None of that talk seemed to bother Bramblett, who is now in his 13th year as Auburn’s play-by-play announcer for football, men’s basketball and baseball. Over the years, he’s found his own voice, while continuing to honor the man he succeeded. Today, he too is an Auburn tradition.
Bramblett’s first book, Touchdown Auburn!, Carrying on the Tradition of the Auburn Tigers (Triumph Books) is due out tomorrow, and I recently had a chance to preview it. As much as anything, it’s a Valentine to the Auburn fans and people who helped him along the way.
Bramblett spends a lot of time explaining, sometimes hilariously, what went on behind the scenes of some of his greatest calls, including the Kick Six, which forever cemented his place in radio broadcasting history.
Feeling excited and proud after maybe the most famous call in college football history, Bramblett didn’t quite get the reception at home that night he expected. “By the time I arrived home, it was after nine o’clock, he writes. “I walked in through our garage where I was greeted with two garbage bags that needed to be taken out, and everyone was in their respective rooms getting ready for bed. “I guess I expected a greeting of, ‘Oh father we are so proud of you! You are the greatest announcer in the world!’ I got nothing, which is why my wife and children are the best in the world. Keeping me grounded and in check at all times.”
Bramblett did get respect from others following that 2013 season, being named Sports Illustrated play-by-play announcer of the year.
The best parts of the book, and what makes it such an entertaining read, is how real he is in his story telling. Bramblett admits to being nervous during the first half of the national championship broadcast against Florida State, saying it was perhaps because of the monumental calls earlier in the year during the Georgia and Alabama games.
He faced many of the same issues that other fans did during the 2010 national title game with Oregon. Wanting to bring his entire family to Glendale, he finally came to grips with not being able to afford it and had to get creative in his own itinerary so that his wife could join him on the trip. Such was the rush on airfare for the game that not even school officials were immune from travel woes. As a result, he missed two Auburn basketball broadcasts following the Monday title game because he couldn’t get home.
Bramblett says he knows he’s been blessed to be part of so many great Auburn calls. He’s had the unique opportunity to see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. “It’s all about being a part of a moment… describing that moment when Chris Davis gives the greatest finish in college football history, when David Ross hits a storybook home run in the NCAA Regionals, or even when hearts are broken on a touchdown pass by Jameis Winston,” says Bramblett. “That’s what a play-by-play person lives for.”
More than anything, the book is a walk down memory lane seen from the inside. Just when you thought you’d heard it all, Bramblett comes out with something new.
With two weeks to go, there’s nothing you can do to get yourself more excited for a new season than to grab a copy of this great read.
The post Rod Bramblett Gets You Ready for Auburn Football appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.
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