The broadcast pairings have been made for Saturday’s Army-Navy football game. On CBS, Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson have the call. On Westwood One Radio, John Tautges and former Army coach Bobby Ross have the duties.
Lundquist will be calling his second Army-Navy game, the last in 2000 with partner Todd Blackledge.
Ian Eagle called the 2002 game on CBS with Craig James and the last six meetings with Boomer Esiason.
Verne Lundquist offered some pre-game thoughts on the broadcast.
On game being moved to second Saturday in December: “I’m among those who are really thrilled that this game has moved to the second Saturday in December. It deserves to stand on its own and get the attention of a national audience, and this insures that it will.’’
On what makes this broadcast special: “Almost every other game that we televise throughout the year involves a lot of X’s and O’s. This one is all about the rivalry and the emotions that are a part of the game, but also the emotions that surround the game.
“You can never get too far removed from the commitment that everybody on the field has given this country. You’re reminded that these young men and young women in the stands who attend the academies have promised at least five years of service to the country and that’s always a part of the fabric of the game.
“We’re also always very conscious of the Armed Forces Network telecast of our presentation that goes around the world. And that we’ve got men and women who are committed to serving this country watching in very dangerous places. You never have them very far from your thoughts as you’re doing this game.’’
On this year’s game: “This will be the second time I’ve been lucky enough to broadcast Army-Navy. The first one was in 2000 and I learned then that this is a case where the records really don’t mean anything. Back in 2000, we had two 1-10 teams against each other and they played a classic that all of us enjoyed. This year, there’s a little more on the line. You have Navy that already has earned a right in the Texas Bowl. Army has a chance to get into one for the first time in years if they win, so there’s a lot at stake for both of them.’’
A history of Army-Navy announcers:
NBC
1945 – Red Barber
1946-49 – Bob Stanton
1950 – Connie Desmond
1951 – Jim Britt, Ray Michael
1952 – Mel Allen, Russ Hodges
1953 – Mel Allen, Lindsey Nelson
ABC
1954 – Tom Harmon, Jack Drees
NBC
1955-59 – Lindsey Nelson, Red Grange
ABC
1960 – Curt Gowdy, Bob Neal
1961 – Curt Gowdy, Paul Christman
CBS
1962-63 –Lindsey Nelson, Terry Brennan
NBC
1964 – Lindsey Nelson, Terry Brennan
1965 – Lindsey Nelson, Terry Brennan, Bud Wilkinson
ABC
1966-67 – Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
1968 Bill Flemming, Johnny Lujack
1969 – Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
1970 – Bill Flemming, Johnny Lujack
1971-73 – Keith Jackson, Lee Grosscup
1974 – unknown
1975 – Bill Flemming, Duffy Daugherty
1976 – unknown
1977-80 – Keith Jackson, Ara Parseghian
1981 – Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles
CBS
1982 – Lindsey Nelson, Pat Haden
ABC
1983 – Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup
CBS
1984 – Lindsey Nelson, Pat Haden
1985-86 – Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
1987-88 – Brent Musburger, Pat Haden, John Dockery
1989 – Jim Nantz, Pat Haden, John Dockery
1990 – Jim Nantz, Tim Brant, John Dockery
ABC
1991 – Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, Jack Arute
1992-94 – Brent Musburger, Dick Vermeil, Jack Arute
1995 – Mark Jones, Todd Blackledge, Dean Blevins
CBS
1996-97 – Sean McDonough, Terry Donahue, Michele Tafoya, Mike Mayock
1998 – Sean McDonough, Terry Donahue, Mike Mayock, Ed Cunningham
1999 – Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Michele Tafoya, Ed Cunningham
2000 – Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge, Jill Arrington, Dean Blevins
2001 – Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein, Andre Ware
2002 – Ian Eagle, Craig James, Andre Ware, Doug Graber
2003 – Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Tracy Wolfson, Dwayne Ballen
2004-05 – Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Dwayne Ballen
2006-08 – Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Sam Ryan
2009 – Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson
