Easy Choice For ‘Voice’
May 14, 2007 at 6:05am by Walking on Sunshine
Filed under Arkansas Razorbacks, Football
Despite the fact that Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles and KATV President and General Manager Dale Nicholson have not officially talked yet, the debate on who should be the next “Voice of the Football Razorbacks” went public last week.
On Thursday, Nicholson floated the proverbial balloon by backing Scott Inman in an e-mail sent to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Other reports have Broyles supporting the consummate “yes man,” Chuck Barrett. (Mike Nail has also been mentioned, but most likely as a courtesy for admirably stepping in last season after the death of Paul Eells.)
Barrett is as good as it gets doing the Razorback baseball broadcasts. An Arkansas native from Clarksville, Chuck has a great radio voice that can “paint the picture” — a flow to describing the action that is unique to the game of baseball.
On the flip side, his daily defense — no matter what happens — of Houston Nutt and Broyles on his Sports Rap talk show has alienated a great number of fans over recent years. However you slice it, Barrett is a divisive figure. And as far as we know, he’s never called a football game in his life.
Anyone who heard Scott Inman call six of the Razorbacks’ basketball games last season knows this guy has talent. His descriptions were crisp, energetic, and timely. (By contrast, Nail can sometimes be several seconds behind with his call of basketball games.) Nicholson stated in his e-mail that KATV was “covered up with complimentary calls from listeners” after Inman did those games.
The voice of the ARSN post-game football scoreboard show as well as KATV’s lead news anchor, Inman could prove to be a breath of fresh air. The Stuttgart native recently said, “Some kids dream of playing for the Razorbacks. My dream was to broadcast them.” He has experience in calling football, and reportedly impressed UA staffers with an audition tape of the Hogs’ game versus Louisiana-Monroe last season.
But more than any other trait, fans have to like and respect you in order to be labeled as the “Voice of the Razorbacks.” That’s one of the reasons why Paul Eells was so great. Paul could call a good game. But late in his career, that’s not what made him. Being the most liked and respected man in Arkansas made Eells the perfect choice. Inman can be that — Barrett cannot.
We look forward to watching how this is going to play out. The selection could have the potential to be a war between Broyles and Nicholson, but there’s really no choice here: Scott Inman is the right man for the job. Now we’ll wait and see if he gets it.
I couldn’t disagree more if you had just said that Houston Nutt should be the next AD.
I have no doubt that Scott Inman is a good broadcaster, husband, and father, is kind to children and animals and good to his mother but, Chuck Barrett is the only good choice for the next Voice of the Razorbacks.
It is time for the Razorbacks to put on their “post Frank” swagger and leave behind all of the slimey incestous petty politics. Frank was allowed to go on 20 years too long and everyone has been picking the old man’s pocket for 10 years now. Nicholson is just the first to start to pick at the carcass.
His boy is OK but, Barrett is the real talent here. Barrett is the one capable of starting a new era along with the new AD and a new coach and finally start reaching for titles and success instead of just pretending and remembering.
We need a poll… come on Tipster, give us a poll! The people need to be heard.
The poll would need to come equipped with soundbites of each potential candidate for those of us who haven’t heard either of them
Blind – don’t you think that Chuck is too polarizing of a figure to hold a position like this? There is nothing controversial about baseball, so Chuck’s talent can serve him well there.
On the football scene however, I think it takes more than talent…you’ve got to consider the stances he has taken on his show over the last year, and that hurts him in my opinion with many fans.
All possible politics aside, Nicholson went public last week to try to keep Frank from making another mistake late in his tenure.
Terry Wood wrote a column about this subject yesterday. While I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, there is one thing he said that is very true: “[Right now] every move made by the UA athletic department should be directed toward unity.”
Frank bringing in a polarizing figure like Chuck would just give Hog fans another thing to argue with each other about.
Inman is the clear cut choice. Anyone who heard him call the few basketball games this past season can “see” and hear the difference between SI and anyone else.
I like the way Scott Inman sounds. He won’t bring baggage like Chuck. I vote for Scott.
Sunshine, we just see that differently.
I don’t think strong opinions by the fans is anywhere close to the problem. Actually, I believe those to be honest and helpful. I believe the problem exists with those in charge trying to spin and stonewall everything. It is Inman’s plaster face, man of destiny, home of the razorbacks Ch 7 background that leads us right back down that rode. Barrett has opinions, listen’s to all opinions, and opens an honest dialogue. We need that in our new AD, our new coach, and the next voice of the Razorbacks.
Let stop the perfection and all the hype and grap that goes with it and start a new day of fun for all and openness to everyone having an opinion that loves the Razorbacks. Lets talke about it. It is the information age. We can’t hide from it any longer.
I’ll tell you one other thing I heard straight from the lips of those in the know. Eells was being forced out for years. They cut his salary every year and the car he died in was an old car with 130,000 miles. For all of the hype about how beloved he was, Nicholson has was not beyond playing some hardball with Paul. His interest is Ch. 7, not the razorbacks or their fans.
Blindhog…You suggested everyone should put politics behind us. How do you suggest Razorback fans “forget” the fact that Chuck Barrett referred to Hog fans as “terrorists” on SportsRap? Obviously Chuck thinks equating Razorback fans who ask questions of the leadership to people who fly planes into buildings is appropriate given he never admitted he was wrong for doing so nor apologized.
Hiring Chuck to do football will perpetuate the politics. Has Chuck’s association with certain ad campaigns already resulted in them being pulled? Is this what we want for Razorback football?
Clearly, talk radio and the voice of the Razorbacks are two different jobs. I think Chuck knows the work he has to do to make that adjustment.
I think his talent and his attitude are what we need. Yes, he was a yes man. He needs to be unleashed and reformed. But, if he can do it, we are way ahead. The Inmans are a dime a dozen.
We need his attitude? The attitude of I am right, you are wrong, now I’m hanging up on you so I can tell you why you don’t know a damn thing? Razorback fans need Chuck’ attitude about as much as they need herpes.
The “Voice of the Razorbacks” and hosting a talk radio show might be two different jobs, but they are one in the same when it comes to his reputation. He is a representative of one while doing the other. You can’t call Hog fans “terrorists” on one radio show and then act like it’s deplorable on another. That’s called talking out of BOTH sides of your mouth which is part of why so many fans detest Nutt. So your suggestion is to perpetuate the divisiveness and forego another talented broadcaster such as Inman?
I can’t address your statement “he was a yes man” because I’m not sure how to attach a mp3 file of me laughing so hard my side hurts. You are either 1) someone who does not know Chuck personally, or 2) are Chuck given your suggestion he is in some sort of reformation process.
OK, well, never mind.
My sentiment exactly about hiring him.
I was just kidding. I think he would be great.
But, maybe it would be better if we did nothing until the new AD to office.
Scott Inman would be the better choice, considering there is so much controvercy about Barrett. There is no controvercy about Inman, so the choice is clear. Why would we want Barrett anyway? So we could continue the soap opera over Houston? Why not just keep things the way they are right now and let Chuck Barrett continue to be the great baseball broadcaster he is. Everyone will be a lot happier in the long run.
LOL
So Inman has become the champion of the Nutt haters.
from his own KATV bio-
“Scott Inman is Channel 7’s co-anchor at 5, 6 and 10pm. Scott, a native Arkansan, grew up in Stuttgart and graduated from Arkansas State University in 1995. While in school at ASU, he served as the voice of Jonesboro High School football and basketball, as well as ASU Lady Indians basketball.”
Perhaps he will tell us during every broadcast how important it is for the Razorbacks to play ASU or even KATV’s new darling UCA.
Should be a great headline
“Voice of the Indians is now the voice of the Hogs!
Sweet!
Give me Barrett.
Chuck interviews for a job at the UofA daily on his Sports Talk Show.
Is this the best we can do? I’ll take Nail over these other two clowns.
I’m a Nutt hater and I want Barrett.
Well, not a Nutt hater. I kind of feel sorry for him. I just think that we have seen his best and he has demostrated a complete lack of character. But, I’m no hater.
I like Barrett, that’s all.
While I can see why some don’t like Chuck becuase he has expressed certain views on his radio show, I don’t see how he’s any more of a “polarizing” figure than anyone that takes the “Voice of the Razorbacks” job would be. If anyone has the expectation that the football radio broadcasts are going to become an open dialog for people to express their love or hate for the current football coach, they are mistaken. The “Voice of the Razorbacks” is there to call the action on the field and be our eyes for either the joy or disappointment of what happens on the field. Anyone who has heard Barrett call a Baseball game knows that he is talented and that he doesn’t interject the personal views during the game that he might on his radio show. Inman did a great job on Basketball last season, but I just don’t see how you can find someone with a more clear, professional, and smooth presentation than Chuck.
AllHog, great post. I have to agree with you on the professionalism of Barrett. He does a great job of presentation on Hog baseball, and keeps you interested in what is happening. Not sure he is the right pick, but I don’t think you could be wrong picking either of these guys. I probably lean more towards Inman because Barrett is exactly the opposite of Paul Ells. I listened to Paul since I was 11 years old, and probably won’t consider anyone else “the voice of the Razorbacks”, as long as I live. But being biased put aside, both of these guys are great candidates. Good luck to both.
Chuck Barrett is clearly the best choice. He’s a veteran broadcaster with > 10 years experience. He knows sports and does an outstanding job of assisting the listener to really understand what’s going on.
Scott’s got a velvet voice and the Channel 7 pedigree but doesn’t have the experience. He’s a good guy so if he really wants this he needs to up his game from announcing scores to announcing ballgames.
Chuck Barrett has the potential to be the best ever announcer for the Hogs
you guys have no clue shut your mouths and open up a can of pride razorback pride no matter how down you may be feeling let’s not get all melodramatic the season hasn’t even started and 50 percent of you are already doubters what is that be a fan win or lose cause it will be a cold day in hell before we are a national powerhouse with people like you sitting with us real fans