Todd Harris
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Todd Harris is a sideline reporter for ESPN and ABC's college football coverage.
Prior to those duties, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series. He has also called motocross, supercross, and X Games coverage on ESPN, and has been the lead announcer for the World's Strongest Man competition.
[edit] Early life and career
In the past, Harris' duties at other networks have included covering the NBA playoffs for TNT, and being a commentator for NBC's special high-definition coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Harris is a 1990 graduate of Brigham Young University, Graduating with honors with a double major of Communications and Psychology. He is a Southern California native but grew up in Portland, Oregon were he was a standout high school athlete. He began his broadcasting career as a weekend anchor/reporter for WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, KY.
[edit] IRL career
In 2004, Harris began his involvement with ABC and ESPN's coverage of the IRL. He was assigned to be a pit reporter for their IndyCar Series coverage after joining the network for motocross and X Games coverage.
In 2005, Harris was promoted to be ABC and ESPN's new lap-by-lap announcer of the IRL, replacing Paul Page. Fans who met the popular Page (widely considered as the voice for U.S. open wheel racing) at events after the announcement said he was shocked and disappointed by the decision. Other race fans believe Disney has made bad calls with announcers, first with Bob Jenkins leaving the network after the 2003 season, and also with pit reporters Jack Arute, Jr., son of the Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway owner, and Jerry Punch, who substituted for Jenkins frequently on NASCAR broadcasts in the late 1990s, including Dale Earnhardt, Sr.'s last NASCAR win in 2000, whom some believed should have taken the role of lap-by-lap.
[edit] ESPN keeps Harris for other work
Harris did not return to the IRL booth in 2006. Brian Kenny had been rumored to return to the booth, but it was announced that veteran Marty Reid would fill the position, with Rusty Wallace joining the booth to make it a three-man booth. Harris will return to the ESPN college football sideline reporting in 2006, joining veteran play-by-play man Gary Thorne and analyst Andre Ware.
Both conversations can be found on this page. Harris' is listed fourth, Zipay's right below. However, you must have a subscription to listen.
| Preceded by Paul Page 2002-2004 |
Television voice of the Indianapolis 500 2005 |
Succeeded by Marty Reid 2006-present |
