The Oakland Raiders announced Monday that Brent Musburger would become the new radio voice of the Silver and Black. Musburger began his NFL broadcasting career calling games on CBS, and has established himself as one of the premier broadcasters in the game. One of his most notable achievements was the time he introduced the live feed connection between President Ronald Reagan and former Raiders Head Coach Tom Flores.
He's also been associated with pieces of Raiders history; for example, when the Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII. He was on hand during the Lombardi Trophy presentation as his question to Raiders owner Al Davis prompted Mr. Davis to say, "When you have great coaches, then after you have great coaches you get great players, you have a great organization, and you tell 'em one thing – just win baby!"
Musburger has been a part of countless timeless calls in broadcasting history, which is why we're going to take a look at some of his top calls through the years.
Magic Johnson's debut
Coming out of Michigan State, Earvin "Magic" Johnson had created quite the buzz, considering he had just led the Spartans to an NCAA championship, and had all the tangibles to become a star in the NBA. Ready to debut against the then-San Diego Clippers, Musburger stood courtside with the towering Johnson next to him, and asked the ever-smiling rookie a few questions prior to his first game — the rest is history.
Hail Flutie
Former Boston College standout Doug Flutie's game-winning throw against the Miami Hurricanes is etched in college football history forever, and Musburger's call only added to the memorable play. Against the reigning national champs, Boston College had one, final shot at victory, with Flutie scrambling out of the pocket, firing a strike downfield between multiple defenders for wide receiver Gerard Phelan, who came up with the catch. Musburger's reaction was candid, and cemented the play in sports history.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s ALDS Game 5 homerun
"The Kid" had one of the smoothest swings the game of baseball has ever seen, and against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, Griffey did what he did best. In the eighth inning, Griffey sent a blast to deep right field, and Musburger made sure everyone knew it was long gone.
University of Texas vs. Texas Tech
Two in-state rivals, one winner.
The Longhorns, led by quarterback Colt McCoy, were the No. 1 ranked team in the country, and faced off against No. 7 ranked Texas Tech at their home stadium, Jones AT&T Stadium.
With eight seconds remaining, and the Longhorns leading 33-32, the Red Raiders lined up on the 28-yard line, hoping for a miracle. Upon the snap, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell stepped back in the pocket, and delivered a strike to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who slipped out of the clutches of his defender and waltzed into the end zone with one second to spare on the clock. Thousands of fans rushed the field, and the game went on to become one of the greatest endings in the history of college rivalries.
"The Catch"
Few college football teams are as storied as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines. In 1991, the two titans met head-on, and the result was what you'd imagine, nothing short of spectacular. With Desmond Howard - the eventual Heisman Trophy winner - lined up on the outside, Michigan quarterback Elvis Grbac "went for it all", according to Musburger, connecting with Howard for a 27-yard touchdown that would seal the game. Michigan defeated the Irish 24-14.
Brent Musburger has played a part in several historic sports moments, and hopefully he'll be a part of many more as the new voice of the Raiders.
