McMinnville Noon Rotarians got a special treat Thursday when University of Tennessee broadcaster Bob Kesling visited town.
Kesling, who will start his 16th season as the Voice of the Vols when Tennessee kicks off its football season against Utah State in August, regaled the packed crowd with tales of his playing and professional career, his vision of the current team and his work with the United Way in Knoxville.
Kesling drew plenty of laughs and applause from the crowd, starting with when he recalled his first freshman game. Kesling was a walk-on fullback playing under former Vol legend Bob Davis and he was called on to play against Vanderbilt after several fumbles plagued his team.
“Coach Davis yells out, ‘Kesling, get in there at tailback.’ I was thinking how great a decision it was to come to Tennessee and score touchdowns and be a big star. But right before I went in, I told the coach how I had never played tailback in the game, only in practice,” said Kesling. “Coach Davis looks at me and says, ‘Heck son, I know that. You don’t think we’re going to give you the ball do you?’
“That gave me the inclination maybe I need to find something else to do beside play football.”
Kesling would go on to become the film editor for the Bill Battle TV show while in college. He’d also work as a spotter for John Ward for 15 years before accepting positions with Jefferson Pilot to broadcast SEC games each Saturday on Channel 10 in Knoxville as the production director.
As a spotter, Kesling worked right beside Ward – the longtime Voice of the Vols who retired in 1998. Kesling shared one funny moment that happened with Ward in 1982, when Tennessee took on Washington State, led by quarterback Samoa Samoa who could throw with either hand.
“John was calling the game and it got to a third-down situation and he started talking about the quarterback. John said, ‘Samoa is dangerous in this situation because he can roll out left or right equally well and can throw with both hands. He’s amphibious,’” said Kesling as the crowd busted out in laughter. “John never broke stride, but I was just thinking there was somebody driving around listening to the game and telling their spouse how we couldn’t win the game because Washington State had an amphibious quarterback.”
Stepping in for Ward, a beloved figure among UT fans during his career, wasn’t an easy task. Kesling took it in stride though, eventually carving out his role as Voice of the Vols for nearly two decades now and creating a catchphrase “to the checkerboards,” on touchdown calls. Kesling broadcasts all football games with Tim Priest and does men’s basketball games with Burt Bertelkamp.
Along the way, Kesling has been mistaken for Bob Barker, got what he figured was great praise from his daughter after his first game in 1999 – “She told me, ‘Well, you didn’t suck,’” Kesling recalled – and had one gatekeeper get in a good jab while Kesling was appearing as a guest speaker.
“I had been lost for about 25 minutes and I finally arrived and cars were lined up on both sides of the road. I had no idea where I was going to park,” said Kesling. “I finally pulled up and saw the officer at the gate and told him, ‘I’m Bob Kesling. I’m running late and I’m the guest speaker for the event. Is there any way I can pull forward to the building because I can’t find a parking spot?’"
“He looks right at me and says without breaking stride, ‘You’re Bob Kesling? Yeah right, and I’m John Ward. Keep driving pal.’”
Kesling has had a chance to work hand-in-hand with football coaches and basketball coaches for the last 16 years, including current football coach Butch Jones. Kesling believes the second-year leader is slowly turning around the Vol football program, which has suffered through four consecutive losing seasons.
“Butch has unbelievable people skills. He’s genuine. He asks questions, he cares about people and he tells his players how it is. It’s been a pleasure working with him,” said Kesling. “He’s got 32 new players coming in this year and he expects all of them to contribute. He’s also trying to replace five starters on the offensive line. I’ve never heard of that in the SEC, or really any league.”
Kesling added the good thing is the Vols do have some players who have contributed on the offensive line, citing Marcus Jackson and Mac Crowder as examples.
Kesling also touched on the quarterback situation, which has three players – all who started at least one game last year – coming back to compete for the starting job against Utah State. Kesling believes whoever wins the job will have more weapons around him this year, especially at tight end.
Kesling feels the Vols could have as many as six contributors at tight end this year, as opposed to last year when the team played with only one, a hobbled Brendan Downs.
Kesling sees the additional weapons, like newcomers Jalen Hurd, Josh Malone and Von Pearson, as a reason for the optimism currently surrounding the Vols.
“I think you’re going to see the tight ends much for involved. I think the wide receivers will be a biggest difference this year. This year I think there are guys who can turn a five-yard out into a 40-yard touchdown,” said Kesling. “There’s a lot of optimism this team could be much better offensively. It’s exciting and I think a lot of people are waiting to see how this team comes around.”
Kesling concluded by talking about his work last year with the United Way. Through hard work and charitable donations under Kesling’s leadership, the United Way was able to raise $12 million to help people around the city.
Kesling will be back to work Friday night when the Vols start fall practice under the lights on Rocky Top.
Tennessee starts its season Sunday, Aug. 31 with a game that will be aired on the new SEC Network.