Gene Deckerhoff Will Comfort Bucs Fans
September 11th, 2010
This Sunday will be a jarring day for Bucs fans: No Bucs on TV for the 2010 season-opener.
But there is comfort for Bucs fans just around the corner. After years of sellouts, Bucs fans Sunday will be able to reunite themselves with Gene Deckerhoff, radio voice of Bucs games.
In many respects, Deckerhoff is Bucs football. So much so that Rob Shaw of the Tampa Tribune, the pride of Terre Haute, Ind., and the Tampa Bay version of Johnny Palmer himself, decided to put fingers to keyboard and bang out a story about how much Deckerhoff’s voice resonates.
And just like he has done for every Bucs game since 1989, Gene Deckerhoff will be there to call the action as the play-by-play announcer. But he won’t do anything different for this blacked-out game.
“If you’re a radio announcer, you think that every Bucs’ fan is listening to the radio,” Deckerhoff said. “The last thing on my mind is who’s watching TV and who is not.”
The 65-year-old veteran broadcaster will still do the same things he does for every game: spend six to eight hours doing preparation work, then four hours and 20 minutes in a recreational vehicle making the drive from his home in Tallahassee.
It saddens Joe to realize Deckerhoff is in his mid-60s. Joe hopes he and his golden voice can work Bucs games for years to come.
September 11th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Gene will never retire until the pearly gates open for him.
September 11th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Give it up for Gene!
September 11th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Gene is the Bucs
September 11th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
As a broadcaster, I have nothing but good things to say about Gene.
He is a touchstone to a great sense of nostalgia for me.
In years past, I spent a lot of precious weekends boating with my family, hunting with my dad, just driving around central Florida on fall and winter Sundays. Gene’s warmth and excitement, weekend after weekend and year after year, made listening to the game a great time. Cool weather, blue skies, and the Bucs game on the radio.
Even working at a station that was part of the Bucs Radio Network, I never got tired of listening to Bucs games.
I wish I had a nickel for every time I WATCHED the game on TV, and turned down the sound to listen to Gene’s call on radio.
September 11th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
“Fire the Cannons! Touchdown Tampa Bay!!!”
I think the fans at home will be hearing that a lot tomorrow.
Meannnnnnnnnn! Wooooooooo! Geneeeeeeeee!!!
September 11th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Yeah-it sucked when they put a delay on the tube because Janet wanted a little more exposure.It ruined Gene’s simucast.
September 11th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
If USF beats Florida, Ray Jay will sell out for the Bulls games while the Bucs games get blacked out!!!
Bwahahahahhahahhahhahahhahahhahha 🙂
September 11th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
You know…throughout the week I’ve been hoping to find the game over the net…but the last day or so I’ve been looking forward to hearing Deckerhoff again.
He really is the Bucs. I cannot imagine a radio game called by anyone else but him, and it saddens me that he’s 65…because it reminds me that someday, possibly soon, his voice won’t be calling the plays.
So, in a way, this blackout is actually doing us a huge favor. I just wish the folks in other areas could listen to him over the net…it’s an experience to be remembered.
September 11th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Hah! Bulls are winning right now 7-0!
September 11th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Honest, Pete…If I was not going with Joe on the Blackout Tour tomorrow, I would be very happy to sit and listen to the game.
This is why I don’t get all crazy about the blackouts…Sad as it is for the team.
September 11th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
ZeroExpectations
So much for that prediction…
n another note: Gene is the man!! I usually listen to him while watching anyway.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Gene is the man
September 11th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
He is COOL
September 12th, 2010 at 10:00 am
As an FSU fan and Bucs fan, Gene Deckerhoff has been THE voice of football for me for basically my entire life……and I feel very fortunate for that