Remembering the Voice of the Tennessee Vols

“It’s Football Time In Tennessee.” If you you’re a Tennessee fan, you know what that means. John Ward had a way of making you feel like you were wedged inside the depths of Neyland Stadium on Saturdays in the fall, even if you were sitting on your porch in Chattanooga.

The reason is because he was as Tennessee as they come. Ward was born in Knoxville. He was schooled in Knoxville. He held a law degree from the University of Tennessee. He knew what Tennessee fans wanted to hear when their Volunteers upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend in 1991. He knew how to excite the Volunteer faithful when Peyton Manning threw a touchdown to Joey Kent in Tuscaloosa on the first play of the 1995 rendition of the Third Saturday in October. And he definitely knew how to keep an audience captivated while still being professional.

That’s what the best do – they are a part of the fabric of their beloved institution while never being unprofessional. Eli Gold does that with Alabama. Jim Hawthorne did that for LSU. Jim Fyffe had you laughing and intrigued throughout every Auburn game. Woody Durham, another great play-by-play personality that recently passed away, did that for North Carolina.

Image from Knox News

Today, there are still some great characters out there. Don Criqui was put on this earth to call a Notre Dame football game. The same can be said for Todd Ellis and South Carolina games. David Kellum (Ole Miss), Mick Hubert (Florida), and Rod Bramblett (Auburn) all call great games. Ward’s replacement, Bob Kesling, does a masterful job, as well.

But as time passes on, the great story tellers are passing on as well. It is an art to be able to relay important, almost sacred information to the fervid masses while making it sound pleasing. John Ward was a master at it. Rest In Peace, Mr. Ward. And while you may not be on this earth to see it, Tennessee will take the field on September 1st behind one of the most passionate fan bases in the country, in no small part because of you. And once again, it will be football time in Tennessee.

Image from Knox News