Watch: Gene Deckerhoff talks before final game of his FSU broadcasting career
The legend called the Seminoles’ spring game Saturday as his final broadcast of his FSU broadcasting career which spans 46 years.
Curt Weiler, Tallahassee Democrat
Gene Deckerhoff, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is retiring after 37 seasons.Deckerhoff previously retired as the “Voice of the Seminoles” for Florida State University after a decades-long career.He cited vision issues as a primary reason for stepping away from broadcasting.Deckerhoff is celebrated for calling championships for both FSU and the Buccaneers, including two Super Bowls.
When Gene Deckerhoff reflects on his extraordinary broadcasting career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one moment stands out:
Bobby Bowden agreeing to tape his weekly television show at 2 a.m.
“There’s not another coach in America who would agree to that,” Deckerhoff told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“But Bobby did. Without him, I never could have done both jobs.”
That single gesture in 1989 by Florida State’s legendary football coach opened the door for Deckerhoff’s dual broadcasting run that spanned decades, multiple sports, and countless time zones – FSU on Saturdays, Tampa Bay Bucs on Sundays.
Bucs announce Gene Deckerhoff’s retirement on social media
On Wednesday, Dec. 31, the Bucs announced on social media that Deckerhoff, 80, will retire after this season and 37 years as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.
The Bucs’ season could end at home Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, unless the team earns a playoff spot.
Deckerhoff, a Tallahassee resident, is stepping away from the Bucs four years after retiring as “Voice of the Seminoles,’ where he began calling Seminole men’s basketball games in 1974 and assumed FSU football play-by-play duties in 1979.
And while Deckerhoff’s legendary voice remains strong, his eyes told him a different story.
He also recalled a warning from the late Cawood Leford, the legendary voice of Kentucky basketball and football.
“He told me the first thing that goes is seeing jersey numbers – and you can’t do play-by-play if you can’t see them,” Deckerhoff said.
Years later Deckerhoff admits the truth in that line.
“I’ve got a little vision issue and it’s getting tougher and tougher,” said Deckerhoff, noting that age makes it inevitable
“Eighty is the new 40s now, but my eyes don’t understand that.”
Deckerhoff’s retirement marks end to legendary era
Gene Deckerhoff spent decades painting unforgettable moments from stadium radio booths for both the Seminoles and the Buccaneers – calling FSU’s 1999 and 2013 national championships and Super Bowl XXXVII and LV for Tampa Bay.
His signature calls – “Touchdown, FSU!” and “Touchdown, Tampa Bay!” – became part of the soundtrack of football across Florida.
When Deckerhoff was offered the Buccaneers job, his first call was to Bowden.
Bowden didn’t hesitate.
He agreed to shift the taping of his weekly television show after FSU’s games to the earlier hours of the morning so Deckerhoff could travel for Sunday Bucs games.
“That was Bobby – always gracious, always professional,” Deckerhoff said.
Former FSU and Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson, who led Tampa Bay to its Super Bowl title in 2003, praised Deckerhoff’s meticulous preparation and passion for the game.
“He was so prepared for everything and everybody, and if you saw his notes … he loved Florida State and he loved the Tampa Bay Bucs,” Johnson told the Democrat, noting that Deckerhoff called every play of Derrick Brooks’ Hall of Fame career with the Seminoles and Bucs.
“He could bring the plays to life on radio. There are times now when I’m driving and I listen to him calling the Bucs games. I mean, calling the Bucs for 37 years – that’s incredible. Sharp-minded, too. He could recall every play, every year, every game. He was the guy.”
When Deckerhoff turns off his microphone for the final time with the Bucs, he will have called more than 800 Buccaneers games and alerted fans to a Tampa Bay touchdown on more than 1,100 occasions. At FSU, he called 529 football games, over 1,300 men’s basketball games and countless FSU baseball games.
“For 37 seasons, Gene Deckerhoff’s voice has set the scene for the most iconic moments in our franchise’s history, and his signature calls will forever resonate with Buccaneers fans,” Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer said in the team’s announcement.
“His passion, authenticity and unmistakable voice created memories that have been cherished and enjoyed by countless generations of Buccaneers fans. As he closes out his extraordinary journey, we congratulate Gene on a remarkable broadcasting career and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.”
Deckerhoff is uncertain what retirement might hold, yet he’s thankful for his broadcasting career.
“Well, I don’t know what I am going to do,” Deckerhoff said and laughed, noting he last applied for a job in the mid-1970s. “It has been a great run, a great ride and the ownership (Glazer family) could not have been any better for me.
“But now we still have to go out and get a win (Saturday).”
Jim Henry is the Sports Editor of the Tallahassee Democrat. You can email him at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.