Eli Gold on departing Alabama, NASCAR, Nick Saban, and more

Awful Announcing Podcast

Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Eli Gold. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including being the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Alabama not retaining him for 2024, telling a white lie to start broadcasting in NASCAR, Nick Saban retiring from coaching, and more.

NOTE: We apologize for some audio and visual issues during the episode.

For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.

-:40: Eli’s health

-1:11: Returning to broadcast booth post-cancer

-1:57: Were there retirement thoughts when Eli sat out?

-2:54: Being out of work for two hours

-4:02: Calling home games only at Alabama

-4:56: Was the cutback a warning sign that Alabama wasn’t going to retain Eli?

-6:00: Alabama’s reason for not retaining Eli

-7:47: Response from Alabama fans

-8:46: Being the voice of the Nick Saban era [NOTE] Eli’s audio cuts out from 9:10 to 9:15. For full context, Eli is talking about not being at Alabama’s 2024 Spring Game which honored Nick Saban and the 2023 team.

-11:00: Not being welcomed by Alabama fans when Eli joined in 1988

-12:24: Considering leaving Alabama during that time?

-14:49: Getting to Alabama

-16:12: Goal as aspiring sportscaster in NYC

-18:01: Broadcasters Eli looked up to growing up

-19:25: Crafting your own style

-21:45: Verne Lundquist’s last Masters

-22:43: Jacksonville State University

-23:32: Nashville Kats

-26:30: Preparing for opposing team

-27:25: Commute to Nashville

-28:01: Were there other job opportunities while Eli was at Alabama?

-28:59: Reaction to Nick Saban retiring

-30:20: Any solace in that Eli’s Alabama tenure ended when Saban’s did?

-31:15: Can Alabama succeed without Saban?

-32:21: How will Saban do at ESPN?

-33:49: Most memorable and favorite moments/games at Alabama

-35:46: Favorite sport to broadcast

-37:24: Getting involved in NASCAR

-40:51: Working the 1979 Daytona 500 on MRN and importance of that race to NASCAR

-42:00: Being too close to Dale Earnhardt’s 1982 Pocono crash

-44:45: Being on the call for Earnhardt’s fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500

-46:24: Which sport changed the most throughout Eli’s career? NASCAR or college football?

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