A Tennessee sportscasting icon is shifting from the NFL to college in a somewhat unconventional move.
Mike Keith, who has been the radio voice of the Tennessee Titans for nearly three decades, will return to his alma mater to call Tennessee Volunteers football and basketball, sources briefed on the decision said. Keith succeeds the retiring Bob Kesling, who was the voice of the Vols for a quarter century.
Keith spent 27 seasons in the Titans booth. An early highlight was his memorable 2000 playoff call of the “The Music City Miracle,” in which the Titans scored a late-second kickoff return touchdown on a lateral to defeat the Buffalo Bills. Keith punctuated his call with, “It’s a miracle!” which has been echoed in Titans’ lore ever since.
“A MIRACLE FOR THE TITANS!”@titansradio broadcaster Mike Keith tells the story of his iconic call of the Music City Miracle.@titans | @surface pic.twitter.com/Jxt5WOkJJ7
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2023
The pull of returning to Knoxville from Nashville was too great for the 57-year-old Keith, who attended Volunteer games as child and graduated from the university. Besides calling games, Keith is expected to be involved in some new initiatives for the athletics program.
Keith was the top choice of Vols athletic director Danny White and deputy athletic director Alicia Longworth, who laid out the plan that convinced Keith to make the move.
(Photo: Matthew Maxey / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
