Like most people in Georgia, I bleed red and black. But it's not what you think. It's Atlanta Falcons red and black. It's Steve Bartkowski, Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson, Jamal Anderson, and Michael V-, I mean uh, Koenan. Maybe it's even a little bit of an Atlanta Hawks, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, and Tree Rollins red and black. But I can assure you, it has little or nothing to do with that little football team they've got over there at the so-called University of Georgia in Athens.
All that to say, it just won't be the same tonight when Georgia takes on Alabama tonight and radio legend Larry Munson won't be calling the plays. In his mid-eighties, he's decided to take a step back and just call the home games this year. He's called something like 487 Georgia football games and has become nothing short of legendary. He's the voice that I and my childhood friends would use when we were playing Nerf football in the backyard: "There's sugar falling from the sky!" Or we would pretend to fall out of our chairs like Munson did when Lindsay Scott pulled off that ridiculously long run to beat Florida back in the day. (Yes, we would do impersonations of Tech announcer Al Ciraldo, but that was saved for basketball: "Mark Price's free throw...ridiculously long dramatic pause...good!") In fact Mac and I talk like Munson TO THIS DAY: "23-23! They're spiitin' venom at Jordan-Hare! The SEC holds its collective breath!" Regardless of your affiliations, Munson is the voice you hear in your head when you think about college football in these parts.
Larry always said he was going to go fishing the first day he took off. He'll have to bring a lantern, 'cause it's a night game. But I hope he does. He's earned it.
