Anyone miss John Ward?

#51
#51
Power T-Rev said:
I found myself watching some old highlights of UT games and was thinking about how much more exciting John Ward made the games while listening to the radio broadcast. I'm not really taking shots at Bob Kesling, but he doesn't seem to convey that same intensity/passion that Ward did. Any thoughts?
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Does anyone need oxygen to breathe? Does everyone hate getting kicked n the nads? Of course john ward is missed!!!!
 
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#52
#52
TommyOler said:
I certainly miss John Ward. John Ward is one of a kind... there won't be another in our life time

However, I've met Bob Kesling on several occasions and have had the pleasure of spending time with him.

Bob is a genuinely kind person and fun to be around. While he will never be John Ward, think of the nicest man you know describing the game action for you, next time you offer up a critique.

You may enjoy the broadcast a lot more.

(Just sayin... :hi: )
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This!

One Man Gang, who does the Maxim write-ups after each game, wrote a story years ago about being in the broadcast booth during the game and how crazy it is with everything going on. There probably isn't anyone on here that could call 1 play without screwing it up. I get it, that's his job but he isn't bad at it...he just came after a legend.
 
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#55
#55
Guess I'lll get banned but you can't get much more annoying than Ward. I didn't listen to him tho, only Kesling so I'm sure live was different.
 
#57
#57
Other_Guy said:
Guess I'lll get banned but you can't get much more annoying than Ward. I didn't listen to him tho, only Kesling so I'm sure live was different.
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Most appropriate use of Screen Name, Screen Name Title...that I've EVER witnessed. CONGRATS!
 
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#58
#58
One thing I loved about John was how he would give credit to the other team, and would even show some excitement when the oppositon would score. Would never bad mouth the opposing team like a certain fat man from the capstone.
 
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#61
#61
Other_Guy said:
Guess I'lll get banned but you can't get much more annoying than Ward. I didn't listen to him tho, only Kesling so I'm sure live was different.
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This is what is called "going for the jugular" level trolling.
 
#62
#62
When JW did Tennessee play-by- play, thousands in Neyland Stadium listened on headphones; at home we turned down the t.v. volume & listened to John Ward. Both are rare occurrences today.:cray:
 
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#63
#63
Mr. Ward was behind on the long TDs because he knew there were thousands of folks listineing to him across the southeast and he didn't want to give them the big buildup to the score until he was sure there were no penalties.

No one could paint a picture of what was happening on the "greensward of Shields-Watkins Field" like Mr. Ward. You always knew the score, the down and distance, the time left on the clock and where the ball was on the field. And while, Ward was not openly a homer, you knew he had a deep love for the Big Orange.

At the time of the contribution, John Ward made a donation to the UTAD that was the single largest donation ever given to the UT Athletics Dept.
 
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#64
#64
gnm53108 said:
Followed that with a dang good BB season.
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Yep, something lost in his retirement was UT won the last 2 games he called against UK and his last one at Rupp, one of the few victories we've had there. And that was the last time we've swept them in basketball.

Of course that year ended with a 30 point beatdown in the NCAAT but you can't have a perfect ending in everything.
 
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#65
#65
TommyOler said:
I certainly miss John Ward. John Ward is one of a kind... there won't be another in our life time

However, I've met Bob Kesling on several occasions and have had the pleasure of spending time with him.

Bob is a genuinely kind person and fun to be around. While he will never be John Ward, think of the nicest man you know describing the game action for you, next time you offer up a critique.

You may enjoy the broadcast a lot more.

(Just sayin... :hi: )
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You're right and I'm sure he's a nice guy. It would be hard for anyone to follow the great John Ward. It's just not the same
 
#66
#66
BACKDOC said:
One thing I loved about John was how he would give credit to the other team, and would even show some excitement when the oppositon would score. Would never bad mouth the opposing team like a certain fat man from the capstone.
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You're correct. He would give the other team credit. However, there are people in this thread ripping on Kesling for the same thing. They want him more homeristic.

I guess you can't please everyone.
 
#67
#67
VolsSportsFan said:
Yep, something lost in his retirement was UT won the last 2 games he called against UK and his last one at Rupp, one of the few victories we've had there. And that was the last time we've swept them in basketball.

Of course that year ended with a 30 point beatdown in the NCAAT but you can't have a perfect ending in everything.
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I remember him on the Jerry Green show after vthat ky win. He told coach Green " this may not be a National Championship but beating ky in rup is awfull close".
 
#68
#68
Power T-Rev said:
I found myself watching some old highlights of UT games and was thinking about how much more exciting John Ward made the games while listening to the radio broadcast. I'm not really taking shots at Bob Kesling, but he doesn't seem to convey that same intensity/passion that Ward did. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I don't miss John Ward, Bob is much better. :unsure:
 
#69
#69
Power T-Rev said:
I found myself watching some old highlights of UT games and was thinking about how much more exciting John Ward made the games while listening to the radio broadcast. I'm not really taking shots at Bob Kesling, but he doesn't seem to convey that same intensity/passion that Ward did. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

"Coleman streaks to the right from his wide out receiver position, takes the hand off and pivots left into the surging, pushing wall of orange linemen. He twists, knifes, churns,to the 3, the 2, the 1, and nudges the ball willfully against a determined defender, but this time determination trends to the Big Orange! Give him six! The diminutive Chuckie Coleman refused to be denied! And here comes the kicking unit to, ostensibly, attempt the extra point and put the Volunteers ahead once again by 6 with 58 seconds remaining here in the third canto of what has proven to be a loud, leather popping contest between two seemingly unrelenting gladiators."

In brief, John Ward had, and still has, no equal in all of college football as far as calling a game is concerned. He had a knack for making the worst of blowouts seem exciting and stirring. And I so direly miss him. Talk about a talented class act...
 
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#73
#73
TommyOler said:
I certainly miss John Ward. John Ward is one of a kind... there won't be another in our life time

However, I've met Bob Kesling on several occasions and have had the pleasure of spending time with him.

Bob is a genuinely kind person and fun to be around. While he will never be John Ward, think of the nicest man you know describing the game action for you, next time you offer up a critique.

You may enjoy the broadcast a lot more.

(Just sayin... :hi: )
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I've met Roger. He's one of the nicest young men I've met. I've also met Bob. I agree, he is a nice guy.

Bob sucks at his job though. Just sayin....:hi:
 
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