Verne Lundquist

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Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940 in Duluth, Minnesota) is currently a journalist for CBS.

Contents 1 Early life and career 2 CBS Sports 3 Memorable calls 4 Honors

[edit] Early life and career

Lundquist graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas before attending Texas Lutheran University (formerly Texas Lutheran College), where he also founded the Omega Tau Fraternity (ΩΤ) in 1958 before graduating in 1962.

Before working for CBS, he worked as sports anchor for WFAA-TV in Dallas and in Austin, Texas for KTBC, as well as being the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys. When TNT acquired the rights to broadcast NFL games, he was given a national presence.

See also: TNT Sunday Night Football

[edit] CBS Sports

Currently at CBS, he does play-by-play for the network's college football (teaming with Gary Danielson on the network's broadcast of Southeastern Conference games) and college basketball action, as well as The Masters tournament. He is also among the key voices of NFL Films. Verne's patented belly laugh and his contagious enthusiasm for football, basketball and golf make him one of CBS Sports' strongest assets.

[edit] Memorable calls

Sports fans across America have heard Lundquist call some of the most dramatic moments in sporting history. Lundquist was the play-by-play man for what many consider the greatest college basketball game ever played, the 1992 Regional Final between Kentucky and Duke wherein Christian Laettner hit a 17 foot jump shot as time ran out, to win the game in overtime. In 2006, he announced another memorable college basketball game (George Mason vs. Connecticut) in the Elite 8. In George Mason's historical upset, Verne announced "By George, the dream is alive." He is also the play-by-play announcer in the College Hoops 2K6 video game.

Lundquist also called two of the most famous golf shots at the Masters golf tournament. Most recently, Tiger Woods' dramatic birdie chip-in on #16 at the 2005 Masters and in 1986, he called Jack Nicklaus' birdie putt on Hole 17, with the famous line: "Yes Sir!" Lundquist may be famous with the MTV generation as he played himself commentating on tournaments in the 1996 motion picture, Happy Gilmore and also as the voice of college football games. Another pet phrase Lundquist uses on occasion is "how do you DO!"; on a huge offensive or defensive play, a phrase he took from USC football broadcaster Pete Arbogast.

Lundquist filled in for Ernie Johnson as host of TNT's coverage of the 2006 PGA Championship. Johnson is battling cancer.

[edit] Honors

At the 2005 Sun Bowl, Verne was inducted into the Sun Bowl Hall of Fame along with UCLA Bruins football coach Terry Donahue.