Kentucky fans got to see a win over Akron Saturday on what was the 50th anniversary game of UK moving to a new stadium. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It was about 50 years ago when Kentucky beat Virginia Tech 31-26 in the opening game at Commonwealth Stadium — now Kroger Field — in 35-year-old coach Fran Curci’s first game as quarterback Ernie Lewis of Elizabethtown ran for 90 yards and two scores and threw for 84 yards and another score.
Two future Hall of Fame announcers were on the radio networks — Cawood Ledford for Kentucky and Marty Brennaman for Virginia Tech.
“I do remember doing that game. I remember it was a bad Virginia Tech team (2-9) and Alabama beat them (77-6),” Brennaman said. “I had met Cawood at the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association award ceremony. I am sure he had no idea who I was that day.”
Brennaman had done radio play-by-play for William & Mary football in 1972 and had also been doing basketball games for two years for the Virginia Squires of the ABA. Virginia Tech hired him for the 1973 season and he anticipated it would be a long run after becoming the first Tech broadcaster to do both football and basketball.
“I planned to stay there a long time. I was living in Virginia Teach and would fly there (to Blacksburg, Va.) or wherever they were playing on Friday. I spent very little time in Blacksburg,” he said. “I really did enjoy doing football and basketball.”
Of course Brennaman was also the play-by-play announcer for the then Tidewater Tides, the New York Mets’ affiliate in Class AAA. The Cincinnati Reds called him and he joined the Reds on Feb. 1, 1974. He called Reds games until 2019 and his opinionated, passionate commentary set him apart and led to his induction into multiple Hall of Fames.
“I loved my time with the Reds but I do still remember that UK-Virginia Tech game. But to be honest, I forgot it was 50 years ago,” Brennaman said.
