Appropriately, UK plan to use a television timeout to recognize the announcers calling the Georgia game, Tom Hammond and Rupp Runt Larry Conley. During the third TV timeout of the first half, Hammond and Conley stood to be recognized by the crowd.
Hammond and Conley are in their last season calling games for the SEC network. ESPN assumes the television rights next season and is not expected to keep the venerable crew.
Conley is completing his 22nd year on the SEC telecasts. Hammond is working his 30th season as the play-by-play man.
To mark the crew’s final game in Rupp Arena, a UK delegation led by Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart took Hammond and Conley to dinner Tuesday night.
The only other school to salute Hammond and Conley in their final season was Florida. Director of Athletics Jeremy Foley and Coach Billy Donovan sent the two a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner the night before a Florida game.
UK also planned to honor Van Florence at halftime. Florence, the basketball program’s long-time Man Friday and president of the Committee of 101 service group, is retiring.
UK planned to give Florence a retired jersey,
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What a shame that Larry Conley and Tom Hammond won’t get to broadcast basketball together in the future. Both of these gentlemen have such a wealth of knowledge about all of the teams in the SEC, the coaches, the athletic directors, the arenas. Next year ESPN will no doubt assign announcers that have no appreciation for SEC history. Listen to some of ESPN’s NBA telecasts and you will get an idea of what we are likely to hear next year. How sad.
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