My good friend Andy Burcham, the great Voice of the Auburn Tigers, is one of the very best broadcasters in the business. Andy is first class in every way, and does a great job calling Auburn football, basketball and baseball. He’s been a contributor to the BI for many years, and we are always grateful for his insight.
With three of the first five on the road, including the first two SEC games, it has to feel great to get back home after an open date?
Always great to be at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Add the fact that it’s a night game, and that has become especially fabulous and the Oldest Rivalry in the Deep South, this will be special.
What is your take on the balance and depth of the league?
I’m not sure the SEC has ever been this balanced. There are no automatic wins in the SEC anymore. Like SEC basketball last season, I’m not sure the SEC has ever been this strong in football.
What would a win over Georgia Saturday mean for the Tigers?
Auburn hasn’t beaten Georgia since November 11, 2017. What was once a very even series has become one-sided. A win would snap a two game losing skid and give Hugh Freeze a signature win against an archrival.
What is your take on the Bulldogs?
Very good. Fabulous on defense, as always. In spite of the loss to Alabama, still in contention for a playoff spot.
Did you like the new scheduling format for the SEC with nine games?
When the nine SEC team schedule was announced, the immediate speculation was Alabama, Georgia and perhaps Vanderbilt for the Tigers. Some Auburn fans were hoping for Florida or LSU. If there’s one alteration, I would like, it would be getting Alabama and Georgia off the same home schedule one year and on the road the next.
Do you like “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” where it is now on the schedule or November?
Doesn’t bother me that the Georgia game is earlier in the season. I realize it’s a change from when the game was played until recently. Remember the first time the two teams played was February, in Atlanta.
What are some of your favorite broadcast memories, from Final Fours, trips to Omaha and huge football moments?
I’ve been incredibly blessed getting to call and be a part of some of the biggest moments in Auburn history for the last 35 years …the 1989 Iron Bowl, the first ever at Jordan-Hare Stadium; the David Ross walk off home run at Florida State in the 1997 NCAA Regional; two straight Final Fours for Auburn Women’s Basketball; the 1997 SEC Tournament Title when Joe Ciampi’s team won four games in the four days against four teams they lost to in the regular season; the 2010 National Football Championship; An unbeaten and SEC Championship football team in 2004; Two SEC regular season championships, an SEC Tournament Title and a Final Four for Men’s Basketball; three trips to Omaha with Auburn Baseball including Super Regional wins at North Carolina and Oregon State in the past seven years; and, of course, getting to see my friend Jeff Dantzler when Auburn and Georgia get together.