November 15, 2024 • 17 mins
Celebrate 30 seasons of Carolina Panthers football with Jim Szoke. Join him as he sits down with the key figures who shaped the past 29 seasons, reminiscing on the moments that made Panther's history. This week's guest is former Panthers broadcaster, Bill Rosinski.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
He was and always will be the original voice of
the Carolina Panthers, Bill Rozinsky, who continues to do NFL
and of course PGA Tour Radio. We'll talk some football,
we'll talk some golf, We'll talk thirty years of Panthers
football like we always do with the great Bill Razinsky.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Coming up, thirty seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of
the players, coaches, and other key figures who've contributed to
the organizational success.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
All Right, our friend and longtime broadcast partner, Bill Razinsky
joining us on this edition of the podcast. And you
hear him on PGA Tour Radio, you hear him on
Compass Media for NFL football play by plays on a
lot of college obviously through the years. Every now and
then he gets to sign a Panthers game. This year,
you haven't had one, did do we anticipate? Will you
(00:54):
have a Panther game this year?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That would probably be a negative unless they're really groping.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
To filled games, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I know late in the year they the last couple
of weeks they can move some games Saturday, so who knows,
But I would think the way the team is going
right now that that will not happen. The last game
I did was a Monday night opener a year ago.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
What was that Week two? I think they played the Saints.
It was like there was like two early Monday night.
Speaker 5 (01:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, And that's the last time I did a Panther game.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, and for reasons, you know, they try to catch
us early in the season on some of which we
didn't get one this year.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
So not even that that happened this year.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I'm going to ask you too, because you were there
obviously the Super Bowl year and for many great seasons
that included playoffs and so forth. As you travel around
the league when it's at its best, where does the
Panthers crowd? Where's the Panthers fan base land? With what
you see around the NFL?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, I think I think they've always been underrated. I
think if you go back to, you know, Mike Goodness,
our second year when this team was suddenly you know,
in ninety six, the new stadium opens and we're a contender.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We were undefeated at home, and as that season.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Went on, you know, we'd be on a road trip
and come back and land at the airport. And obviously
this is before nine to eleven, where there'd be you know,
two or three hundred fans waiting to greet the team,
more people at the stadium as they got in on
a late on I used to say early on a
Monday morning after a Sunday night game.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And then the.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Season we went to the super Bowl, and the seasons
after that. I mean, this team was pretty good during
those Jake Delome years. In fact, I think their best
season might have been the one where the Arizona beat
them in the playoffs. That might have been their best team.
I think they won twelve games that year. But I
think the fans are great when the team isn't very good,
and I've seen this around the country, the fan base,
(02:55):
even in Buffalo. I remember growing up. I grew up
a Bills fan, and when they were terrible, they weren't
selling out the stadium. Obviously, when you're good, everybody jumps
on the bandwagon. I think I think Panther fans are
as good as any fans.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
They should.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You know, they've got a group of people that travel
to road games. But it's hard to get excited when
you're knocked out of the playoff picture after the first
four or five games.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And that's understandable and you.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Called the games when, for one, Julius Peppers was playing.
Who just got inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 5 (03:26):
When?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And how much of a weight if it happens. I
think it will happen for Steve Smith and Luke keig
Lee will have a chance, maybe even be a first balloder.
But you tell me, Luke Keiklee Steve Smith, like, what
can we expect from Canton out of the Panthers groups
that that you've known of over the past few years,
and when they may land in the Pro Football Hall
of Fame?
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Well, I think Luke's and no brainer.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I would think Luke keig will be a unanimous choice
if I was casting a ballot for a guy who
dominated the game and was so smart. You talk to
people that played against Louke Keighley and you know, even
you listen to Peyton Manning talking about Kegley. Keickley was
calling out the plays that they were going to run.
I mean, this guy was so good. Career cut short
(04:11):
by you know, the head injuries and the concussions. I
think that's if there's a sure thing, it's Luke Keigley
getting in first year is.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Eligible for Steve. It's a little different.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Steve did not have to and again, you know, fans
have to realize that these are the people that vote
for this are writers, broadcasters from around the country. And
to be honest, Steve alienated some people during his years
in the league. And I think the big thing was
he had some indiscretions I'll leave it at that with
(04:44):
some teammates. One that was very evident during a training
camp practice down in Spartanburg. So I think people look
at Steve and going, you know, I don't know if
you deserve to be in there. I think his numbers
will get him in. I think eventually people will look
and go, yeah, okay, that was Steve and he had
a chip on his shoulder. There's never been a better
(05:04):
receiver for the Carolina Panthers than Steve Smith. So I
think eventually he will get in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Is that kind of it for right now? It seems
like Greg Olsen borderline, but probably doesn't seem very likely
at least anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I you know, again, he was on some really good
teams with the Panthers, but that's a toughie. You get
into those positions like offensive linemen. I worked with Jeff
van Ot in Atlanta, and you compare notes career which
lasted some I mean he was in the league from
like the late sixties to eighty five, made more. I
(05:43):
think he made as many Pro Bowls or maybe one
more than Dan Dierdorf did, but played on a bunch
of crummy teams. And I think he deserves to get in.
I think Roman Gabriel deserves to get in for his career,
a broadcast partner, you know, Rustin Peace, Gabe.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
But again it's you.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Know, it's hit or miss with some of these guys,
especially offensive lineman. Like how do you judge how good
an offensive lineman is? I guess if you're an outstanding tackle,
that's one thing, because you can see the one on
you know, how how well do they protect the quarterback's
blind side. That's a little easier than garden center. So
you know, again, back to the Panthers, who may or
(06:21):
may not get in that I don't think other than Olsen,
I can't think of anybody else at this point.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Was an MVP, but he didn't have a consistent you know,
like a long form at a high level career, had
some interesting running years. He had the MVP year, some
other really good years around that, but he didn't have
like that long run.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Is that maybe the thing with him?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And again here's another guy who you know, alienated some
people along the way in the media, maybe even some
of his teammates for the way he approached the game.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I think you know that that season they had when.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
When you went to the super Bowl in twenty fifteen
and we're nearly undefeated and hands down better than Denver,
but somehow lost that super Bowl. You know, people look
at that Super Bowl and how he played. You know,
he the strip sacked by von Miller early and then
that fumble late where he kind of backed off trying
to get it, and then he stormed out of the
press conference after the game was over. You know, he
(07:22):
had a couple of great years. He was a dominant
player when he played. But again it's about you know,
super Bowls, playoff wins and all that. So I don't
think Cam gets involved.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Let's talk about your family, some interesting sports ties. I
want to begin with your grandson, your oldest son, Greg's son.
Tell us about him up in North Carolina, big offensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Right, Yeah, you know, really proud of Andrew. He was
a really good player at high school. Greg was outside Atlanta,
so he was in the suburbs playing high school football.
And I will credit his high school coaches for one thing.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
That they did. He was a tight end his freshman year.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And they told him going into his sophomore year and look,
you want to be a tight end. You can be
a tight end, but we think you'll develop if you
can play tackle offensive tackle. We think you've got the
skill set, the feet, the lower body quickness, and you're
going to grow to be a really good one to
get some college scholarships. And that's what happened. He played
(08:21):
tackle and had a really good senior season and they
had a bunch of offers George Tech, Mississippi State, duke.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
No other was Wake offered him. No, it was duke
in North Carolina State.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And then he may have paid a visit to Mac
Brown at North Carolina last year and was coming back.
I'm never forget Greg calling me because I.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Thought he might go to Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
And my son called me and he said, Dad, I
think he's gonna go to North Carolina. He says, Mac
Brown won us all over. And that's what happened. So
he's red shirting this year, which he's he's a little
frustrated with that because he's he think, I think he's
probably good enough to get in there and try to play,
but they want a red shirt and you can play
in four games this year hasn't played yet. And they
put on thirty pounds of muscle on this kid because
(09:09):
he had to.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
He had to put some weight on.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
He's six to six, showed up and he got it
actually on campus in January and he weighed like two
sixty five. He's two ninety five now and uh just
looks like a stud. So, you know, we'll see what happens,
you know this, and the the X factor is what's
going on with mac? Is he going to coach another year?
(09:33):
So you've got and then a new staff comes in.
What happens then? Now, Fortunately for these kids, they have
the you know, the transfer portals available to him, and
this nil stuff is nuts. I told him, you're so
lucky to be playing during this time in college football
because I think eventually they're going to kind of rate in,
you know, how much money these kids are going to
be making. But right now it's a free for all.
(09:54):
So very happy with him. Like I said, a little
frustrated he's not playing right now, but I think eventually,
and I'm a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
I actually sent his senior tape.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I worked with Mike Mayock with Westwood last year, and
you know Brandon Bean, and so I sent brands and
I go, hey, take a look at my grandson, and
they both got back to me saying, you know what,
this kid's got a lot of skills set, especially his
agility with the feet, lower body, and they said, if
he continues to develop, he could probably play on Sundays.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
So baby steps.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
First, we got to get him on the field for
North Carolina before we start thinking about maybe playing for
the Bills.
Speaker 5 (10:31):
No, but that's great, and as you said.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Lots of movement in college football, so there's a lot
more opportunities for kids wherever they need it.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
So that's Greg, that's your oldest son.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And then Bobby, of course I knew these when they
are actually your children were actually children, These grown men
that all have their own children. Now that they're kind
of like what we were when we started, like, they're
adults with young kids.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Bobby.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
For those who don't live to the showt area does
sports talk for years and he's on the Charlott for
Niners football and basketball broadcast. Was he always interested in
sports broadcasting or what was more his thoughts?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
He was when he was a little kid. He'd come
home from school and I'd have a donut and milk
waiting for him in the sports section.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
He would read the sports page.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
He you know, way back in the day when we
lived in the DC area, back in the late eighties
early nineties, he became a Cubs fan because the Cubs
games were on in the afternoon on GN And he
was always into sports and always wanted to get into broadcasting.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And he's done. He's done very well.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know, he's got the afternoon show, and as you said,
he does stuff with the forty nine ers and they
seem to really like his work.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So yeah, very very happy for Bobby.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And you know Greg's you know, you talk about their age,
so you know, you and I got to know each other.
We started working in ninety five, so Greg was born
in seventy nine, so was he sixteen? Bobby was twelve.
Now they're both in their forties. Not that I want
(12:02):
to age this at all, but they're both doing.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Very well and interesting too.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For those who don't know, back in the day, when
Bill did the ten years with the Panthers, you always
would hear Jane's name because Jane was the statistician and
she continues to do football that work with you, and
I see her at all the golf events with you,
and especially when you guys are in Charlotte obviously, and
I was I wanted to ask you, is is that unique?
I don't know of anybody else who on a consistent
basis anyway has their spouse with him and is working.
(12:30):
You know, that's not on the air, I guess you know,
of course you have like the days of you know,
Leslie Bisser or whoever.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
But I mean, this is this is almost unique I
think in sports.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I think it's great that you guys share that in
addition to obviously having this great marriage for these many decades.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Yeah, yeah, thanks for saying that.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I mean it is it is great, you know, because
we travel together and obviously we're at a point that
was you know, when I was in broadcasting and working
for Westwood One back in the eighties and even doing
some of the you know, the Falcon and Panther games.
She didn't come up a lot of the road games
because the kids were at home and uh, you know,
there were other other things going on in our lives.
But you know, once they got into college and didn't
(13:09):
care to have us around, it was, you know, great,
you know, we we could start traveling together. My ten
years with ESPN Radio, I mean, they traveled her. They
you know, they paid her for the flights and paid
for flights and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
And yeah, it's been great.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
It was funny and you're you're right because two people
do get a kick out of the fact that we
do work together. We were in Detroit when they played
the Titans, and we have We had a local guy
come into spot for us and he found out that
we were married and she'd been doing this for a
long time and he just like said, hey, that's pretty cool.
(13:44):
Uh And and we get that a lot, so yeah,
it is. It's it's unique and golf. You know, she
drives the cart that we used to get around the
golf course. And you know the fun thing is we
get to know you know, she gets to know the
same people that I do.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You know, she Meryl. I'm working with MARYL.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Hodge this year on the Compass games, and you know,
she gets to know these people. And then on the
golf course, you know, we know a lot of behind
the scenes people, the people, the grunts that work on
the PGA tour that put the telecast together, not just
the broadcasters, but the camera.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
People and the boom mic people and.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
All the other folks who you know, work hard to
put that on television. So yeah, it's fun, you know.
And people ask me when you're going to retire, and
I'm going I don't want. I want to retire. I go,
we travel together, I get to pay to go to
sporting event, so we're still having fun.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think you to me, you have the greatest retirement job.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
You know.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Some people are looking to be school crossing guards or
do whatever. I think you've got the greatest. You're at
the golf course and you're doing NFL football and you
get to pick and choose where you do that.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
This is my final thing for you too.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
If you had the choice between working a major golf event,
you pick which one or a big time NFL game.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
No it's not like the super Bowl, but maybe.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
A playoff game or whatever, like, what would be your
preference to prepare for and go work and be a
part of a major golf term or a big time
football game.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Geez, that's a toughie. I'll go back to what I've
told people all along.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
When I look back at my career, which is now
going to be you know, starting the next gonna be
fifty years ago next year that I started, And the
top thing at my list was the super Bowl that
we did together in Houston.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
You know, that's still it's like the epitome of.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Broadcasting. It's the biggest game in the world and we're
doing it. But then you say, Okay, don't count the
super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, because it is the Super.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Bowl, ye, right, right right.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I would then tell you the next two things that
I would list on my resume that I had the
most fun experiencing were two what we call the Open Championship,
which is the British Open. The first was at Saint
Andrews in twenty fifteen. I thought Jordan Speith was going
to win his third major of the year and I'm
out with you. It was a Monday finish and I'm
out with these guys calling golf shots. This is for
(16:01):
ESPN Radio, and you know, literally I'm standing ten fifteen
yards away from Speith and Nicholson and all these other
guys who were playing well at the time. Jason I
think I had Jason Day and Speith in the last group,
and so that that ended up in a playoff that
Zach Johnson won, and that was at Saint Andrews, the
home of golf, And then the next year it was
(16:22):
at Royal Troon when Mickelson and Stenson were the only
two guys who had a chance to win it on Sunday, so.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
We split up.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Duck Bell was my other guy on the course, and
he took Michelson, he took Stenson, I took Micholson and
it was the greatest eighteen holes of back and forth
that I've ever ever had a chance to call. So
I guess to answer your question, it would be the
two you know a golf Major, because they there's only
four of them, and they're so unpredictable, and they're always
(16:50):
played at some of the greatest.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Venues that you can find. So I would go with golf.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
That's a great place to leave it, and we'll say
goodbye from there. Happy to call you one of my
great friends. Bill, and I would always I tell people
all the time, the best voice I mean, I'm not
limiting it to the voice, but the best voice I've
ever heard at any level doing broadcast sports is you.
So I appreciate the time we had together getting to
do it. Glad to still call you my friend, but
thanks for spending some time.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
With us anytime. Jim My Pleasure
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Thirty seasons of Panther Football
He was and always will be the original voice of
the Carolina Panthers, Bill Rozinsky, who continues to do NFL
and of course PGA Tour Radio. We'll talk some football,
we'll talk some golf, We'll talk thirty years of Panthers
football like we always do with the great Bill Razinsky.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Coming up, thirty seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of
the players, coaches, and other key figures who've contributed to
the organizational success.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
All Right, our friend and longtime broadcast partner, Bill Razinsky
joining us on this edition of the podcast. And you
hear him on PGA Tour Radio, you hear him on
Compass Media for NFL football play by plays on a
lot of college obviously through the years. Every now and
then he gets to sign a Panthers game. This year,
you haven't had one, did do we anticipate? Will you
(00:54):
have a Panther game this year?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That would probably be a negative unless they're really groping.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
To filled games, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I know late in the year they the last couple
of weeks they can move some games Saturday, so who knows,
But I would think the way the team is going
right now that that will not happen. The last game
I did was a Monday night opener a year ago.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
What was that Week two? I think they played the Saints.
It was like there was like two early Monday night.
Speaker 5 (01:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, And that's the last time I did a Panther game.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, and for reasons, you know, they try to catch
us early in the season on some of which we
didn't get one this year.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
So not even that that happened this year.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I'm going to ask you too, because you were there
obviously the Super Bowl year and for many great seasons
that included playoffs and so forth. As you travel around
the league when it's at its best, where does the
Panthers crowd? Where's the Panthers fan base land? With what
you see around the NFL?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, I think I think they've always been underrated. I
think if you go back to, you know, Mike Goodness,
our second year when this team was suddenly you know,
in ninety six, the new stadium opens and we're a contender.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We were undefeated at home, and as that season.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Went on, you know, we'd be on a road trip
and come back and land at the airport. And obviously
this is before nine to eleven, where there'd be you know,
two or three hundred fans waiting to greet the team,
more people at the stadium as they got in on
a late on I used to say early on a
Monday morning after a Sunday night game.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And then the.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Season we went to the super Bowl, and the seasons
after that. I mean, this team was pretty good during
those Jake Delome years. In fact, I think their best
season might have been the one where the Arizona beat
them in the playoffs. That might have been their best team.
I think they won twelve games that year. But I
think the fans are great when the team isn't very good,
and I've seen this around the country, the fan base,
(02:55):
even in Buffalo. I remember growing up. I grew up
a Bills fan, and when they were terrible, they weren't
selling out the stadium. Obviously, when you're good, everybody jumps
on the bandwagon. I think I think Panther fans are
as good as any fans.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
They should.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You know, they've got a group of people that travel
to road games. But it's hard to get excited when
you're knocked out of the playoff picture after the first
four or five games.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And that's understandable and you.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Called the games when, for one, Julius Peppers was playing.
Who just got inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 5 (03:26):
When?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And how much of a weight if it happens. I
think it will happen for Steve Smith and Luke keig
Lee will have a chance, maybe even be a first balloder.
But you tell me, Luke Keiklee Steve Smith, like, what
can we expect from Canton out of the Panthers groups
that that you've known of over the past few years,
and when they may land in the Pro Football Hall
of Fame?
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Well, I think Luke's and no brainer.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I would think Luke keig will be a unanimous choice
if I was casting a ballot for a guy who
dominated the game and was so smart. You talk to
people that played against Louke Keighley and you know, even
you listen to Peyton Manning talking about Kegley. Keickley was
calling out the plays that they were going to run.
I mean, this guy was so good. Career cut short
(04:11):
by you know, the head injuries and the concussions. I
think that's if there's a sure thing, it's Luke Keigley
getting in first year is.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Eligible for Steve. It's a little different.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Steve did not have to and again, you know, fans
have to realize that these are the people that vote
for this are writers, broadcasters from around the country. And
to be honest, Steve alienated some people during his years
in the league. And I think the big thing was
he had some indiscretions I'll leave it at that with
(04:44):
some teammates. One that was very evident during a training
camp practice down in Spartanburg. So I think people look
at Steve and going, you know, I don't know if
you deserve to be in there. I think his numbers
will get him in. I think eventually people will look
and go, yeah, okay, that was Steve and he had
a chip on his shoulder. There's never been a better
(05:04):
receiver for the Carolina Panthers than Steve Smith. So I
think eventually he will get in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Is that kind of it for right now? It seems
like Greg Olsen borderline, but probably doesn't seem very likely
at least anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I you know, again, he was on some really good
teams with the Panthers, but that's a toughie. You get
into those positions like offensive linemen. I worked with Jeff
van Ot in Atlanta, and you compare notes career which
lasted some I mean he was in the league from
like the late sixties to eighty five, made more. I
(05:43):
think he made as many Pro Bowls or maybe one
more than Dan Dierdorf did, but played on a bunch
of crummy teams. And I think he deserves to get in.
I think Roman Gabriel deserves to get in for his career,
a broadcast partner, you know, Rustin Peace, Gabe.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
But again it's you.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Know, it's hit or miss with some of these guys,
especially offensive lineman. Like how do you judge how good
an offensive lineman is? I guess if you're an outstanding tackle,
that's one thing, because you can see the one on
you know, how how well do they protect the quarterback's
blind side. That's a little easier than garden center. So
you know, again, back to the Panthers, who may or
(06:21):
may not get in that I don't think other than Olsen,
I can't think of anybody else at this point.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Was an MVP, but he didn't have a consistent you know,
like a long form at a high level career, had
some interesting running years. He had the MVP year, some
other really good years around that, but he didn't have
like that long run.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Is that maybe the thing with him?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And again here's another guy who you know, alienated some
people along the way in the media, maybe even some
of his teammates for the way he approached the game.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I think you know that that season they had when.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
When you went to the super Bowl in twenty fifteen
and we're nearly undefeated and hands down better than Denver,
but somehow lost that super Bowl. You know, people look
at that Super Bowl and how he played. You know,
he the strip sacked by von Miller early and then
that fumble late where he kind of backed off trying
to get it, and then he stormed out of the
press conference after the game was over. You know, he
(07:22):
had a couple of great years. He was a dominant
player when he played. But again it's about you know,
super Bowls, playoff wins and all that. So I don't
think Cam gets involved.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Let's talk about your family, some interesting sports ties. I
want to begin with your grandson, your oldest son, Greg's son.
Tell us about him up in North Carolina, big offensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Right, Yeah, you know, really proud of Andrew. He was
a really good player at high school. Greg was outside Atlanta,
so he was in the suburbs playing high school football.
And I will credit his high school coaches for one thing.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
That they did. He was a tight end his freshman year.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And they told him going into his sophomore year and look,
you want to be a tight end. You can be
a tight end, but we think you'll develop if you
can play tackle offensive tackle. We think you've got the
skill set, the feet, the lower body quickness, and you're
going to grow to be a really good one to
get some college scholarships. And that's what happened. He played
(08:21):
tackle and had a really good senior season and they
had a bunch of offers George Tech, Mississippi State, duke.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
No other was Wake offered him. No, it was duke
in North Carolina State.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And then he may have paid a visit to Mac
Brown at North Carolina last year and was coming back.
I'm never forget Greg calling me because I.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Thought he might go to Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
And my son called me and he said, Dad, I
think he's gonna go to North Carolina. He says, Mac
Brown won us all over. And that's what happened. So
he's red shirting this year, which he's he's a little
frustrated with that because he's he think, I think he's
probably good enough to get in there and try to play,
but they want a red shirt and you can play
in four games this year hasn't played yet. And they
put on thirty pounds of muscle on this kid because
(09:09):
he had to.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
He had to put some weight on.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
He's six to six, showed up and he got it
actually on campus in January and he weighed like two
sixty five. He's two ninety five now and uh just
looks like a stud. So, you know, we'll see what happens,
you know this, and the the X factor is what's
going on with mac? Is he going to coach another year?
(09:33):
So you've got and then a new staff comes in.
What happens then? Now, Fortunately for these kids, they have
the you know, the transfer portals available to him, and
this nil stuff is nuts. I told him, you're so
lucky to be playing during this time in college football
because I think eventually they're going to kind of rate in,
you know, how much money these kids are going to
be making. But right now it's a free for all.
(09:54):
So very happy with him. Like I said, a little
frustrated he's not playing right now, but I think eventually,
and I'm a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
I actually sent his senior tape.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I worked with Mike Mayock with Westwood last year, and
you know Brandon Bean, and so I sent brands and
I go, hey, take a look at my grandson, and
they both got back to me saying, you know what,
this kid's got a lot of skills set, especially his
agility with the feet, lower body, and they said, if
he continues to develop, he could probably play on Sundays.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
So baby steps.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
First, we got to get him on the field for
North Carolina before we start thinking about maybe playing for
the Bills.
Speaker 5 (10:31):
No, but that's great, and as you said.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Lots of movement in college football, so there's a lot
more opportunities for kids wherever they need it.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
So that's Greg, that's your oldest son.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And then Bobby, of course I knew these when they
are actually your children were actually children, These grown men
that all have their own children. Now that they're kind
of like what we were when we started, like, they're
adults with young kids.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Bobby.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
For those who don't live to the showt area does
sports talk for years and he's on the Charlott for
Niners football and basketball broadcast. Was he always interested in
sports broadcasting or what was more his thoughts?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
He was when he was a little kid. He'd come
home from school and I'd have a donut and milk
waiting for him in the sports section.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
He would read the sports page.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
He you know, way back in the day when we
lived in the DC area, back in the late eighties
early nineties, he became a Cubs fan because the Cubs
games were on in the afternoon on GN And he
was always into sports and always wanted to get into broadcasting.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And he's done. He's done very well.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know, he's got the afternoon show, and as you said,
he does stuff with the forty nine ers and they
seem to really like his work.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So yeah, very very happy for Bobby.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And you know Greg's you know, you talk about their age,
so you know, you and I got to know each other.
We started working in ninety five, so Greg was born
in seventy nine, so was he sixteen? Bobby was twelve.
Now they're both in their forties. Not that I want
(12:02):
to age this at all, but they're both doing.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Very well and interesting too.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For those who don't know, back in the day, when
Bill did the ten years with the Panthers, you always
would hear Jane's name because Jane was the statistician and
she continues to do football that work with you, and
I see her at all the golf events with you,
and especially when you guys are in Charlotte obviously, and
I was I wanted to ask you, is is that unique?
I don't know of anybody else who on a consistent
basis anyway has their spouse with him and is working.
(12:30):
You know, that's not on the air, I guess you know,
of course you have like the days of you know,
Leslie Bisser or whoever.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
But I mean, this is this is almost unique I
think in sports.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I think it's great that you guys share that in
addition to obviously having this great marriage for these many decades.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Yeah, yeah, thanks for saying that.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I mean it is it is great, you know, because
we travel together and obviously we're at a point that
was you know, when I was in broadcasting and working
for Westwood One back in the eighties and even doing
some of the you know, the Falcon and Panther games.
She didn't come up a lot of the road games
because the kids were at home and uh, you know,
there were other other things going on in our lives.
But you know, once they got into college and didn't
(13:09):
care to have us around, it was, you know, great,
you know, we we could start traveling together. My ten
years with ESPN Radio, I mean, they traveled her. They
you know, they paid her for the flights and paid
for flights and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
And yeah, it's been great.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
It was funny and you're you're right because two people
do get a kick out of the fact that we
do work together. We were in Detroit when they played
the Titans, and we have We had a local guy
come into spot for us and he found out that
we were married and she'd been doing this for a
long time and he just like said, hey, that's pretty cool.
(13:44):
Uh And and we get that a lot, so yeah,
it is. It's it's unique and golf. You know, she
drives the cart that we used to get around the
golf course. And you know the fun thing is we
get to know you know, she gets to know the
same people that I do.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You know, she Meryl. I'm working with MARYL.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Hodge this year on the Compass games, and you know,
she gets to know these people. And then on the
golf course, you know, we know a lot of behind
the scenes people, the people, the grunts that work on
the PGA tour that put the telecast together, not just
the broadcasters, but the camera.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
People and the boom mic people and.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
All the other folks who you know, work hard to
put that on television. So yeah, it's fun, you know.
And people ask me when you're going to retire, and
I'm going I don't want. I want to retire. I go,
we travel together, I get to pay to go to
sporting event, so we're still having fun.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think you to me, you have the greatest retirement job.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
You know.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Some people are looking to be school crossing guards or
do whatever. I think you've got the greatest. You're at
the golf course and you're doing NFL football and you
get to pick and choose where you do that.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
This is my final thing for you too.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
If you had the choice between working a major golf event,
you pick which one or a big time NFL game.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
No it's not like the super Bowl, but maybe.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
A playoff game or whatever, like, what would be your
preference to prepare for and go work and be a
part of a major golf term or a big time
football game.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Geez, that's a toughie. I'll go back to what I've
told people all along.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
When I look back at my career, which is now
going to be you know, starting the next gonna be
fifty years ago next year that I started, And the
top thing at my list was the super Bowl that
we did together in Houston.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
You know, that's still it's like the epitome of.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Broadcasting. It's the biggest game in the world and we're
doing it. But then you say, Okay, don't count the
super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, because it is the Super.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Bowl, ye, right, right right.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I would then tell you the next two things that
I would list on my resume that I had the
most fun experiencing were two what we call the Open Championship,
which is the British Open. The first was at Saint
Andrews in twenty fifteen. I thought Jordan Speith was going
to win his third major of the year and I'm
out with you. It was a Monday finish and I'm
out with these guys calling golf shots. This is for
(16:01):
ESPN Radio, and you know, literally I'm standing ten fifteen
yards away from Speith and Nicholson and all these other
guys who were playing well at the time. Jason I
think I had Jason Day and Speith in the last group,
and so that that ended up in a playoff that
Zach Johnson won, and that was at Saint Andrews, the
home of golf, And then the next year it was
(16:22):
at Royal Troon when Mickelson and Stenson were the only
two guys who had a chance to win it on Sunday, so.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
We split up.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Duck Bell was my other guy on the course, and
he took Michelson, he took Stenson, I took Micholson and
it was the greatest eighteen holes of back and forth
that I've ever ever had a chance to call. So
I guess to answer your question, it would be the
two you know a golf Major, because they there's only
four of them, and they're so unpredictable, and they're always
(16:50):
played at some of the greatest.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Venues that you can find. So I would go with golf.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
That's a great place to leave it, and we'll say
goodbye from there. Happy to call you one of my
great friends. Bill, and I would always I tell people
all the time, the best voice I mean, I'm not
limiting it to the voice, but the best voice I've
ever heard at any level doing broadcast sports is you.
So I appreciate the time we had together getting to
do it. Glad to still call you my friend, but
thanks for spending some time.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
With us anytime. Jim My Pleasure
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Thirty seasons of Panther Football
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!