University of North Carolina Athletics
Quotes On Woody Durham's Retirement
April 20, 2011 | General
April 20, 2011
Athletic Director Dick Baddour
General thoughts on Woody Durham's retirement:
"I just remember when Woody (Durham) got the job a mutual friend of ours told me that it had been Woody's life-long dream to be the voice of the Tar Heels. I think it's great that somebody is able to fulfill his dream. I think the thing that I think so much about Woody is his preparation. I think what people hear is apparent but the quality of that is such because of the detail of the work that he does and the preparation."
ACC commissioner and former UNC Athletic Director John Swofford:
UNC chancellor Holden Thorp:
"Tar Heels everywhere are going to miss the sound of Woody Durham's voice and his enthusiastic play-by-play. He's been such a big part of Carolina athletics for so long that it's almost impossible to imagine listening to a Tar Heel football or basketball game without him. I know all Tar Heels join me in cheering ... WOODY ... WOODY ... WOODY."
Roy Williams
I listened to Woody Durham his first year on the radio. I do remember the change from Bill Curry to Woody and thought he was sensational. His love for the school and love for the football program, the basketball program, is probably unequaled by any broadcaster in America. That showed in his preparation, that showed in his care, but he still tried to do his job in a professional manner. Woody Durham loves being a Tar Heel and loved his work with the Tar Heels.
On if he can imagine a game without Woody Durham...
"No, I can't. It will be unusual for me. Again, I'm going back to 1971. I was a senior here and his face is the only broadcaster I've really known. Bill Curry, the first few years I was here, I knew who Bill was but he didn't know me. To me, Woody is the 'Voice of the Tar Heels' and Woody Durham will be the 'Voice of the Tar Heels.' Dean Smith is the coach at North Carolina; I'm just sitting in the chair right now. It's going to take somebody an awfully long time to change that for me."
On if he has a favorite Woody Durham memory...
"You know, we've had some sorrows. One of my toughest times ever as an assistant was in '84, losing to Indiana, and Woody felt the same way. We've had some great times. In '82, "the Tar Heels are going to win the national championship," and fortunately, 2005 and 2009. Some of our best times have been just on the golf course away from this. I hope that he will get the chance to be out on the golf course a little bit more now."
Wes Durham (Woody's son and Georgia Tech's play-by-play voice)
On what he learned from his father...
"His study habits wore off on me. I mean, I carry the index card around that's got the depth chart front and back, offense and defense. I still carry it around. For a college game, (wife) Victoria will tell you, by Tuesday I have the index card in my pocket. We'll be at a stoplight, we'll be somewhere at dinner on Friday night walking into the restaurant, and I'm looking down to make sure I know the inside linebacker's number. That's all part of it. And then the other thing is to always remember that you're always representing your particular school, your team, or whatever, to people who may never see a game, may never get to a game in person. They may only have contact with Georgia Tech, or the Atlanta Falcons, or Vanderbilt, or wherever I've been, through you. The thing I'm most proud of today is my dad for 40 years has represented the University of North Carolina, second only to Dean Smith, to maybe Coach Williams. That's the singular thing I'm so proud of him; the way he has represented and the loyalty he has shown to the University may be unmatched. And I told him in December when we were having the original conversation, "Dad, nobody can question that you have represented The University of North Carolina in a way that very few people in the history of the institute, athletic or not, have." In today's college athletics, I think that counts for something."
On his father's career and being able to retire on his own terms...
"The pride factor for me today has a lot to do with that he did 40 years at the University of North Carolina and every time delivered it to a standard that people respected. You really appreciate it, believe it or not, when you don't live here. I haven't lived here since 1988, but you really appreciate it when you move to another market and people start to speak of your dad in a way that you were only accustomed to when you lived in this state. So it means a lot today for a lot of reasons; not just his body of work, but also what he's meant to the University."
ACC Media Relations Coordinator Brian Morrison
What are you going to miss most about Woody?
"I have been in the league going on now 27 years and Woody is a constant professional. He always does his background, does his work, is the best presenter I've heard in years and is also one of the nicest guys I've met. Over the years, like I've said, part of this league persona is the announcers that we've had in the schools have stayed for so long. 20 or 30 years is short term for announcers in this league and when you're driving around late at night coming back from games, or driving around the states of North Carolina and South Carolina, you would pick up these announcers and you would know who you were listening to from the voice. You didn't need to hear North Carolina or Duke or Clemson. You knew who they were. On a personal side, he's one of the nicest men I've ever met. He is genuinely an honest person and I imagine that if there's something that you need to always cherish in this business, it's honesty."
Duke Radio Network's Johnny Moore
"My connection goes back to Guilford College. I was an SID at Guilford College as a student and I learned TV. Woody (Durham) used to be on TV, he used to be the sport's anchor for WSNY-TV. Then I came to Duke and he was here (North Carolina) and just working together - I mean the two schools are all right here together. We listen to him all the time. There is a lot of camaraderie between him and Bob Harris. They grew up in the same hometown. People understand. I know we're supposed to hate each other, Duke and Carolina, but there is a lot more camaraderie than people think. We're all in the same business. We do work with kids all the time. Woody was just such class. I mean, you're almost proud here at Duke, and I think North Carolina is that way about Duke and North Carolina being together. And he's a part of us, we really appreciate everything he's ever done for us over the years at Duke and just taking care of our kids and interviewing them and showing them off an its just very interesting with him. He's just a good man."
Do you think he can ever be replaced?
"When you get older, you don't think it could be replaced. But they didn't think he could replace the guy he replaced. That's what you always have to remember. He replaced somebody that they didn't think was replaceable at the time, and so it will be. It will come on the next generation will love the guy just as much if he works as hard as Woody (Durham). That's what will happen and it's hard to see, but that will happen."
UNC Head Football Coach Butch Davis
What has Woody Durham meant to you in broadcasting for football games?
"Well, I think the one thing that made a huge impression on me is Woody's passion. From the very first time I met him, there was no denying how much he loved Carolina, he loved the job, he loved the people he interacted with. Every time that you are around him, and he was talking to the players on the team and stuff, you just knew that he looked at them like sons. He loved the way their careers were going. He wanted the best for them and he was just a terrifically interesting man to be with and I just loved working with him on the radio and TV shows."
What is your fondest memory of Woody?
"Part of it would probably have to be everyone's exhilaration at the Music City Bowl. You do a postgame wrap-up after the game and he was just ecstatic and you just love seeing how happy he was. And calling the game like that, all though I do not get a chance to listen to the broadcasting themselves, I'm sure that the broadcast had to be phenomenal and his colorful description painted a great picture for a lot of Carolina fans."
WCHL Radio Owner Jim Heavner
What was your relationship to Woody and how do you know him?
"I've known Woody (Durham) since college. Woody was born to do this; it's all I think he's ever wanted to do. I'm not sure he aspired to be the "the" University of North Carolina announcer, but that required somebody leaving. He had been a TV guy so I think his aspirations were for television but I'm sure once he came over and started doing this, I'm sure he never looked back."
What about Woody made him the great announcer?
"What everyone has said about him is true. I've worked beside Woody in games for maybe 20 years and I never saw Woody unprepared. Any situation that ever occurred in any game ever - and I work hard to prepare - but I've never showed up as prepared as he was. He was very, very thorough."
Color Analyst for UNC Football Rick Steinbacher
How do you know Woody and what made him such a great announcer?
"I've worked with him on and off since 1994. I graduated from playing football in 1993 and I went to work for Woody (Durham) and Mick (Mixon) as a sideline reporter in '94 and then I've been the color commentator with Woody since 2005." "I've loved being in the booth siting next to Woody. What struck me about Woody is that he always had an upbeat, positive attitude; he was extremely hardworking. I've used the analogy with other folks - Lots of people have a good voice, lots of people know the game of football or basketball very well, but what Woody does is combine that along with a tremendous commitment to being prepared for every broadcast. If you ever sat in the booth and looked at how prepared he was and how much time and energy he put in it, that's what set him apart."
Former Broadcast Partner Mick Mixon on what Woody Durham has meant to Carolina:
"Well, Woody's a huge part of not only the history of this school, but also the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and when he leaves he'll take something with him that I don't think will be able to be replaced: His knowledge of the league, the history, and his knowledge of the broadcasting industry and the changes that it's gone through. I think that I'd like for Woody to be remembered, there's nothing I could say about his preparation, his passion for UNC that's widely known and I hope the history of his career remembers how hard he worked to learn the opposing team. His broadcast has a journalistic balance that in this era of chat room, message board, talk show, Facebook, it may not always be widely understood but it's not easy. That's how you be a pro. The game deserves that. Now, we all know Woody is a Carolina fan. Woody's not going to be happy that Duke, or State, or Maryland scores or does something good. If they do, he'll allow his voice to go to an exciting vocal register. He saves the higher ones for UNC of course, but I just think the way he achieved that balance and yet still had everybody know he was totally pro Carolina set a very high standard."
Mick Mixon on his favorite Woody Durham moment:
"It wouldn't be in the press box. It would be on the road, traveling, catching flights, missing flights, time spent in airports, restaurants, golf courses. He is as competitive as can be, and we used to love playing golf together, coming down the 18th hole trying to beat each other out of a dollar or two. I'll remember how superstitious he was, and is. He would occasionally point to me and say, "Four out of the last five games, your necktie has had the color of the opposing team in it." He keeps up with things that a lot of people don't. I'll miss him. I'm like any other Carolina fan when I turn on the radio and it's someone other than him, it'll be an adjustment."
Wake Forest radio's Stan Cotton on what Woody has meant to Carolina:
"Wow, I'm often approached a lot by younger guys that say, "Would you critique my work, and what I'd like to do is just give them a tape of Woody and say, "Just do it like that. If you could do it like that, then you'll have it knocked out." You see, I've known Wes [Durham] for a long time, since the early to mid 80s and I was at Carson Newman and Wes was at Elon. So because of that I started to get to know his dad, and of course I knew who he was. You know, he's just been a guy that supported me when I got into the league. He was one of the guys that made some nice comments to the folks that were hiring my position and was supportive of me and I just can't say enough about what he means not only to, obviously the Carolina folks, but just to everybody in college sports. He's one of those ambassador types. He talked today about crossing the aisle, you can be friends with the enemy, and he certainly has been that. He's been a guy that's bridged a lot of gaps. And certainly, when you think about what he has seen over the years, what he's documented over the years is incredible and he's been an inspiration and one of those guys that those of us who have come behind have certainly been able to do some things we've been able to do because of what he did."
Stan Cotton on his favorite Woody moment:
"You know, I don't know. I remember listening to Woody back in the 80s when I would come in to the state of North Carolina for Carson-Newman, maybe doing games at Lenoir-Rhyne, or Elon, Gardner-Webb, Catawba, and just listening to him, thinking, you know what, that's what we all need to strive to be. He was kind of a guy that put the bar up there. So, not any particular moments, just his continued professionalism in the way he carried himself year after year after year is something we all need to emulate if we can."
