Interview with Bob Rathbun

Bob Rathbun is an Emmy award-winning sportscaster who goes into his first year calling a new package of SEC football games on Fox SportsNet this season. The games will be seen in the SEC footprint on Fox Sports South/Florida as well as SportSouth and Sun Sports.

Bob is currently the TV voice of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and has had a storied career calling sports on ESPN and Fox SportsNet. He has also called the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers.

I conducted an e-mail interview with Bob in anticipation of the SEC season and we also discussed other subjects as well. Take a look.

Photograph courtesy of Christopher Byrne/Eye on Sports Media

Fang's Bites: First, how did you get the FSN SEC football gig? Does this also include basketball?

Bob Rathbun: FSN South's GM Jeff Genthner has been working on this deal since last October, and he, along with our Executive Producer Hammond Reynolds, had me in mind for the role if Dave Neal left for ESPN Regional Television, which he did. I assume it will include some college ball, something that I have done in the SEC since 1996. How much depends on the Hawks schedule.

FB: Can you tell us how many games you'll do be doing and what timeslot they'll air?

BR: In this first year of the deal, we will broadcast seven games. It looks like we will do them in the first eight weeks of the season. The games are scheduled to air at 7 p.m. ET. There is one week (CBS doubleheader) that we will broadcast at noon, ET.

FB: The Fox Sports Net SEC contract is an offshoot of the landmark deal that ESPN made with the conference last year. How are SEC fans reacting to having more inventory to watch?

BR: I'm sure they are excited. But the test will come once the season begins. How hard will it be for fans of a particular school to find their team each week? We have massive distribution in the SEC footprint, so that will be pretty easy for fans to find us. Some of the other channels might be a challenge.

FB: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports had been so entrenched in SEC's fans mind. Do you think there will be any confusion over finding the games?

BR: They'll find the old Raycom games pretty easily...they are in the same timeslot on many of the same stations. But the new world reality that every SEC game in which they control the TV rights will be broadcast will take some adjusting. And game times will see more SEC games played at night to accommodate all the TV and as we get into October and November that will be quite a change for some schools.

FB: You're also in ACC country whose TV deal is up for negotiation next season. How do you think that conference will react?

BR: They are watching VERY closely. It will be interesting to see how the other 5 BCS conferences react to this deal. The administrators and coaches know, but I'm not sure the fans and more importantly the high school recruits realize what a whopping recruiting advantage the SEC now has. Something about the rich getting richer. And how will those conferences react to ESPN come negotiating time? Do they think they will get a fair shake in terms of money and exposure?

FB: For those who don't live in the South, can you describe the fans' enthusiasm over SEC football and what it means to them?

BR: You cannot understand the culture of the South without understanding SEC football. This is why we are so excited about the package. We live here, we get it. We’ve been broadcasting SEC sports since the network came into existence. Only religion supersedes SEC football in the minds of the True Believers.

FB: In regards to the upcoming season, which teams do you see vying for the SEC Championship in December?

BR: Well, it sure seems like its Florida and everybody else right now. But the Gators have never gone through a season unbeaten. There will be some unexpected twists and turns, like every SEC season in the past. I like Florida in the East, while the West looks up for grabs.

FB: The coaches are always part of the SEC's persona. Which ones do you look forward to seeing this season?

BR: All of them! They are rock stars! We've got Meyer, Spurrier, Kiffin, Miles, Richt...new guys like Mullen, Chizik...battle tested pros like Johnson, Nutt, Saban, Brooks. I can't wait to work with all of them.

FB: Which football stadium in the SEC do you feel has the best atmosphere?

BR: Although I have never done a game there, they tell me that an LSU night game in Baton Rouge is the Mack-daddy. I hope we get one of those. But it's a question that has no wrong answer..it's varying degrees of fantastic. Which venue sends bigger chills down your spine at kickoff: Athens? Knoxville? Starkville, ringing those cowbells? Gainesville? It's every announcers dream to have the stadium packed for each broadcast and that's what we have down here.

FB: You're also the TV voice for the Atlanta Hawks. Based on how they finished last season, what are your expectations for the upcoming season?

BR: The Hawks proved to be an elite team at home last season, winning 31 games. With all of the major players back, and significant guard depth with Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, the Hawks are poised to win 50+ games this season. But they must improve on the road for that to happen, and they must improve as a team because the East has gotten markedly stronger.

FB: You worked as the announcer for the Detroit Tigers, but it was the year after the legendary Ernie Harwell was fired by GM Bo Schembechler. Can you describe your experience being in Detroit and how you managed to get by that season?

BR: Rick Rizzs and I were put in a tough spot. Never had a chance to succeed, really. I'll always appreciate the kindness that Bo and Sparky Anderson showed us. They knew what we were going through.

FB: (with apologies to Steve Lepore of Puck The Media, I stole this next question from him) Can you tell us what was the most exciting game you've called in any sport and what was the most bizarre game you've had the opportunity to call?

BR: Most exciting games translates to me as most exciting moments: the Hawks in the playoffs against the Celtics...great finishes for the Braves...and of course, Joey Chestnut in the Krystal Square-off last year in Chattanooga.

Bizarre? One at the top was a Furman-Appalachian State game (FSN South) the year the defensive PAT score was introduced. Furman drove the length of the field in the last five minutes, scored a TD with 0:07 remaining to go up by 1. Called a timeout, elected to go for 2, (why I will never understand) had the pass intercepted in the end zone. The linebacker who picked it off runs 25 yards and laterals to the Southern Conference sprint champion, DB Derrick Black, who takes it the final 75 yards for two points and the lead. Then Furman had to kickoff to App State. Game over. I'd say that was pretty bizarre!

FB: And having been a play-by-play announcer this next question is quite important, which city either in the SEC or NBA has the best restaurants?

BR: I cannot adequately answer this question until every NBA city has a Cracker Barrel

Thanks to Bob for answering my questions. The Fox SportsNet package of SEC games begins in September.