What’s next for Eli Gold after departure from Alabama football radio booth?
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama: Nick Saban’s retirement has been the focal point of changes that have marked Alabama football’s summer. On Wednesday, further adjustments were made, as the show would include a new radio play-by-play announcer for the first time in almost forty years. A statement issued by the Crimson Tide Sports Network stated that veteran announcer Eli Gold will not be making a comeback to the Alabama radio booth this autumn.
35 seasons, eight head coaches, and seven national titles were covered in Gold’s commentary. Gold discussed the choice and what lies ahead for his career on Thursday. He was quite clear about one thing: He did not make the decision to separate ways.
at an interview, Gold stated, “A few weeks ago, I was called into a meeting in (Alabama athletic director) Greg Byrne’s office.” with the radio Tide 100.9. I was informed that the university was prepared to implement a change. Yes, I did make a concession. “Look, let me do another year,” I said. Permit me to play one more complete season, both at home and abroad, and after that I will discreetly disappear into the distance, leaving you to never hear from me again.
“They politely declined that, and the following day they returned and informed me that I would not be staying with them.”
Due to a cancer diagnosis, Gold had to miss the whole 2022 season, which marked the end of his time at Alabama. In 2023, he made a limited comeback to the radio booth, calling just home games and the Auburn game, which was played away from home. Despite potential worries about his health, Gold, 70, said he has a clean bill from his doctors and can work without limitations.
A few additional reasons, according to Gold, contributed to the separation.
“I said one or two things that they didn’t like,” Gold said. “I felt I was being ambushed when I was denied the opportunity to participate in the road games, therefore I was not happy with how 2023 was handled. They said it was for my health, although I was doing well and the doctors had already cleared me at that time. It was just an awkward circumstance. And it was obvious that they thought it was time to send me packing—that’s just how things work.
