2008 Woodie Awards
Profile: The man who gives voice to the Hawkeyes
Darren Josephson - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 7/14/08 Section: Sports
"Touchdown, Iowa."
Those two words may seem simple enough, but to hear Gary Dolphin in his patented baritone voice make the call is music to Iowa fans listening to Hawkeye football games on the radio each Saturday during the fall.
In an era dominated by television coverage, play-by-play broadcasters on radio rarely receive as much recognition as their television counterparts.
Still, there is something about Dolphin and his on-air prowess that gives him celebrity status in the state.
Being the radio voice for both Iowa football and men's basketball, Dolphin is no doubt a part of Hawkeye athletics. At the same time, he is a man of the people, acting as a bridge to connect fans with their beloved Hawkeyes.
"Gary is a tireless ambassador for the university and the Iowa Hawkeyes," Iowa Associate Athletics Director Rick Klatt said. "We couldn't be more appreciative of how he works on the air."
That kind of praise is commonplace when the conversation turns to the Voice of the Hawkeyes. What is interesting to note is that Dolphin almost didn't get what he calls "the job I've always wanted to do."
He almost missed out on being Iowa's play-by-play commentator simply because he was hesitant to apply for the position 12 years ago, when Learfield Sports acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast Hawkeye football and basketball. Prior to that, Hawkeye football games were broadcast on a variety of radio stations from across the state, creating a trio of fan-favorite broadcasters Jim Zabel, Bob Brooks, and Ron Gonder. Most people familiar with the situation figured the job would go to one of those three men. Dolphin was of the same mind set.
"I didn't make a call, I didn't apply for the job, I didn't do anything," he said. "I wasn't going to go after it, because I just assumed, like everybody else, that they would give it to one of the big three."
After Learfield Sports let it be known that it would not select one of the big three to be Iowa's radio voice for Hawkeye football and men's basketball, Dolphin received a phone call from a member of the search committee asking why he had not applied for the position.
Those two words may seem simple enough, but to hear Gary Dolphin in his patented baritone voice make the call is music to Iowa fans listening to Hawkeye football games on the radio each Saturday during the fall.
In an era dominated by television coverage, play-by-play broadcasters on radio rarely receive as much recognition as their television counterparts.
Still, there is something about Dolphin and his on-air prowess that gives him celebrity status in the state.
Being the radio voice for both Iowa football and men's basketball, Dolphin is no doubt a part of Hawkeye athletics. At the same time, he is a man of the people, acting as a bridge to connect fans with their beloved Hawkeyes.
"Gary is a tireless ambassador for the university and the Iowa Hawkeyes," Iowa Associate Athletics Director Rick Klatt said. "We couldn't be more appreciative of how he works on the air."
That kind of praise is commonplace when the conversation turns to the Voice of the Hawkeyes. What is interesting to note is that Dolphin almost didn't get what he calls "the job I've always wanted to do."
He almost missed out on being Iowa's play-by-play commentator simply because he was hesitant to apply for the position 12 years ago, when Learfield Sports acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast Hawkeye football and basketball. Prior to that, Hawkeye football games were broadcast on a variety of radio stations from across the state, creating a trio of fan-favorite broadcasters Jim Zabel, Bob Brooks, and Ron Gonder. Most people familiar with the situation figured the job would go to one of those three men. Dolphin was of the same mind set.
"I didn't make a call, I didn't apply for the job, I didn't do anything," he said. "I wasn't going to go after it, because I just assumed, like everybody else, that they would give it to one of the big three."
After Learfield Sports let it be known that it would not select one of the big three to be Iowa's radio voice for Hawkeye football and men's basketball, Dolphin received a phone call from a member of the search committee asking why he had not applied for the position.
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