Thoughts on Eli Gold not getting renewed

[theballguy]

Personally, I've always liked the guy. Anytime, they've had some Eli Gold announcements of big games we've won on YouTube, I've been sure to watch those and listen in. Living in Georgia and then later in Colorado, I wasn't always able to just turn down the sound and turn Eli on. I would have if I could have, anything's better than Gary and Vern during a nerve-wracking Iron Bowl game.

But all in all, I never felt like he was a great Bama announcer. To me, it seemed his commentating was a little off at times. IMO, he's missed a few big calls and that was before his last illness. I don't want to blast him but I am looking forward to us having another announcer esp. since we're moving to Huntsville for a new assignment. Anyways, I do wish him well. He was a very good NASCAR and hockey announcer from back in the day. Any other thoughts on the subject?

[SummerOfGeorge]

Personally, I've always liked the guy. Anytime, they've had some Eli Gold announcements of big games we've won on YouTube, I've been sure to watch those and listen in. Living in Georgia and then later in Colorado, I wasn't always able to just turn down the sound and turn Eli on. I would have if I could have, anything's better than Gary and Vern during a nerve-wracking Iron Bowl game.

But all in all, I never felt like he was a great Bama announcer. To me, it seemed his commentating was a little off at times. IMO, he's missed a few big calls and that was before his last illness. I don't want to blast him but I am looking forward to us having another announcer esp. since we're moving to Huntsville for a new assignment. Anyways, I do wish him well. He was a very good NASCAR and hockey announcer from back in the day. Any other thoughts on the subject?

You summed up my feelings pretty well. Eli has been somewhere between below average to awful at his job for a decade now. Alabama has tried their best to get him to realize that and gracefully step aside (he's 70 years old), but he has refused. We have an excellent guy ready to take over who the fanbase is extremely familiar with and loves (and is great at the job), but Eli absolutely decided he was going to make them fire him/not renew him.

We just had the greatest 15 year run in college football history and I can only think of 2-3 plays where when I want to watch a clip I make sure to find the clip with Eli's call. That's laughable, and doesn't even account for the fact that he is awful at the mechanics of calling a football game (down and distance, time, tone of voice matching the import nature of what just happened). I think we all thought Eli was a great dude who loved Alabama and was a professional, but it always sounded like some guy from Westwood One was calling our games while Auburn had Jim Fyffe, Tennessee had John Ward and Georgia had Larry Munson. Chris Stewart fits much more in that mold - pretty professional but absolutely willing to homer it up a bit and let you know who signs his paychecks.

Pretty disappointed in the way he's publicly bickered like this. The University stood by him his entire sickness and even tried a unique solution last year to let him work. He's currently putting Chris Stewart in a really rough spot - a guy who has waited his turn (and dealt with tons of medical hardships himself) with grace and humility for years.

[EarlyCuyler3]

Personally, I've always liked the guy. Anytime, they've had some Eli Gold announcements of big games we've won on YouTube, I've been sure to watch those and listen in. Living in Georgia and then later in Colorado, I wasn't always able to just turn down the sound and turn Eli on. I would have if I could have, anything's better than Gary and Vern during a nerve-wracking Iron Bowl game.

But all in all, I never felt like he was a great Bama announcer. To me, it seemed his commentating was a little off at times. IMO, he's missed a few big calls and that was before his last illness. I don't want to blast him but I am looking forward to us having another announcer esp. since we're moving to Huntsville for a new assignment. Anyways, I do wish him well. He was a very good NASCAR and hockey announcer from back in the day. Any other thoughts on the subject?

I'm in the area, welcome to north alabama.

[theballguy]

You summed up my feelings pretty well. Eli has been somewhere between below average to awful at his job for a decade now. Alabama has tried their best to get him to realize that and gracefully step aside (he's 70 years old), but he has refused. We have an excellent guy ready to take over who the fanbase is extremely familiar with and loves (and is great at the job), but Eli absolutely decided he was going to make them fire him/not renew him.

We just had the greatest 15 year run in college football history and I can only think of 2-3 plays where when I want to watch a clip I make sure to find the clip with Eli's call. That's laughable, and doesn't even account for the fact that he is awful at the mechanics of calling a football game (down and distance, time, tone of voice matching the import nature of what just happened). I think we all thought Eli was a great dude who loved Alabama and was a professional, but it always sounded like some guy from Westwood One was calling our games while Auburn had Jim Fyffe, Tennessee had John Ward and Georgia had Larry Munson. Chris Stewart fits much more in that mold - pretty professional but absolutely willing to homer it up a bit and let you know who signs his paychecks.

Pretty disappointed in the way he's publicly bickered like this. The University stood by him his entire sickness and even tried a unique solution last year to let him work. He's currently putting Chris Stewart in a really rough spot - a guy who has waited his turn (and dealt with tons of medical hardships himself) with grace and humility for years.

Always thought Munson was the golden standard, so I never expected Gold to stand up to that but man, why couldn't he just step it up on some calls? Anyways, I am looking forward to seeing what CS can do at the helm. I know Saban is out but man I am excited like I haven't been since 2007 to watch some Bama football and see where it goes with DeBoer.

[theballguy]

I'm in the area, welcome to north alabama.

Thank you sir! Waiting on to see if we get a particular contract that I've been assured will come through -- I just don't believe it 100% until I see it

[LittleJerrySeinfeld]

I'm in the area, welcome to north alabama.

Same

[bamadog75]

I grew up listening to eli and loved him back then, but the last few were hard to even listen if I'm going to be honest. Stewert gives me chills when he calls certain plays. I kinda wanted this to happen five years ago.

[Harry Rex Vonner]

I met your new guy Chris Stewart while sitting at a bar in Fayetteville 6-8 years ago. I don't remember if Bama was in town for basketball, or if it was baseball, I think it was baseball.

We all did the old "What kind of work do you do?" type stuff and at that point I realized that he liked not being recognized, so he could just be a regular dude. He had some of his crew with him, I had a buddy or two I guess. One of his radio guys was a Michigan State grad I remember, on-air talent or production crew, I don't know.

Very cool dudes.

[SummerOfGeorge]

I met your new guy Chris Stewart while sitting at a bar in Fayetteville 6-8 years ago. I don't remember if Bama was in town for basketball, or if it was baseball, I think it was baseball.

We all did the old "What kind of work do you do?" type stuff and at that point I realized that he liked not being recognized, so he could just be a regular dude. He had some of his crew with him, I had a buddy or two I guess. One of his radio guys was a Michigan State grad I remember, on-air talent or production crew, I don't know.

Very cool dudes.

He's a great guy - like as a human, very good person. Had some serious medical issues between 2018-2020.

[secfan413]

If only you could mesh Eli’s voice with Chris’s sharpness.