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 John Ward

Chat with John Ward Friday!

Beginning this week, UTsports.com will host a live one-hour chat with a member of the Tennessee football family every home football Friday from 1-2 p.m. ET. This Friday's guest is UT legend John Ward, the longtime "Voice of the Vols."

As the official play-by-play man for Volunteers football and men's basketball games from the mid 60s until March of 1999, Ward endeared himself to Tennessee fans throughout the world for his spirited and memorable calls on the Vol Network.

Ward, elected unanimously to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, also is a member of the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. He received the 1999 Distinguished American Award from the East Tennessee chapter of the National Football Foundation & Hall of Fame, from which he also received the Amateur Football Award in 1980. He was recognized at a special session of the Tennessee State Legislature in June 1999, served six terms as the first president of the SEC Broadcasters Association and has garnered a host of additional honors during his storied stay on Rocky Top. Big Orange fans from around the world are encouraged to log on to UTsports.com and submit questions, which may be submitted in advance of Friday's live session or through the duration of the chat. Due to time constraints, it may not be possible to answer all questions. All submissions require the accompaniment of the submitter's name, city and state or nation.

Dr. Rob Hardin is the moderator for UT's Live Football Chats. Hardin is an associate professor in the Sport Management program at Tennessee. He teaches and conducts research in the areas of collegiate athletics and sport communication. He also assists the Sports Information Office with game-day operations.

Welcome to this week's Live Football Chat on UTsports.com. This online interactive forum allows you to interact with members of the Tennessee football family in real-time. This week's guest is UT legend John Ward, the longtime "Voice of the Vols."

Submit a questions below. We will select the best questions to answer live on Friday between 1-2 p.m.

Now... it's Live Chat Time in Tennessee!

Rob Hardin: John is here with us in Stokely Athletic Center in the Sports Information Office. We will begin the chat in about 10 minutes.
J.R. (Jacksonville, Fla.): In your opinion who were some of the best football players you saw Tennessee compete against?
John Ward: Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1980. He did not start the game against Tennessee but was a heralded player coming out of high school. Dooley put him in the game, and I told Bill Anderson after the first play that he was a little different. Bill told me he was a lot different.
Gene (Johnson City, Tenn.): Do you still come to UT games? Where do you sit?
John Ward: Yes. I sit in the Westside Skyboxes with Bill Anderson. I listen to Bill tell me what is going on. Our wives talk about anything but football.
Winchester: Have you thought about coming back and announcing UT football games ? Please
John Ward: No
brian wyatt(bristol): It's been ten long years since we have hear your legendary voice. What do you miss must?
John Ward: Preparing for the broadcast which started immediately after the preceding game. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, I wrote the script for everyone on the broadcast. Nobody ever used my script but getting ready to broadcast was the most fun. Once we were ready, the game was an afterthought.
Bob NC: When are you going to write the "book"?
John Ward: There will be no book. Three reasons: 1. I don't want people to think I am making money off of the university, 2. It is presumptuous, 3. I would tell the truth in my own words and some people might misunderstand what I said.
Ty (Antioch): What is the story behind your blue towel?
John Ward: 1967 basketball. Tennessee played the final game of the regular season at Mississippi State for the SEC Championship. I was sitting in front of a window on a cold night. The wind was coming through the window and my throat began to clog up. The problem was the game went to three overtimes. By the end of the first overtime, I could hardly talk. That year, I worked with Lowell Blanchard. He went down to the bench and brought back a towel, which I put around my neck as a scarf. The warmth opened up my throat. From then on I wore a towel for therapeutic reasons. People would send towels embroidered with my name or phrases. Usually they were orange. When we played basketball at Kentucky, our broadcast position was courtside. Before the game started, I would go to the restroom, and when I would come back, the orange towel was gone. That happened for two or three years. Then I got a blue towel and nobody ever stole it. That is the reason I wore a blue towel. By the way, Tennessee won in triple overtime 78-76.
Rob (Brentwood): I heard you were working on the Perfection DVD. Have you seen how that DVD looks?
John Ward: Knockout.
North Carolina: What is the strangest or funniest play you broadcast and how did you call it? (either sport)
John Ward: It was 1990 at Mississippi State. The play was the fumble-rooskie. Andy Kelly took the snap and placed the ball on the ground. Bernard Daffney took it in to score. The play was only two or three yards. I had no idea where the ball was. Of course, I never did.
James, Knoxville: Mr. Ward, I've heard you are a restaurant conniseure. Can you tell me where I can get a good reuben in Knoxville?
John Ward: Frussies, corner of Chapman Highway and Moody Avenue.
Kathy, Carthage: Did you like the Tennessee walking horse that used to be at the home games years ago, and do you think we could ever get one back?
John Ward: Tennessee football has many traditions. Probably too many, to be honest. But the Tennessee Walking Horse is a tradition I wished continued.
David (Strawberry Plains, TN): Are there any future plans for John to do an encore play by play performance of a Vols Football Game? We loved hearing him say "Give him six, touchdown Big Orange"
John Ward: No
rob chas sc: What is Bill Anderson up to these days and do you hang out together besides the football games?
John Ward: Throughout our broadcast careers, Bill's principle profession was as president of a successful Knoxville insurance agency, specializing in major trucking companies. He is still active in The Insurance House although his son manages the day-to-day business. Bill still comes into the office on a regular basis so he can still handle my insurance. We sit together at football games and have dinner together on a regular basis. He has never paid.
Big Red(Saltville): Best steak? Baker Peters or Ruth Chris
John Ward: I am sure both are excellent. Personally, we eat twice a week at Foothills Milling Company in Maryville.
Ian (San Diego): In your mind, who was the most dominant defensive lineman to play for the Vols during your time calling games?
John Ward: Reggie White. Although, there have been a lot of great ones. He was special as both a player and a person. I would speak in Chattanooga for years at university functions, and his mother always came and never booed me.
Derrick (Crossville, Tenn.): Which Tennessee football players did you think were the most fun to watch?
John Ward: If fun to watch means exciting, there have many. If I had to pick one, it would be Chuck Webb. If had to pick two, Stanley Morgan and three would be Condredge Holloway. Four would be Larry Seivers and of course Peyton Manning would be included. It was exciting to watch Peyton think.
Rob Ratcliffe (Corpus Christi, TX): Is the 1991 unbelieveable comeback against Notre Dame the best you've seen as an announcer?
John Ward: It was an unbelievable comeback. Unfortunately, people who turned their radio off quickly, thought we lost because I blew the call. The Notre Dame field goal was no good no matter what I said.
Melissa Portland: My favorite call in basketball was "bottom" do you remember the first time you did that?
John Ward: Whether it was "bottom" in basketball or "give him six" in football, I have no idea when it was first said. What I said just happened. The only reason I said any of those goofy things again was because fans would come up and repeat them to me. I didn't remember ever saying it until listeners got excited about words, and I would use them again and again.
David G. (Powell): I heard you play golf...Have you ever had a hole-in-one?
John Ward: I have had three holes-in-one. Two witnessed by Haywood Harris so both of us were subjected to lie detector tests. The third was witnessed by my wife. The first - 120 yards at No. 16 Fox Den Country Club with a wedge. The second - 165 yards at No. 3 Green Meadow Country Club with a 5-wood. The third - 110 yards at No. 8 Green Meadow Country Club with a wedge.
Kristina (Atlanta): What do you think of all the changes you have seen at Neyland?
John Ward: The beauty of Neyland Stadium (Shields-Watkins Field) is a tribute to the fans of Tennessee. As additions, reconfigurations and improvements are made, we should never forget that the fans make everything possible. Which is why I hope that every Tennessee fan, old and young, takes pride in the stadium they built.
Jeff in Chattanooga: Which was your favorite road campus and/or stadium to visit on gameday?
John Ward: Notre Dame. Tennessee does a magnificent job of creating a college football atmosphere and while I am partial to Tennessee, I have to admit, Notre Dame is the best.
Jim Ga: Do you think Bill Anderson needs to do one of these chats?
John Ward: Suitable for anyone 18-years and older. He is a much better communicator than I ever was and the best story teller I know. Half of what he says is true.
Pat (Atlanta): Did you ever receive other job offers in broadcasting that you considered?
John Ward: Not really. Sports broadcasting was a hobby for me. I have had an advertising agency/television production company since the 1960s. That was my primary job and source of income. Plus I like living in East Tennessee.
Bolivar, Tennessee: John, Where was the most difficult setting from which you did the call-in show and the play-by-play for any football game? Danny from Bolivar
John Ward: The most difficult broadcast site was the Coliseum in Los Angeles because the sightline was very low and distant from the field. It is a beautiful place but it was built for the 1932 Olympics not football. We only did the pregame show on the road one time. Our last regular season game at Vanderbilt in 1998. It was one of the most memorable events because thousands and thousands surrounded the Parthenon in Nashville.
Rob Hardin: We only have time for one more question.
Mark, Huntsville: What does it mean to you to have a banner with your name hanging in the arena?
John Ward: What means the most to me was that the banner was hung the same night as Coach Mears' and two of my closest friends, Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld, have banners hanging there now.
John Ward: Thanks to everyone who submitted a question. Sorry, I could not answer all of them. Now, you can all go look for real jobs.
Rob Hardin: Thanks again for joining our chat today. We will have another guest next Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST. Check utsports.com next week for the announcement of Friday's guest.
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