Larry Munson’s retirement brings to a close one of the most exceptional eras in University of Georgia athletics. Munson became Georgia’s radio play-by-play announcer for football in 1966 and later called Bulldog basketball games as well. During his 42 years as the voice of the football team, he was on hand for four head coaches, all seven Uga’s, eight SEC Championships and one undisputed national championship. From the years when the Bulldogs wore white pants, to the Herschel Walker years, all the way up through the David Greene and David Pollack years, the 85-year old was a constant ambassador for the program.
Head coach Mark Richt, the face of Georgia’s current era of football, became close with Munson. “I got to know him as a person and I really enjoy him,” Richt said. “He’s a great Bulldog and a very neat guy.”
Not surprisingly, Richt’s fondest memory of Munson is from the 2001 Tennessee game in which Georgia beat the Vols. It was Richt’s first year at Georgia and the Bulldogs were not expected to compete with Tennessee. But a Greene touchdown pass to fullback Verron Haynes in the game’s closing seconds won the game for Georgia. That prompted Munson to say, “We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose. We just crushed their face.”
“For that call to become one of his greatest calls, from what people say, I’m just glad to be a part of it,” Richt said. “When I think of Larry Munson, I’ll think of that call.”
Surely each Bulldog fan has his or her own favorite moment concerning Munson. Without his memorable calls, the program would not have garnered the prestige it holds today. Play-by-play announcer Scott Howard and analyst Eric Zeier now take over fulltime broadcasting duties after only calling road games for the last two seasons. Their first home game is Saturday night’s big matchup vs. No. 8 Alabama.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
