Verne Lundquist Archives

Longtime pressbox partners Verne Lundquist, left, and Gary Danielson have one more season doing play-by-play on SEC football games for CBS Sports before Lundquist retires. (CBS)

By Wayne Hester

Verne Lundquist will be four days shy of 53 years in broadcasting on Sept. 3 when CBS televises the UCLA at Texas A&M game.

“Verne is a legend in this business,” said his partner Gary Danielson. “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to sit next to him calling SEC games.”

Gary Danielson, left, and Verne Lundquist are familiar faces to SEC football fans, having spent years providing play-by-play for the conference’s games on CBS. (CBS)

CBS has had the highest ratings for college football for the past 10 years, and Lundquist plans to make his last year all about the game.

“Verne has never wanted to be the story of any broadcast,” said CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus. “He has always wanted the game, the players and the coaches to be the story.”

Lundquist, Danielson, McManus and studio host Rick Neuheisel were on a conference call with the media Thursday as CBS approaches its 16th year of covering the SEC.

Lundquist remembered the year 2000, when coach Mike Dubose’s Alabama team finished 3-8.

“We’re light years removed from that Alabama team,” Lundquist said.

“When they got Nick Saban, the world changed.”

McManus let the media in on a change coming to CBS broadcasts this season. He said viewers should be prepared for graphics having a “slick new modern look.”

And Garth Brooks “is going to customize a song for us,” McManus added.

Danielson was asked about Lundquist, and he answered with high praise.

“I think he has been as important to the SEC as Bear Bryant,” Danielson said.

“Verne always finds the goodness in the game with the players and coaches he interviews.”

Gary Danielson and Verne Lundquist provide play-by-play commentary for an Auburn-Georgia game. At the end of this season, Lundquist will turn his job over to Brad Nessler after 53 years in the business. (CBS)

Other takeaways from the conference call:

• Lundquist on preparing for a game: “You can’t shortcut it. If you do, you’ll be found out.”

• Danielson: “I’ve had what I consider four, five, six dear friends in my life. People come up in the booth and hug Verne and call him their dear friend – hundreds of them.”

• Verne on his successor, Brad Nessler: “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.”

• Neuheisel’s four picks for the College Football Playoff: Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Clemson.

It is the most memorable ending to a college football game — maybe ever.

It’s been played and replayed thousands of times. It won an ESPY Award. Verne Lundquist ranked it the best sporting event he’s ever called.

But a year removed from the now (in)famous Kick-Six Iron Bowl, Alabama is No. 1 again, and ready to rid itself of the specter of last year’s game.

This year’s Alabama team has many new faces in new places — at quarterback and offensive coordinator to name a couple — but they still remember the ending. How could they not?

However, if their comments to the media this week are any indication, most of the Tide won’t be watching the Kick-Six before game time, even for an extra dose motivation.

Quarterback Blake Sims says he turns it off any time it’s played. Cornerback Cyrus Jones claims to have never seen the replay of it — not even once. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen doesn’t seek it out on purpose, but concedes he has used it to his advantage in the past.

“I just view it as more motivation for me throughout the whole offseason,” Allen said. “There is no more extra emphasis on this game than last game, but it’s definitely motivation for us.”

The teams are in different places than they were last season. With a win, Alabama is headed to the SEC Championship game. Auburn’s best hope to salvage its season is to play spoiler to its arch-rival’s title aspirations.

So every time they’re asked about last year’s game, the players quickly shift the focus to what’s ahead, rather then rehashing the past.

“I could care less about last year. It was a completely different team,” Alabama offensive lineman Austin Shepherd quipped. “It’s a new a team, and I think we have a great opportunity. We’ve set ourselves up for success, so we’ve just got to go out there and finish the season off.”

But it’s hard to fathom the Kick-Six not at least being in the back of their minds. Shepherd, for example, was on the field for the return and probably doesn’t need to see it to remember the shock. But going into his final Iron Bowl and final game in Bryant-Denny Stadium, he also doesn’t believe lightning will strike twice.

“A lot of people are lucky and they got lucky,” Shepherd said. “Luck happens.”