The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lundquist gave voice to history
Legendary broadcaster Verne Lundquist ceded his spot as the voice of the SEC after Saturday’s Championship game.
Lundquist has hosted the SEC on CBS since 2000, overseeing the conference during one of its most successful eras.
However, every career comes to an end and Lundquist’s is this season. He will still call many other notable events, but his time as the 3:30 p.m. voice of the SEC is done.
Here are five calls Lundquist is best known for:
2016: Tennessee’s wild Hail Mary
Georgia took a lead with just 19 seconds left, which seemed to put the game away. However, the Volunteers were not out of surprises. They got the ball and returned it to the Georgia 40-yard line after a series of penalties.
That gave QB Josh Dobbs one throw to get it into the end zone.
The game didn’t end up mattering that much in the context of the year, but it was a great moment. Lundquist call “Dobbs heaves it. They’re bunched up in the end zone. It’s tipped up ... It’s caught! It is caught! Jauan Jennings! Jauan Jennings ... You know, I’m going to miss doing the SEC.”
2013: Auburn’s miraculous finish
Auburn was down 38-37 on 4th-and-18 against Georgia with 36 seconds left to go. Auburn QB Nick Marshall threw a Hail Mary that bounced off the hands of the defense and into the hands of Auburn WR Ricardo Louis.
Louis ran it in for the touchdown and kept Auburn’s national championship hopes alive for another game. Lundquist call “Fourth-and-18, lets it go ... Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh no! Ricardo Louis! Talk about a Hail Mary!”
2013: Another miraculous finish
The “Prayer in Jordan-Hare” could have been one of the great plays in SEC history if not for the next game. No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn faced off in one of the most anticipated games at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The two played to a 28-28 stalemate until the end of regulation, but Alabama appealed for one second to be put on the clock so they could attempt a 57-yard field goal. Adam Griffith kicked a long ball, but Auburn’s Chris Davis fielded the short kick and the rest is history. Lundquist call “Returned by Chris Davis. Davis goes left. Davis gets a block! Davis has another block! Chris Davis, no flags, touchdown! Auburn! An answered prayer!”
2006: Florida blocks South Carolina
After a legendary career at Florida, Steve Spurrier took over at South Carolina in 2005. In his first trip back to The Swamp in 2006, Spurrier’s team had a chance to upset Urban Meyer and the No. 1 Florida Gators.
Ryan Succop was back to kick a 48-yard field goal down just 17-16 against the Gators. Everything looked good, but defensive lineman Jarvis Moss blocked the field goal to keep Florida’s national championship hopes alive. It was his second block, after blocking an extra point earlier in the game that would have tied the score.
Florida ultimately captured the national championship over Ohio State with a 13-1 record. Lundquist call “Blocked! It is blocked! Moss again! Jarvis Moss blocks it again! Urban Meyer has still not lost in The Swamp! South Carolina still has not won in The Swamp!”
1992: Laettner’s turnaround shot
This is one that will give SEC fans and college basketball fans anxiety, but it has to be remembered among his best moments.
With 2.1 seconds left and the full length of the floor to go, Duke was down 103-102 in overtime against Jamal Mashburn and the Kentucky Wildcats. A pass went to Laettner at the free-throw line. He bounced it once, and nailed a turnaround jumper as time expired to send Duke to the Final Four.
The play is still remembered among the greatest college basketball plays of all time. Duke went on to win the national championship. Lundquist call “There’s the pass to Laettner ... puts it up ... Yes!”