Saturday, February 25, 2023 will live forever in the hearts of Sun Devil fans everywhere.
Tucked away behind the excitement of "The Shot", Arizona State Athletics achieved a milestone that day that went largely unnoticed.
That day, Arizona State entered the unique territory of having broadcast four different events on over-the-air radio, meaning Sun Devil fans from San Diego to Hampden, Maine could have listened to eight and a half hours of nearly uninterrupted Sun Devil Radio Network programming, whether on their radio, phone or computer.
Before we get into just how rare a feat that is, let's take you on a chronological trip through that day:
11:30 a.m. MST – Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd welcome listeners to McKale Center for pregame coverage of the men's basketball game at Arizona. Network Engineer Shawn Crespin is working alongside to make sure everything on the technical side is working smoothly. Shawn not only engineers Men's Basketball and Football broadcasts, he's also responsible for making sure all Sun Devil broadcasters are fully equipped with the necessary tools to get on the air, and to make sure the quality of the broadcast is at its best. This time of year, Shawn is a little like an air traffic controller, as Sun Devil Radio Network Broadcasters travel with their teams to give fans a first hand account of everything going on.
12:30 p.m. MST – Pregame begins for the Sun Devil Women's Basketball game at Eugene against Oregon. Arizona State has broadcast a full schedule of women's basketball games since 1997. By contrast, two Pac-12 schools don't broadcast any women's basketball, and Stanford, one of the true powerhouse programs in the sports, only went to a full schedule of commercial radio broadcasts this year, and that's streaming only.
3:45 p.m. MST – Alex Coil and Max Rossiter begin their broadcast of Sun Devil Baseball at Mississippi State. Baseball on the radio at Arizona State is as much a tradition as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. For Alex, it's an opportunity to display his versatility. The Cronkite School alum not only serves as analyst on Sun Devil Hockey radio broadcasts, he broadcasts Minor League Baseball in the summer. It's another aspect of the ever-growing amount of content offered by the Sun Devil Radio Network – a deep and talented roster of broadcasters…and speaking of hockey…
4:45 p.m. MST – Tyler Paley, a Cronkite School Adjunct Professor, starts his pregame for ASU's game with Alaska-Fairbanks at Mullett Arena. In previous years, Tyler called ASU Hockey on video stream through Pac-12 Now. Adding hockey to the Sun Devil Radio Network lineup had been planned for several years, and when Mullett Arena was ready to open, the Sun Devil Radio Network had their spot among the broadcast booths. Tyler was the obvious choice to become the program's first official "voice", and more than a few fans have bought tickets just to see if the game is as exciting in person as it sounds when Tyler and Alex are on the call (it is). If you didn't hear the words "Sun Devil" and "college", you'd swear you were listening to an NHL broadcast.
Now, here's the significance of what took place. No other school in the Pac-12 boasts four different sports broadcast on radio, both over the air and streaming. Then when you look nationally, some big names in college sports also did not reach the level Arizona State did. Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota and Notre Dame all have broadcasts of men's and women's basketball, baseball and hockey, but none of the four could say they were broadcasting games of four of their teams that day.
This kind of achievement requires contributions from many sources. The Sun Devil Radio Network proudly partners with not one, but three major broadcast companies – Bonneville International (Arizona Sports/Football and Men's Basketball), Hubbard Radio (KDUS/Women's Basketball and Baseball) and IHeart Radio (Fox Sports 910/Hockey). On February 25, three different Phoenix radio stations carried Sun Devil programming. They say competition in the marketplace benefits the consumer. In the highly competitive Phoenix radio market, consumers of Maroon and Gold come out the winner.
In addition to over-the-air coverage, each of the three partners streams Sun Devil radio broadcasts, making them available across the country, and easily accessible. Bonneville International also serves as the home of the Anderson-Healey show, a weekly podcast featuring ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson, and State of the Sun Devils, a podcast produced by staff members of Arizona Sports, all available at the Arizona Sports app.
Then there are the voices. Every person who speaks on a Sun Devil Radio Network game broadcast has one thing in common – a passion for Maroon and Gold. The anchor of this team is Tim Healey, currently in his 25th season in a role where he follows legendary broadcasters such as Tom Dillon, Bob Davies, Ray Cox, and a fellow who still broadcasts basketball – Al McCoy. The respect the broadcast community has for the role of Voice of the Sun Devils is reflected in the fact that, since 1959, the National Sports Media Association has given its Arizona Sportscaster of the Year Award to the lead play by play announcer for Arizona State athletics 26 times. Tim has two of them.
The game analysts also share a common thread – all played, coached, or attended Arizona State University. Every Sun Devil Radio Network broadcaster is a professional – they know their audience deserves an accurate account of what's happening. No one on an ASU broadcast can be called a "homer". Yet, when the big moments happen, fans know they can share in the excitement with their home team broadcasters, because it means as much to them as it does to their listeners.
When Des Cambridge hit "The Shot", social media immediately exploded with people saying "I've gotta hear Tim and Kyle's call". Network announcers are professionals as well, but when history is made, fans want to hear it called by Tim….and Alex….and Tyler. They want to hear the joy in Kyle Dodd, Jeff Van Raaphorst and Max Rossiter. They want to hear it from the Maroon and Gold perspective.
There will be more days like February 25 for Sun Devil fans, because of the work put in by broadcasters, engineers and management. THIS is the Sun Devil Radio Network.
Tucked away behind the excitement of "The Shot", Arizona State Athletics achieved a milestone that day that went largely unnoticed.
That day, Arizona State entered the unique territory of having broadcast four different events on over-the-air radio, meaning Sun Devil fans from San Diego to Hampden, Maine could have listened to eight and a half hours of nearly uninterrupted Sun Devil Radio Network programming, whether on their radio, phone or computer.
Before we get into just how rare a feat that is, let's take you on a chronological trip through that day:
11:30 a.m. MST – Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd welcome listeners to McKale Center for pregame coverage of the men's basketball game at Arizona. Network Engineer Shawn Crespin is working alongside to make sure everything on the technical side is working smoothly. Shawn not only engineers Men's Basketball and Football broadcasts, he's also responsible for making sure all Sun Devil broadcasters are fully equipped with the necessary tools to get on the air, and to make sure the quality of the broadcast is at its best. This time of year, Shawn is a little like an air traffic controller, as Sun Devil Radio Network Broadcasters travel with their teams to give fans a first hand account of everything going on.
The great @TimHealeyASU calls the Miracle at McKale!
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/NbGlqWadqi
12:30 p.m. MST – Pregame begins for the Sun Devil Women's Basketball game at Eugene against Oregon. Arizona State has broadcast a full schedule of women's basketball games since 1997. By contrast, two Pac-12 schools don't broadcast any women's basketball, and Stanford, one of the true powerhouse programs in the sports, only went to a full schedule of commercial radio broadcasts this year, and that's streaming only.
Sun Devil Nation, over the years we've visited on the radio, your support has always been appreciated. Never more so than this year. Thanks for sharing the ride. pic.twitter.com/9EV49iVF42
— Jeff Munn (@MunnyBall) March 2, 2023
3:45 p.m. MST – Alex Coil and Max Rossiter begin their broadcast of Sun Devil Baseball at Mississippi State. Baseball on the radio at Arizona State is as much a tradition as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. For Alex, it's an opportunity to display his versatility. The Cronkite School alum not only serves as analyst on Sun Devil Hockey radio broadcasts, he broadcasts Minor League Baseball in the summer. It's another aspect of the ever-growing amount of content offered by the Sun Devil Radio Network – a deep and talented roster of broadcasters…and speaking of hockey…
4:45 p.m. MST – Tyler Paley, a Cronkite School Adjunct Professor, starts his pregame for ASU's game with Alaska-Fairbanks at Mullett Arena. In previous years, Tyler called ASU Hockey on video stream through Pac-12 Now. Adding hockey to the Sun Devil Radio Network lineup had been planned for several years, and when Mullett Arena was ready to open, the Sun Devil Radio Network had their spot among the broadcast booths. Tyler was the obvious choice to become the program's first official "voice", and more than a few fans have bought tickets just to see if the game is as exciting in person as it sounds when Tyler and Alex are on the call (it is). If you didn't hear the words "Sun Devil" and "college", you'd swear you were listening to an NHL broadcast.
?? tonight's Sun Devil Radio call of the game @foxsports910 /// #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/nlfNGlZnEu
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 27, 2022
Now, here's the significance of what took place. No other school in the Pac-12 boasts four different sports broadcast on radio, both over the air and streaming. Then when you look nationally, some big names in college sports also did not reach the level Arizona State did. Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota and Notre Dame all have broadcasts of men's and women's basketball, baseball and hockey, but none of the four could say they were broadcasting games of four of their teams that day.
This kind of achievement requires contributions from many sources. The Sun Devil Radio Network proudly partners with not one, but three major broadcast companies – Bonneville International (Arizona Sports/Football and Men's Basketball), Hubbard Radio (KDUS/Women's Basketball and Baseball) and IHeart Radio (Fox Sports 910/Hockey). On February 25, three different Phoenix radio stations carried Sun Devil programming. They say competition in the marketplace benefits the consumer. In the highly competitive Phoenix radio market, consumers of Maroon and Gold come out the winner.
In addition to over-the-air coverage, each of the three partners streams Sun Devil radio broadcasts, making them available across the country, and easily accessible. Bonneville International also serves as the home of the Anderson-Healey show, a weekly podcast featuring ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson, and State of the Sun Devils, a podcast produced by staff members of Arizona Sports, all available at the Arizona Sports app.
Then there are the voices. Every person who speaks on a Sun Devil Radio Network game broadcast has one thing in common – a passion for Maroon and Gold. The anchor of this team is Tim Healey, currently in his 25th season in a role where he follows legendary broadcasters such as Tom Dillon, Bob Davies, Ray Cox, and a fellow who still broadcasts basketball – Al McCoy. The respect the broadcast community has for the role of Voice of the Sun Devils is reflected in the fact that, since 1959, the National Sports Media Association has given its Arizona Sportscaster of the Year Award to the lead play by play announcer for Arizona State athletics 26 times. Tim has two of them.
The game analysts also share a common thread – all played, coached, or attended Arizona State University. Every Sun Devil Radio Network broadcaster is a professional – they know their audience deserves an accurate account of what's happening. No one on an ASU broadcast can be called a "homer". Yet, when the big moments happen, fans know they can share in the excitement with their home team broadcasters, because it means as much to them as it does to their listeners.
When Des Cambridge hit "The Shot", social media immediately exploded with people saying "I've gotta hear Tim and Kyle's call". Network announcers are professionals as well, but when history is made, fans want to hear it called by Tim….and Alex….and Tyler. They want to hear the joy in Kyle Dodd, Jeff Van Raaphorst and Max Rossiter. They want to hear it from the Maroon and Gold perspective.
There will be more days like February 25 for Sun Devil fans, because of the work put in by broadcasters, engineers and management. THIS is the Sun Devil Radio Network.