In December, legendary sports broadcaster Verne Lundquist stepped down from his long run as CBS’ main football play-by-play man. There was a video tribute during his last SEC game ...
Verne Lundquist and SEC football: a remarkable combination that we’ll never forget. #ThankYouVerne pic.twitter.com/osFm88NHXp
— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) December 4, 2016
... and a tearful goodbye from Lundquist himself during the Army-Navy game ...
... but, as he said in that video, that wasn’t the end of his four-decade-plus career.
"I'm not going into hiding. I'll see all of you during March Madness, and I'll yell at you from the 16 tower [the broadcast tower that was moved from one side of the 16th hole to the other, in order for Lundquist to better see the ball later in the day] at The Masters."
Lundquist had been a football broadcaster since he became the Dallas Cowboys’ radio voice in 1972, but along the way, he’s called just about everything. From our 2014 interview with him:
I get asked a lot, ‘Is there anything you wished you could have done?’ Not really. It's all about luck, and about what rights the company has. I'll never do a Super Bowl, but I'm fine with that. I'll probably never do a Final Four championship game, but I've done 31 tournaments in March Madness in a row. Augusta? How could I top what I've done there?
What surprises people, though? If I have to give one event to do again, I would choose doing figure skating at the Winter Olympics with Scott Hamilton.
Cutting out the weekly grind of football and focusing only on big events is a health move. He has back issues and says remembering long lists of names and numbers has become more of a challenge.
But still, after that parade of goodbyes throughout the SEC season and the big to-do at the end, many March Madness viewers were surprised to see Verne back behind the mic just three months later. Most of them pleasantly, though everyone has haters.
Hey when Uncle Verne retired at Army v Navy a few months ago I got teary eyed. Now he's here for the tourney and it's a gift from sportsgod
— greg (@giggitygreg) March 17, 2017
32. You thought Verne Lundquist retired? Think again!
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) March 15, 2017
He's here in Buffalo with Jim Spanarkel (and BK).#Fieldof64 pic.twitter.com/6TTBw2cCk7
Oh how I have missed you Uncle Verne
— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) March 17, 2017
Uncle Verne!
— The Fighting Gobbler (@Fightin_Gobbler) March 17, 2017
UNCLE. VERNE.
— Chad Willis (@ChadWillis) March 17, 2017
UNCLE VERNE!!!!!!
— Rusty Shackelford (@Jakethoughts1) March 17, 2017
Uncle Verne calling the VT game!! Let's go Hokies @DairyMatt pic.twitter.com/9Cz8B9EuxW
— Caroline Roper (@caroline_roper) March 17, 2017
I thought Vern Lundquist retired? But that's ok, glad to hear his voice on this #NCAATournament game.
— Kenny BooYah! (@KwikWarren) March 16, 2017
Love hearing Verne on @CBS !!!
— Randall Sinkiewicz (@RandySink7) March 16, 2017
I thought he retired. But I love hearing him lol. #marchmadness @MarchMadnessTV
I could have sworn Verne Lundquist retired? Looks like he is slotted for the 1st game today! #blessed
— Alex Cordell (@Alex_Cordell_) March 16, 2017
Holy shit we get the Verne Lundquist this march too?? Thought he retired for good but guess not oh baby!!!
— BruceSantaClauss-en (@BruceAClaussen) March 16, 2017
And it would not be a Lundquist broadcast without a round of chortling, an “oh my goodness,” some half-hearted promo reads ...
Uncle Verne reading on air ads with no enthusiasm is entertaining. #marchmadness
— Mark Winslow (@WinstonUK) March 17, 2017
... a bizarre sound effect ...
This is really weird though pic.twitter.com/af0cLEjMiL
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 17, 2017
... and folks sitting on the edges of their seats to see if he can land an unfamiliar pronunciation ...
Uncle Verne just had to say Sagaba Konate and it went very well.
— Smoking Musket (@SmokingMusket) March 16, 2017
... so yep, Uncle Verne is back and still with us.
Verne has been announcing for 12 hours straight. Props to the man
— Will Luke (@wluke50) March 17, 2017
While preparing for a Saturday call of a West Virginia-Notre Dame game, Lundquist took a basketball straight to the face during warmups. Fortunately, he was OK.
Verne took a basketball off the noggin, but don’t worry, he’s still on the call. pic.twitter.com/k99S5cyEPr
— March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) March 18, 2017