Dave Lee

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Dave Lee has been a problem since Ray retired. There was no search, he was simply annointed. The ratings have declined each year. The only spike in the decline was during the quarter Ray did when the stadium opened. Emails to Greg Gerlach, at first seemed an opening. He returned it with the comment to the effect he understood my points but the choice of announcer was a joint venture with the Athletic Department having the final authority. I continued over the past 6 years to send him emails, especially when it was published that the contract with CCO was up for renewal. I then added to the email the fact that the on air talent mocked the Gopher Football team at every opportunity. Since then they added Hartman jr.

If you think the coach offers an indefensible answer to the problem, the athletic department is way beyond that. They don't see a problem, rather Lee is THE Answer.

I have the feeling Gerlach is in the middle of declining numbers, probably declining revenue, and has no control.

Lee will continue to blather, stumble, rumble, and fumble till the U, possibly the New President and Athletic Director come in.
 

Learfield also holds the rights for Hawkeye sports. Gary Dolphin is incredibly good, as is his sidekick, Ed Podalak.

The next time you listen to Dave Lee, ask yourself one question ..... Is this guy pulling for the home team? After you listen with that thought in mind, you can only come to the conclusion that he isn't.
 

Listening to the halftime score updates around the Big Ten on the evil neighbor you hear the other Big Ten radio men. Wow, what a difference.
 

maroon and gold said:
Learfield also holds the rights for Hawkeye sports. Gary Dolphin is incredibly good, as is his sidekick, Ed Podalak.

The next time you listen to Dave Lee, ask yourself one question ..... Is this guy pulling for the home team? After you listen with that thought in mind, you can only come to the conclusion that he isn't.
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The more important question is this:
Is he paying attention to the game?
After you listen to that thought in mind, you can only come to the conclusion that he isn't.

I don't need a homer. I just need somebody who knows whats going on and can verbalize it via the airwaves. Dave Lee is an epic fail at this.
 




Rosemountian said:
Sell the rights to the game to a radio station not sponsored by a funeral home and perhaps better announcers, younger fans, and winning will follow.
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Best. Post. Ever.

Still cleaning up milk off the keyboard.
 

maroon and gold said:
Learfield also holds the rights for Hawkeye sports. Gary Dolphin is incredibly good, as is his sidekick, Ed Podalak.
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Totally disagree on this. I listened to the Iowa - Arizona game on XM radio up at our cabin. It was the Iowa feed, and I've rarely heard such bad announcing. Not just blatant homerism, but stupid comments. For example, I think every single time Arizona punted, they'd claim that Iowa had a good chance to block the punt (which I don't think EVER happened). Just a bunch of annoying wishing out loud. Uggh.

As far as Ray goes, he was decent at football up until he retired, but he had grown horrible at basketball. He just couldn't keep up with the game anymore.
 

husker70 said:
Dave Lee has been a problem since Ray retired. There was no search, he was simply annointed. The ratings have declined each year. The only spike in the decline was during the quarter Ray did when the stadium opened. Emails to Greg Gerlach, at first seemed an opening. He returned it with the comment to the effect he understood my points but the choice of announcer was a joint venture with the Athletic Department having the final authority. I continued over the past 6 years to send him emails, especially when it was published that the contract with CCO was up for renewal. I then added to the email the fact that the on air talent mocked the Gopher Football team at every opportunity. Since then they added Hartman jr.

If you think the coach offers an indefensible answer to the problem, the athletic department is way beyond that. They don't see a problem, rather Lee is THE Answer.

I have the feeling Gerlach is in the middle of declining numbers, probably declining revenue, and has no control.

Lee will continue to blather, stumble, rumble, and fumble till the U, possibly the New President and Athletic Director come in.
Click to expand...

From what I have heard, Gerlach's hands are indeed tied in regards to Dave Lee. Allegedly, there's a big sponsor of the Athletic Department that has threatened to pull their sponsorship if Lee is taken off the football pbp gig. IIRC, it's an insurance company based in southern MN that is, in essence, pulling the strings here. We all know how budget-conscious the Athletic Department is here, so it would come as no surprise that Lee is kept on solely to keep a big sponsor happy.
 



Dave Lee describes the play after the play is over rather than describing it as it happens. He is unaware of what is going on. He doesn't know how many yards have been gained until he is told. He doesn't know the penalty until after the ref makes the formal announcement. If you watch the ref, you will know the penalty sooner.

Businesses don't always operate their own actual best interest. They operate in their own perceived best interest, but this can be wrong. If people are tuning out Dave Lee, they might think "people just aren't as interested in the Gophers" rather than thinking that a better sportscaster would get better ratings.

Maybe we could get a player to be our next announcer?
 

If Federated Insurance is both a booster and an advertiser then the picture is clearer. Learfield holding the rights has Learfield as a client. The Athletic Department has it hand out to Federated. I would not be against this, in fact its great. But their loyalty to Dave Lee goes beyond the pale. Federated is wasting advertising dollars, and promoting a declining broadcast. Do they honestly think or have they acctually stipulated or threatened to leave it Dave is canned? If so, in the best interests of the school either the President or Athletic Director needs to have dinner and explain the benefits of making a change.
 

Halsey Hall said:
I did as well. Between Gladden, Gordon, Lee and Lee we have the worst announcers in the country. Add in Brew and Weber and Chilly and Glen Taylor and we really suck.
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I don't listen to Twins radio as much as I used to, and I know John Gordon's getting up there, but to include him on that list is an insult. When he was paired with Herb Carneal, he was very, very good as a #2. He's not as good as the lead, especially given how gawdawful Dazzle is, but stil Gordo doesn't deserve to be lumped in there. Listen to his Game 6 1991 call and tell me you don't get chills. In it's own way it's better then the TV call by Jack Buck.
 

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