I will never ever forget hunting up at Bandit Creek with my late father in the 80's and listening to this legend every Saturday. We moved to Farragut in '94 and I was blessed to meet the man every week at a local bagel shop. He hated the attention, he was a humble man. Got a signed head shot of him in '99. Gave it to my father for his birthday. Man, the nostalgia runs deep with the best announcer ever.
God I miss John Ward play calling. The way he did play be play and the energy he had made you feel you was sitting right there in Neyland Stadium. I would listen to him and turn TV sound off all the time. He is the GOAT of announcers
“Who’s got the ball? He’s got the ball. Where is he? IN THE ENDZONE for SIX!!!” What an absolute legend. We were blessed to have him for so many years. RIP JW
In the 90’s, in some games I would turn off the live TV broadcasting Tennessee game and went out to my car, turned on the radio just to listen to Mr Ward’s voice announcing the live game and got chilled picturing his description of plays and especially when Tennessee scored: to the 20.. to the 15… give him 6! Man, I missed him and those excited times !
We didn't have cable or anything when I was a teenager, so sometimes I would just drive around in my beat-up car listening to Mr. Ward call the games on many fall afternoons.
Man, does this bring back memories. I never heard all the Ward calls of the '82 Alabama game, as I was lucky enough to be there (and among those tearing down the North goal post as he was counting down the game). John was the best there ever was, and as great a football broadcaster as he was, he was even better in basketball. I'd love to find a collection like this of his hoops calls over the years. Thank you John - you will never be replaced.
There won’t ever be another John Ward! I was born in 89, so thankfully got to hear him call a bunch of games over the years. I’d give anything to have him back and just going wild on the radio! Especially the night we knocked off bama last year. But I remember my dad would turn the tv volume to mute and crank John up on the radio.
God, 25 years since we last heard John Ward call a game and I’m still reacting to his calls like they just happened. We did not realize as Vol fans how good we had it…
His best call was actually basketball. In 1981 (I think) Tenn. was losing in the Vol Classic with 2 seconds left against American Univ. All AU had to do was inbound the ball to the other end and the clock would run out. Inexplicably, their star inbounded to half court. Gary Carter intercepted and tossed a half court jumper simultaneously, and it went in giving the Vols the win. AW Davis (I think it was) got out of breath in the excitement, and Ward had to finish up the broadcast. All the fans had left when it appeared they had lost, and Ward explained he felt sorry for the fans who missed that ending.
21:37 This play as called by Bob Kesling: Martin steps back....throws it down field... and it's going to be....caught by peerless price.... touchdown Tennessee (in the most completely flat voice the entire time).
Ward was really good, but I got tired of his trailing countdowns😳The player scored and in the end zone long b3for3 John caught up🤬Especially his bad call on ND game calling the FG good😳
