Chris Blair, the current radio play-by-play man for Georgia Southern University athletics, has been hired to be the next “Voice of the Tigers,” the LSU athletic department announced Saturday.
Blair will replace Jim Hawthorne, who has served as the radio voice for LSU football, basketball and baseball teams for the past 32 years, starting with the 2016 baseball season. Hawthorne called his last baseball game in the Tigers’ eliminating loss to TCU in the College World Series on Thursday night but will call the 2015 football season and the 2016 basketball season before officially retiring.
“The incredible opportunity and privilege to follow behind the legendary Jim Hawthorne, one of the most recognized and respected voices in college sports is truly a dream come true,” Blair said in a news release. “To work and represent the most powerful brand in college athletics that has the nation’s most passionate fans is an honor and one that I do not take lightly. My family and I are excited to soon be making Baton Rouge and Louisiana are home. I would like to thank athletic director Joe Alleva and so many inside LSU athletics for trusting me as the narrator of great Tiger moments to come.”
After 10 years as the voice of Greenwood High School (SC) athletics, where he called four state championships, Blair headed to Georgia Southern in 2006. Previously, Blair was a candidate to become the play-by-play man for Georgia Tech in 2013 before former Butler University radio voice Brandon Gaudin became the next “Voice of the Jackets.”
Other reported candidates to replace Hawthorne included Lyn Rollins, Charles Hanagriff, Patrick Netherton, Sean Kelley and Patrick Wright.
“Chris Blair is a rising star, and we are excited to bring him to LSU as the next ‘Voice of the Tigers,’” Alleva said in the news release. “We had many quality candidates and Chris just stood out. It’s the premier play-by-play job in college athletics, and we’ve hired a guy who will do a great job of being the radio voice of LSU athletics. His passion, knowledge and love of radio is something LSU fans will quickly notice and identify with. We are excited to have join our staff.”
