "Ladies and gentleman, the National champions are clad in BIG ORANGE"
shipperman#280095 writes:
Our broadcast team of today on a scale of 1-10 is .5
SouthDakotaBob writes:
Got chill bumps watching this. Good memories. GBO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t23Ln...
OrangePride writes:
As compared to John Ward, they're all 5's...or less.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Every once in a while Rece Davis on ESPN will let a "bottom" slip out while doing bb. (even the Bammers) know it was classic)
Vol43 writes:
I was at Neyland one year for the UT-Fl game. I had attached a string to a 15" rubber alligator dragging it behind me. I waited in line to meet Mr. Ward. It was then that I had the thrill of meeting John Ward and shaking his hand. He took his sharpie and autographed the alligator on its belly. It remains a part of my UT collection of memories.
rockytopatl writes:
Very nice piece.
I echo the above comments about the quality of Ward's broadcasts versus the mediocrity of the current blabber. He's had 13 years and has never developed a signature call. "Into the checkerboards" is bland and inane. He makes countless mistakes (rarely corrected) fails to deliver needed information, lacks emotion and still delivers an inferior Jefferson Pilot TV account on radio, which is a different medium that requires a more refined product.
But this story, thankfully, is about The Voice. there will never be another like him. A gentleman in person, generous to a tee, as classy as they come. Ward of the Volunteers!
shoelessvol#236864 writes:
In the early years of the Vol Network living in Chattanooga, you had to pick up the basketball games on WNOX. There was no local coverage of the games. I remember listening to the '67 Mississippi State game in my room on pins and needles hoping for the Tennessee victory which finally came. John Ward was the greatest! Reminds me wasn't that the game that John started wearing the towel around his neck? I believe that he had to sit up high next to an open window during that game. My favorite broadcast was the '82 Alabama football game. I bought the cassette tape of that game and must has listenned to it a hundred times while travelling on business. John and Bill THANKS for the memories!!
Vol43 writes:
John Ward was in the same era as Larry Munson and other great radio announcers. These guys had a way of making you think they were talking directly to you. That's a hard act to follow. They were radio guys. They knew how to paint a picture.
arkyvol writes:
when i moved from knoxville to ft. smith in 75, as far as college sports went, i might as well been in outer mongolia (i'm two miles from oklahoma). all the coverage here was southwest conference or the big eight. my only relief was the vol night games when, if i held my jaw just right, i could catch the voices of john and bill on an a.m. station out of memphis. i never knew how homesick i was until i heard some of john's memorable comments. as for bill, i've yet to hear any analyst who can dissect what's going on in the game better. a lot of good memories.
rockytopwestone writes:
It's No Good ! It's No Good ! How could a broadcaster correcting a mistake have been any sweeter !
Down_The_Field writes:
"...he carries the ball all the way for what? touchdown big orange! PHILLIPS! running through, around, over and underneath defenders of south carolina..."
mhsvol writes:
I had the opportunity of working with John at a Knoxville ad agency when he was doing two jobs - an agency exec, and the Vols broadcaster. During those days, he would edit film in his car on the way home from away games, so he would have it for the coach's show the next morning. They guy was non-stop.
Titan writes:
Thanks for the link - that was my first year as a season ticket holder. I think we are slowly returning our football team to a level we can be proud of. Now, if the powers that be will only do something about our pathetic excuse for a play by play guy. At first, I thought Bob was just bad because I was comparing him to John. Now, I sadly realize that Bob is just bad - compared to anyone. He is so bad that when we play Vandy in Nashville, I listen to the Vandy broadcast. We fans deserve better - what is it going to take for Hammy to realize what a joke Kesling is.
Titan writes:
As a middle Tennessee Vol, beating Vandy each year is a must. One of John's best came from Dudley Field, "Willie Gault is running all the way to the state capitol."
snoopbob87 writes:
John Ward had a sometimes dry and witty humor. When he signed off the broadcast he always thanked, "and Bob Jones Automotive for transportation". But, no such company existed or sponsored the games.
Richardutm writes:
It will probably not happen, BUT wouldn't it be wonderful. A pay per view that doubled as a fundraiser for some appropriate charity. We almost sound like fans who talked about a Beatles reunion. Bob and Tim are good but no one could replace John and Bill.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lindsey was great, but Ward was always Orange.
The "Insurors of Tenn"...
VOODOOley-2011 (Inactive) writes:
My favorite call was in Nashville vs Vandy, when Willie Gault caught the kickoff on the goal line, and sped down the field for a TD. The last 20 yards, JOhn said nothing, after calling off every 5 yards as he normally did, and after Willie jetted into the end zone and into the tunnel (to slow down actually), John's call:
"Ladies and Gentleman, Willie Gault is running to the State Capital, It's TOUCHDOWN Big Orange!"
wharfrat writes:
The very best, professionally and personally.
vol68 writes:
I think they should broadcast the Homecoming game every year.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Dear John Ward,
You are, and have been, greatly missed in Big Orange Country. Broadcasts of UT football and basketball games have never been the same since you retired. Perhaps retirement has not been as much fun as you planned. From my own selfish perspective, listening to UT football and basketball has not been anywhere near as fun ever since you left the broadcast booth.
Would you be willing to come out of retirement? Please seriously consider. You'd sure bring a lot of life back to UT sporting events, and my sons could also see how it was for me growing up and listening to you on the airwaves if you came back.
Either way, you are greatly missed and tremendously appreciated. Glad that you gave your all for Tennessee for so many years.
4114 writes:
My first impression of Tennesse in any sport was the infamous "It's good...NO ITS NO GOOD" call in South Bend. Since then he was my eyes on more then one occasion. For that I will always be grateful. I still miss you and your call John and Bill.
There will never be a greater pair to broadcast a football game in my opinion.
THANKS FOR ANYTHING!
Richardutm writes:
One of his lines during "The Johnny Majors Show" was "The campus of your University of Tennessee is the state of Tennessee". I loved that line. I repeat it to seventh graders every year before TCAP.
givehim6 writes:
You said what I was going to say would love to here John's voice call one more game. Pay-per-view that's ok, but would rather it be on radio that's where the magic was, in the voice.
TKO writes:
BRING BACK THE WARD! The press box should be named after him!
lomas98 writes:
"Why don't they give it to him everytime". After Jay Graham bolted 70+ yards with less than 2 minutes left in a tie game with Bama in 96. First time we beat Bama in Knoxville in a long time.
dirtydon writes:
My favorite calls of John's were his "BAAAANNNNNNG"'s after a big hit. There was a player in the late 70's I think named Carlton Armstrong that pretty much just played special teams and delivered big hit after big hit on Kickoff returns. One time Johns call was "catches the ball at the 2, 5 , 10, 15, BAAAANNNNNNG. Who was it, do I even need to say it, CARLTON ARMSTRONG". I had a friend who once made a tape of all the hits from him, wish I could get hold of it.
easleychuck writes:
Simply the best. No others compare.
volbike writes:
Mike Edwards from just this side of Bearden,Goooood!!!!!!!!
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