Rose Steps Down From Play-By-Play Job
Nebraska football play-by-play radio announcer and KFAB morning show personality Jim Rose is stepping down from the microphone as the "Voice of the Huskers."
Rose made the announcement on KFAB Tuesday morning at 7:15.
"My decision is to give up the games. I just can't do this anymore," he said. "It's not that I don't love it. I just can't make the sacrifice anymore. It's not fair to me. It's not fair to my family. It's not fair to my friends."
Rose said his absence from the radio booth during Saturday's 76-39 drubbing of the Huskers by Kansas was the result of "some serious soul-searching" over the past couple of weeks.
"I began to have some health problems. Just some fatigue and disorientation," Rose said. "I think it comes from having a lot of demands. It's been that way for six years - long days."
Rose said he was overworked, having focused much of his attention on preparing for the football game, while ignoring his friends and family.
"It just got to the point several weeks ago where I began to get concerned," he said. "I was just going from one place to the next and didn't know where I was even going.
"I began to think long and hard what was going on in my life. It became pretty clear to me that I had become more of a thing than a person. (Being) the voice of the huskers is thrilling and exciting ... the people you meet and places you see. But I had forgotten who I was. I had totally lost touch with really important things in my life. I didn't know who my kids were. I hadn't talked to my wife, my mother or done anything (other than the broadcasts) that I had enjoyed the past six years."
Rose said he approached management at KFAB and Host Communications, the rights holder for Nebraska sports broadcasts, with his concerns last Thursday.
"I told them I wasn't ready to do the broadcast," Rose said. "I simply could not go on the air if I wasn't ready. It would have been a disservice to the listeners."
Rose said he firmly believes that this is a good decision for him and his family. He has been a radio broadcaster for 25 years. He said it had nothing to do with the Huskers' poor performance this season.
"It's nothing more than that. It's all about the people who are important to me," he said.
KFAB Program Director Gary Sadlemyer, who has also previously been part of Nebraska football broadcasts, said the play-by-play job had been a "labor of love" for Rose.
"He grew up in Lincoln and this was really a dream come true for him," Sadlemyer said.
Rose agreed.
"These six years have been the most rewarding six years of my life. I just loved doing it."
Prior to his announcement, Rose kidded with Sadlemyer about the rumors that filled Internet discussion boards after his absence from last Saturday's game.
The two best ones, Rose said, were (fellow KFAB personality) Tom Becka's assertion that Rose was clairvoyant and knew the Huskers would come up way short against the Jayhawks ... and another that Rose was attending the birth of his first grandchild.
41 comments:
While I'm sure there will be plenty of people happy with this decision, it pains me to hear of the personal reasons that led to his decision.
No one should have to go through something like that.
Perhaps after some time away from broadcasting and a rigorous schedule such as that, he can come back re-energized and continue on in the profession that he loves.
Best of luck to him in the future.
I know from personal experience how tough this business can be, especially when there is family involved.
The sports field is especially tough, and you can only burn the candle at both ends so long before you run out of wick. Mine ran out a little over a year ago and I could fully relate to what Jim was talking about on the show this morning.
I wish nothing but the best for Jim and his family, regardless of where he goes from here. Jim has an incredible gift and I hope it is put to good use in another capacity somewhere down the road.
Phase II, complete. Phase III, after thanksgiving.
Yes let the cheap shots at Rosie begin.
A bunch of wannabe's that don't have the balls or the talent to do what Jim did will take cheap shots.
That too is part of the game I guess.
Good luck Jim
Just like the shots he took to get some of the people who were a threat to his gig out of the booth? Oh well, what goes around...
Jim, you are truly one of the great ones and it takes a strong person to do what you did. I wish you nothing but the best and hope everything can get in order for you personally.
I wish Jim the best!
However, I must admit that there were times listening to him that I wasn't sure what he was watching? Another game? Daydreaming? Not sure. He was not good to say the least. Maybe he can use his talents for other opportunities such as commercials and talk radio.
Say what you will about his performance for football, but I sincerely hope Rose will continue to do Husker Baseball. He has a definite talent for baseball, and is an enjoyable part of those broadcasts.
Ok...so Rosie wasn't Lyle Bremmser... He did a much better job than Warren Swain. I see where he's not going to be doing the Husker baseball games. That is a loss. You did a great job with Husker baseball Jim... we'll miss you! Maybe some of the changes being made for traditions sake will bring Kent back in the football booth with Adrian or maybe Gary Sadlemayer will partner with him again... who knows? But for Rosie, I wish him the very best and hope to hear his voice associated with Husker Sports again sometime in the future. Ya done good Rosie! God bless ya!
Bring back Pavelka!!!
I didn't care for Jim's broadcast style - his antiquated references were a little much - but I can't imagine the drain on a person to maintain the schedule he did. I am never one to wish ill on anyone and hope things work out for Jim. Like him or not, he was a part of the lives of Husker fans for the last 6+ years. Greg Sharpe sounded good and I did like Kent P too.
I'd like to see some of the people on this message board try and do a better job than what Jim Rose has done for the past 6 yrs. I think he did a great job and deserves nothing but our respect. For our future I think we need someone with NU ties in the booth. Good luck Jim!!
I wish Jim the best, only he knows what is best for him and his family.
It seems to this one person, you have two well qualified and good broadcasters to choose from...Sharpe and Kugler, both are exceptional.
Let's be honest, all personal attacks aside...speaking strictly as far as "calling a good game" chops......Russ Baldwin has been dead ten years and could have called a better football game than Jim Rose has the last several years.
I feel for the guy because calling these games lately had to be the most thankless job in the world.
Yes, not to pile on...but it was getting impossible to listen to Rose. The endless cliches, the babble, the mistakes. And this feeling was shared by anyone I ever heard talk about the radio broadcasts. It was like a breath of fresh air to listen to last week's broadcast...and you could tell that Adrian and Matt were much happier and more engaged.
With that said, I commend Jim for stepping away to get his life back in order. Best wishes to him!
I'm sure Jim Rose is a great guy, and I know broadcasting is a very taxing profession, but I'm honestly glad that someone new is stepping up. The Husker radio broadcasts just have not been much fun to listen to over the last few years (and some of that likely relates to the teams performance). I hope they get someone like Kent Pavelka in there to bring enthusiasm and energy back to the radio broadcast.
"I'd like to see some of the people on this message board try and do a better job than what Jim Rose has done for the past 6 yrs."
You people calling out folks who didn't like how Jim Rose did are hilarious. Hope you're a world-class chef, because otherwise I don't care if you liked your lunch or not.
NO!!! ANYone but Pavelka. He's was a worse homer than Rose. Isn't it possible to have someone professional, articulate, and interesting that's NOT a schill for NU?
I wish him the best ,but I will not be missing him in the booth. Listening to him during the games was kind of painful, I didn't know what the heck was going on. Maybe it was his health ,maybe he is a better color commentator then play by play guy.I don't know what it was ,but I could not follow a game with him guiding the way. I really enjoyed Greg Sharp doing the game.
"Isn't it possible to have someone professional, articulate, and interesting that's NOT a schill for NU?"
What kind of question is that? Are you a K-State fan or an idealist zealot? These people are the official Nebraska Football annoucing team. They should be schill for NU. If you don't like it, listen to the other teams broadcast.
Lord almighty, PLEASE don't bring Kent Pavelka back!!!!! The guy can scream GO BIG RED but he didn't have an ounce of professionalism. Remember when he demanded the world, and then some (golf club membership), before he was finally let go years ago? We can do much, much better than Pavelka.
I have a feeling Rose stepping down was a mutual agreement between Rose and KFAB. I think most fans can agree that Rose wasn't the best man for the job. Kent "ego" Pavelka is not the man to bring back. Someone news should be given a shot.
Pavelka!!! The great thing about Pavelka was that you could turn on the radio in the third quarter and know how the Huskers were doing just by the tone of his voice. While Rose did a good job, Pavelka put his heart and soul into each game. Pavelka was unpretentious and hard-hitting when he had to be, just like Husker football used to be.
good luck jim...but i too will be glad to have someone else call the games
To whoever wrote this:
"You people calling out folks who didn't like how Jim Rose did are hilarious. Hope you're a world-class chef, because otherwise I don't care if you liked your lunch or not."
I can see why you liked Jim because you make about as much sense as him! HE WAS HORRIBLE!
I am happy though for his family and for him that they will be together more.
Everybody is an expert on Broadcasting so I might as well weigh in on what has to be a very difficult job. Over the past 40 years my list goes like this:
1. Bremser. Yeah he was a big homer and some of his routine corny but you could always visualize what was going on.
2. Rose. Thought he was likable and improved over the years.
3. Pavelka. Many times had trouble telling what was happening in the game. Liked his enthusiasm even when it bordered on embarrassing.
4. Swain. Flat and not very descriptive. Found myself saying "Huh? What happened?"
Sharpe? Only heard him one game so far but liked him.
Others I missed? Best of luck to Jim Rose.
Pavelka?!?!?!!? Oh my dear Lord, NO! Two examples should end that discussion. 1) TOUCHDOWN TOMMY FRAZ- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! 2)His famous, or infamous, "DOUBLE EXTRA POINT, DOUBLE EXTRA POINT, DOUBLE EXTRA POINT!!!!!" call which occurred not at a crucial point in a big game, but late in a Husker blowout (when the Husker's used to be on the good end of those) against a cupcake team.
When your priorities are mixed up the whole world feels against you. I hope he gets his house in order.
As for baseball, hopefully the Husker Program will FINALLY get baseball done right by the BEST baseball announcer in the state - JOHN BISHOP. Bishop if funny, knows the game is a truly nice guy.
At least Rosie won't be able to kick him out of the booth this time.
Personally I truly believe that ol Rosie played the "family card" to make the resignation easier on him....I think Karma played a HUGE role in this after Rosie had a hand in getting Gary Sharpe and John Bishop fired from the network....you reap what you sow "Tokyo Rose"!!! He hitched his wagon to xADSP long ago, and with more dirt soon to come out on SP, one really has to wonder if Rosie doesn't have dirt on his shoes too! He'll get NO sympathy from this long-time Husker fan!!!
New Voice of the Huskers ...... Todd N Tyler!!
Kevin Kugler...he's smart, talented, does a great job at play-by-play, he's worked hard over the years and he's young and energetic. He'd be a great choice.
5:03 PM...Mrs. Kugler, you already posted once today. Not again.....
7:49 AM...so, was it one lone gunman in Dallas or two? Conspirist minds want to know.
The new voice of the Huskers....
Don Gill
(I heard it straight from Matt Perrault so I know it's true!)
I heard Matt Perrault say it was going to be Vin Scully.
Or maybe it was Jim Rome.
Coulda been Jack Buck.
He was throwing so many names around, it was hard to keep up.
Here's a suggestion -- the next time Matt Perrault "reports" something, check the other stations to verify the truth of the rumor. If other stations are reporting it, there's a good chance he may have heard it from them and is parroting it as his own "exclusive" report from inside sources. If nobody else is reporting it, he probably heard Travis Justice mentioning it while in the men's room.
There is a rumor that Matt Perrault won't be "reporting" any more rumors, however, this rumor was started by Matthew Perrault so who knows.
So that would be ANOTHER mistruth reported by Matt Perrault.
The streak continues...
I am relieved I will not have to choose Rose, Mussberger or NPR ever again.
Best of luck Jim.
Now we can get pavelka back!!!!
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