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George S. Patton wrote:I'll do it, and I know I would be pretty good at it. In fact, it would be step up from the whining over the officials, the cheerleading in the booth and the insufferable pounding on the table in the background.

It was an insult having Swann in the booth.

You would be in the extreme minority, everyone that I know loved Craig Swann.

For us out-of-staters who relied so often on radio, Swann was a God-Send

We've had this debate countless times. Many of you liked him. That's great. I didn't. I thought his style was complete bush-league. We'll never agree on this.

I've heard he's done well for himself professionally and that's wonderful. His coming to school here was probably the best thing he did for himself. I'm thankful that he wants to spend more time with his family because that's important.

It doesn't take away from the fact that for me, it was like listening to nails on a chalkboard.

Whoever the new analyst is, just take the broadcast up a couple of notches in terms of the professionalism.

Leave it to a couple stuck in the old days SMU fans to deride Craig Swann. The guy was enthusiastic, supportive, and offered a unique take in the broadcast booth. He and Rich Phillips had to endure some of the most God awful, gut busting football in the country over the past decade and you could feel the pain in Swannys voice when we lost and the joy when we won. Finding another color guy who can bring his level of passion and love for SMU isn't going to be an easy task. I also liked the fact that he had a bit of an East Texas twang. It reminds me that like myself SMU isn't just stock full of private school trust fund brats and that there are actually regular folk that loved this school.

I definitely connected with Swann b/c like I mentioned, he is a small town East Texas boy like myself (Quitman is actually larger than my hometown) and went against the grain of what the outside thinks of us. That we're a bunch of elitist jerks who look down on everyone and everything b/c "We're SMU and you're not". Swann was honest, enthusiastic, and had a genuine love for the Mustangs. If you want to run him down go right ahead.

StallionsModelT wrote: That we're a bunch of elitist jerks who look down on everyone and everything b/c "We're SMU and you're not". Swann was honest, enthusiastic, and had a genuine love for the Mustangs. If you want to run him down go right ahead.

The elitist thing has nothing to do with this. You can broadcast the game from the SMU point of view. Listen to Tom Grieve who has been with the Rangers before they were the Rangers.

Grieve played for, was the GM and you can tell is passionate for that team. He wants the Rangers to do well, and he will act up if a bad call goes against them. But he doesn't sound like a nut bag either. Swann did.

I never questioned Swann's passion and love for SMU. Again, that has nothing to do with it. I just thought he was terrible.

NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD!!!

Swann was kind of a cartoon, but he was our cartoon. He had an enthusiasm that was contageous. I liked him and wish he was still doing it.

Gomer has had some inane posts here before, but this takes the cake. Craig Swann is pure greatness in the booth - I listen every weekend, except when I can squeeze in a trip for a game, and with all respect to Rich, who I also like, Craig was the star. If you didn't like him, Gomer, you should have done what everyone would do if you replaced him: turn off the radio.

I hope you enjoy your time with your family, Craig, and rest assured, you'll be missed on the airwaves.

God forbid a person has a dissenting opinion. At least he backed it up with his reasoning.

Stlhockeyguy02 wrote:God forbid a person has a dissenting opinion. At least he backed it up with his reasoning.

He certainly has the right to declare his opinion and his reasoning behind it...as do the folks who disagree with him who also back it up with their reasoning. So what is your point? Oh...the name calling. Yes, that is bush league.

nobody can replace swann

George S. Patton wrote:I'll do it, and I know I would be pretty good at it. In fact, it would be step up from the whining over the officials, the cheerleading in the booth and the insufferable pounding on the table in the background.

It was an insult having Swann in the booth.

Ok I'll jump in as well and call that a ridiculous statement. It's funny, I actually feel the same way about Brad Sham, I think he had no business last year doing an SMU TV game, despite his professional credentials. He has no connection to the team, no love for the college game (that I know of) and mispronounces approx. 20% of the players' names. But hey, he's a professional. Swann bleeds red and blue, is personally invested, and is what college fb is supposed to be about. He wants to EAT FROG MEAT. There's a reason it's called a color commentator. When he got Homer Call of the Week for the UTEP game a couple years back (Lindley interception TD), they juxtaposed it with an Oklahoma radio clip for contrast to demonstrate that Swann is "the best...in the business. I repeat, the best...in the business." We were lucky to have him, and I always enjoyed him

KnuckleStang wrote:... Swann is "the best...in the business. I repeat, the best...in the business." We were lucky to have him, and I always enjoyed him

There you go - case closed.

You're listening to SMU Football with Rich Phillips and Ramon Flanigan...

KnuckleStang wrote:

George S. Patton wrote:I'll do it, and I know I would be pretty good at it. In fact, it would be step up from the whining over the officials, the cheerleading in the booth and the insufferable pounding on the table in the background.

It was an insult having Swann in the booth.

Ok I'll jump in as well and call that a ridiculous statement. It's funny, I actually feel the same way about Brad Sham, I think he had no business last year doing an SMU TV game, despite his professional credentials. He has no connection to the team, no love for the college game (that I know of) and mispronounces approx. 20% of the players' names. But hey, he's a professional. Swann bleeds red and blue, is personally invested, and is what college fb is supposed to be about. He wants to EAT FROG MEAT. There's a reason it's called a color commentator. When he got Homer Call of the Week for the UTEP game a couple years back (Lindley interception TD), they juxtaposed it with an Oklahoma radio clip for contrast to demonstrate that Swann is "the best...in the business. I repeat, the best...in the business." We were lucky to have him, and I always enjoyed him

Right there with you ole' friend.