About Jim Ellis and Jack...

[gtowndawg]

I've mentioned before that my Dad and Mr. Ellis grew up best friends in West Point and remain close today even though my Dad lives in Olive Branch. In fact, my Dad spent Friday with Jim and went to the baseball game. He spoke to him again on Monday via phone. Not once did Jim even hint that Jack was done or going to announce he was done. That surprised me. It must have happened quick.

With that said, I know some are looking for new blood in the booth. But I can tell you Jim would be devastated if he didn't get the chance. He's paid his dues and I think he and Matt Wyatt would make a wonderful team for football. And just to make the point that he's highly regarded within the trade, he's been offered the play by play job at another SEC school before. Roughly 10 years ago. He turned it down because he loves State and Starkville and he considered that school's current play by play guy a friend, so he said no.

Like I said, he's a close friend of the family and I wanted to endorse him. Not that it means anything but if I'm ever in a similar circumstance I hope someone has the nuts to stand up for me.

 

[Shmuley]

that Jack would not discuss his retirement with anyone other than immediate family and physicians. It would not surprise me to learn that grasshopper (and Jim) found out yesterday afternoon.

 

[Thick]

play while someone like Wyatt who's played the game would analyze and dissect the plays? I would assume that would be the most logical thing to do in this situation.

 

[futaba.79]

like you said he's paid his dues.

I'm very glad Byrne isn't making this decision. Stricklin grew up with Jack and Jim. Surely he knows what has to be done Move Jim over to call plays and bring in a color guy. Wyatt, I suppose. We'd have consistency and new blood at the same time.

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

The man has paid his dues and is good at what he does. We'll be lionizing him thirty years from now.

 

[jzahner1]

Nm

 

[ckDOG]

Jack's longevity has overshadowed Jim's 30+ years in the booth. 30 years is damn impressive too. I think he does a solid job and Jack's old spot should be his to turn down.

 

[Shmuley]

Nobody else should be asked to follow the legend. Jim is automatically acceptable to pretty much everyone and he knows full well who he's following.

I'm ambivalent as to the color guy, although I think Wyatt would do a good job.

Jim HAS to cover baseball. Period.

 

[jcdawgman18]

like you said he's paid his dues.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm very glad Byrne isn't making this decision</span>. Stricklin grew up with Jack and Jim. Surely he knows what has to be done Move Jim over to call plays and bring in a color guy. Wyatt, I suppose. We'd have consistency and new blood at the same time.

This is the kind of decision Byrne would screw up, just like he did with Flick and Holmes.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

per the stories in the papers today, Jack called Scott on monday to let him know his decision.
Jim might of known and not wanted to spread it until Jack was ready.

 

[Phil Wenneck.sixpack]

The only thing I hope is that he's ok with doing all 3 sports because he is a must for baseball. He is the only person I want near a MSU baseball radio booth. I don't want to see us ever think about experimenting with anyone else for baseball. If Jim's not up for having to call all 3 big sports then I'd like for us to see if Kollmeyer is interested in helping out. But again, only Jim for baseball.

 

[statefanjosh]

Jim is already doing all 3 sports as it is now. I doubt doing play by play instead of color would be too much more to handle.

 

[triton28]

as Jack has gotten older, it has probably been tough for Jim to sit there through some of his "not so on point" moments- I would think Jim has been chomping at the bits for this opportunity. Jack is a legend, always will be but the last few years have been tough, there have been numerous threads on here about it. But even when he got confused or got somebody's name wrong, he was still better than all the rest. I think Jim will do a fantastic job and look forward to hearing him call some games. Football will be the weirdest I think.

 

[gtowndawg]

I think Jim would give up baseball if it meant he had to concentrate on football and basketball. He hasn't said that, that's just what I think. He's also completely retired from the school now and all he does is prepare to call games. And I mean he <span style="text-decoration:underline">prepares</span>. He knows everything about whichever team State is about to play. Football, basketball or baseball.

 

[OrrDawg]

.

 

[topdawg.sixpack]

I could see Jim doing play by play for football and keep on as is with baseball, and let them bring in a new crew (for example, Bart Gregory & ???) for basketball. Jim loves baseball and is assynonymouswith MSU baseball as Jack was with Football/Basketball. However, Jim may want to keep all 3.

 

[Guy From Gulfport]

Jim loves baseball and is as synonymous with MSU baseball, as Jack was with Football/Basketball.

Jim Ellis, along with the ambient sounds of Dudy Noble Field, is the best radio my ears can hear on a spring evening.

I only get up to The Dude about once every two years. But Jim has helped scratch my Diamond Dawg itch many a hundred times! (The REAL reason I have Maroon to the Max)

 

[PhredPhantom]

I'd love to have Jim call all three major sports (football, basketball, and baseball) but if that's too much and he only does two, I think he should do football and baseball. Bart Gregory is a really good announcer in my opinion. I think he'd do a good job with basketball if Jim's not going to do it. Bart calls women's basketball now although I've never listened to one. I've heard him call a few baseball games when Jim was out of town for away basketball games and he does a pretty good job. Matt Wyatt would be a good color guy for football. For basketball it could be Jim for play by play and Bart for color.

 

[Frances Drebin]

This is the kind of decision Byrne would screw up, just like he did with Flick and Holmes.

Holmes, even with is tone, volume (or lack thereof), and mistakes, is one million times one million times better than Hank Flick was. Hank Flick was embarrassing for football, and he was tolerable for basketball.

If Byrne screwed up, it was with the decision to hire Holmes, but not the decision to get rid of Hank Flick. I love Dr. Flick, and I know a lot of us took his classes. He's a bulldog and a good man. But, at least for football, he had to go.

 

[futaba.79]

and can pronounce simple words, a skillset Holmes seems to be missing.

 

[dawgstudent]

but I miss Flick for basketball and I miss the student section being together.