A column is an opinion piece in which an author presents a point of view. This is a column about bob Kesling. And I will share my point of view on Bob, a point of view that only I have had for the last 26 years.

Bob Keslings The first game as Tennessee’s voice came on September 4, 1999, when the Vols defeated Wyoming 42-17. That Saturday was also my first of 321 games in the front row alongside Bob as his spotter.

It’s a more daunting task than you might think bob Keslings Spotters.

First, you want to get it right for Voice of the Vols. Who is in the game, who throws the ball, runs the ball, catches the ball, attacks the player with the ball, kicks the ball, etc. But being the spotter for the player that it used to be John Wards Spotters? That’s pressure.

John was very demanding and Kesling lived up to the pressure as his spotter. When Bob left the Vol Network to join the Jefferson Pilot television team, the replacement of Kesling as John’s spotter was a cause of great concern, particularly for Ward.

Why Bob chose me to be his spotter I’ll never know exactly. My audition for the role was a total disaster.

In 1998, Bob was calling the SEC Championship game for SEC Radio and asked me to cover for him. I was all in, but admitted I had no idea what “spotting” really meant. I was so naive that I didn’t even bring binoculars to the game.

And yet somehow he asked me to do the job for him for the next 26 seasons.

When I messed up, Bob never blamed me. Instead, Bob helped me. And in doing so, he gave me the confidence to develop not only as his spotter, but also as a presenter.

Kesling literally gave me the best seat at Neyland Stadium and opportunities that I could never truly thank him for or repay him for. My role as spotter morphed into reading the halftime stats, then hosting John Ward’s popular “Spotlight on the SEC” and the pregame injury report.

A few years ago, Bob gave me my biggest opportunity.

He gave me a headset and turned on the microphone so I could provide analysis and commentary during Tennessee football games. He allowed me to set the scene after the commercial breaks and he allowed me to add observations. Bob Kesling created a three-man booth for me. It was unorthodox, but he believed in it, in my ability to add something different and important, and he believed in me.

Bob’s trust and confidence made me better in and out of the air. His belief in me and his friendship have allowed me to have experiences that I could never have imagined as a child at Gibbs High School. And all the while he cared for me in a way that people outside of the broadcasting profession will never understand.

Bob took on the dubious task of replacing a legend and one of his greatest mentors. Many people under 40 don’t fully understand the importance of being the “next” after John Ward.

Whether you understand it or not, think about it…when John Ward died in the summer of 2018, the University of Tennessee and Vol Radio Network teamed up to hold a major memorial service in his honor. At the time of his death, John had not broadcast a Tennessee game on the radio in 19 years!

Also consider this… former Tennessee All-American tailback and head coach Johnny Majors I did not receive this kind of celebration of life. Neither do the big ones Reggie White.

And if John Ward was such a big deal at the time of his death – 19 years after he played his last Tennessee basketball game – then remember how popular he was when he took off his headset for the last time in 1999.

Is it daunting to replace John Ward? You’re damn right.

Bob Kesling knew the challenges this would bring, but he generously did it in his own way. He never tried to be anything other than himself, although John Ward’s legacy cast a large shadow over him. That legacy has included regular John Ward reminders to Tennessee fans every game day for 26 years – commercials, promos, social media hits and even Neyland Stadium replays on the stadium’s video boards. It was harder than anyone could imagine dealing with the towering shadow of John Ward, but Bob never complained, choosing to always do his best to be himself.

Bob has such great respect for Tennessee fans’ love for John Ward and for Ward that he never accepted the title of “Voice of the Vols.” Bob always said, “John Ward was the voice of the Vols,” even when colleagues, friends and family admonished him for not accepting a title he deserved.

For Bob Kesling, it was never about titles, or being overshadowed by his predecessor, or comparing himself to other broadcasters. It was about doing the job the right way.

That meant being a professional no matter how bad the football teams were or how bad the visibility was in the radio booth. Bob followed Lindsey Nelson’s rule that no one listening wants to hear your complaints; They want you to call game.

And that’s exactly what Bob Kesling did for 26 years. He did it with class, and he did it as a professional.

I saw it from an amazing perspective, a perspective that Bob Kesling always gave me.

We laughed together. We broke bread together. Bob has helped me more than anyone would ever know.

And he gave me 26 fall spots with the best spots and opportunities that I didn’t deserve.

Thank you, Bob, and happy retirement. But thank you is not nearly enough for everything you have done for me and the Big Orange family.