NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Eli Gold is grappling.
The longtime play-by-play voice of Alabama football can’t often be caught at a loss for words — he’s spent a career in radio, after all — and true to form, he hasn’t been tongue-tied in the wake of this week’s revelation of his and the Crimson Tide Sports Network’s less-than-amicable parting after 35 years. But at the end of what had to be a tumultuous week for the 70-year-old who’s spent half his Fall Saturdays from the broadcast perch at Alabama football games, a conversation about his favorite calls, fondest memories, and opinions on the very best players he saw left him at a bit of a loss.
“So many great players and games over so many years, it’s a little much to put your arms around,” Gold said.
MOVING ON: What Eli Gold, Crimson Tide Sports Network said after his departure from Alabama football
NICK SABAN COMMEMORATIVE BOOK: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book! Preorder here.
The calls that stand out include the Terrence Cody blocked field goal that beat Tennessee in 2009, known as “Rocky Block,” that saved an undefeated season. A 28-yard touchdown on a screen pass to T.J. Yeldon that ignited a 21-17 win at LSU in 2012, and of course, Tua Tagovailoa’s 2nd-and-26 touchdown pass that lifted the Crimson Tide to a CFP win over Georgia. All three of those were pivotal moments in national championship seasons.
It gets harder for Gold to sift through the dozens of All-Americans and 194 eventual NFL draft picks from Alabama whose names he called since his first season in the booth. Fifty-three of those draft picks were first-round selections, so trying to rank the best of them is fool’s work for Gold, but he acknowledges that a few, beyond being immensely talented, were transformational in one way or another.
Running back Shaun Alexander, who led an…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/eli-gold-reflects-35-years-100828603.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-02-26 10:08:28
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
