So Long, Bob

Bob Barry Sr. will retire as the voice of OU football after this season.

I've got very mixed feelings on this. Let's get the more negative stuff out of the way first. Bob has been slipping for several years, a clear sign of his age. He would regularly miss players' names and mis-call the occasional play, or stumble over his call. Also, while I enjoyed his radio calls, he is nowhere near my favorite Sooner play-by-play man...that honor goes to the great John Brooks, the man who I essentially grew up with as the weekly voice of the Sooners.

However, it cannot be denied that Bob Barry Sr. is an Oklahoma legend. He did OU football for many years, in two stints. He fit a brief period as the OSU play-by-play man, then came back to OU, his alma mater. He did a great job for OU's games, and while he's not my favorite, I still always enjoyed his calls (even when he made mistakes). He was quick and always capable, and had a great voice. Plus, the fact that he's a local guy made a difference for me; another "hometown boy makes good" story, and I love those with Oklahoma guys. In the bigger media markets, you always get these ambitious outsiders who see the job they do as just one stop on their career path. Life's different here, though, and it's great having guys like Bob, who are from here and want to build up their home, rather than just taking their first opportunity to get out and move on to something "bigger". Finally, Bob Barry Sr. started doing OU games in 1961...during Bud Wilkinson's tenure as OU's head coach. Bud Wilkinson. Consider that for a moment as you think about his career...essentially, Bob has done games during the time of two of Oklahoma's four greatest head coaches (and probably would have done games during Barry Switzer's time as well, just with odd timing putting his last season of his initial time as OU's radio man as the last season before Switzer moved up to head coach). He's a legend.

Now the question will be, who takes over? For many Sooner fans, the spot of play-by-play man is just as important as the head coach. We want someone great, someone capable, and someone who makes the games that much greater. We want someone who will make us want to turn off the TV guys so we can get the radio call. The Oklahoman is reporting on several possible replacements, but none of them really blow my skirt up. Of course, to be honest, I probably want the job as badly as anyone. (Broadcasting background? Radio experience? PSHAW...I can do that job.) It has been my secret dream to one day be the radio play-by-play voice of Oklahoma Sooner football. Maybe I'll at least send in a tape.