In this episode we're joined by University of Alabama at Birmingham Hall of Fame broadcaster, Gary Sanders. Born in Decatur, IN, Gary was bitten by the sports radio bug at an early age, admiring the work of Bill Stern and Hilliard Gates. Gary's family eventually moved to Tennessee where he became active in the radio business and, ultimately, wound up doing Auburn University football games for 11 season. Among the most famous of his calls during his time on The Plains was the 1972 Iron Bowl played at Birmingham's Legion Field. Ninth-ranked Auburn trailed the unbeaten and second-ranked Crimson Tide 16-0 with under 10 minutes to go but a field goal and a pair of blocked punts returned for touchdowns by David Langner propelled the Tigers to the improbable win.
Another notable event Gary was on the mike for was as a Marty Brennaman's color analyst for CBS Radio's call of the 1992 NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional Championship aka The Christian Laettner Shot Game(unfortunately, try as we might, we can't find the Brennaman & Sanders call).
Gary also joined UAB when the school began its intercollegiate athletics program in 1979 working closing with athletic director and men's basketball coach, Gene Bartow (the man who succeeded John Wooden as UCLA coach).
Along the way we hear from Gary about the Adolph Rupp, Pat Sullivan, Terry Beasley, Shug Jordan, and Pete Maravich.
Here is the YouTube played in today's outro featuring Gary's fourth quarter calls of the 1972 Iron Bowl.
