Jim Hawthorne, who is in his final year as the play-by-play broadcaster for the LSU Sports Radio Network, will miss the first football game of his career with the Tigers after a successful medical procedure, the program announced via a news release Monday afternoon.
According to the release, the long-time “Voice of the Tigers” had the procedure last week but still needs time to recover, forcing him to miss No. 4 LSU’s conference tilt with No. 7 Alabama. The release said Hawthorne is expected to return “in a couple of weeks.” 
“I appreciate all of the wonderful thoughts, prayers and well-wishes from LSU fans,” Hawthorne said in the news release. “The show of support has been overwhelming. It’s truly humbling to have so many people call, email, and send text messages asking how I’m doing. I can’t respond to all of them, but they are very much appreciated.”
Patrick Wright, who serves as the “Voice of the Lady Tigers,” will replace Hawthorne against the Crimson Tide and LSU Sports Radio Network sideline reporter Gordy Rush will host the Les Miles Radio Show on Wednesday evening.
Hawthorne has scheduled his official retirement for the end of the 2015-2016 men’s basketball season with Georgia Southern radio play-by-play broadcaster Chris Blair assuming the position at the beginning of the 2016 LSU baseball season.