Nice thoughts from Brad Nessler about Uncle Verne, as he went through his first season as the man on the SEC beat:
Q: How was the SEC season? I know you’ve said you weren’t replacing Verne, but did that get better as the year went along?
A: I talk to Verne all the time. We kept him in the loop a lot. He would know, if we were doing an Alabama game, exactly what time we would be with (coach Nick) Saban, meeting, and when Saban would leave the meeting room, and we’d be eating Dreamland Bar-b-que. Then one of us would call Verne and we’d get him on our phone and include him. We worried about his back surgery. We talked to him a lot.
The last time that I really had a conversation, I had to talk to him about Army-Navy, because I had never done it before. I’m like, ‘Verne, everybody’s hitting me from all sides about Army-Navy, and I don’t get it.’ He said, ‘You will, once you do it.’ We went to West Point for a whole day, Annapolis for a whole day. We were in New York for the National Football Foundation deal, so I spent the whole week on the week on the road with our crew, and by the time I got to the game, I got it. And the game was awesome, and I really got it. Verne helped me on that one a lot.
He’s always been a huge backer of mine and mentor. We try to keep him in the loop, and I can’t wait for him get back to the Masters, hopefully.
I imagine the phone call from Dreamland was a hoot.
Non-Lundquist, but this is pretty funny:
Q: It’s unusual for someone to come back to where they worked before. Had a lot changed when you came back?
A: You know what’s really weird? When I came back for football, my producer was Craig Silver 27 years ago or whatever, he’s still my producer on football. The theme music is the same for football and basketball. When I came back, when you have to do billboards and stuff, pre-taping things, the music comes back, and it just comes back.
I know what he means.
Eight notes, and you know what’s coming on TV next.
Get The Picture 
Starting about 2008 or 2009 I disliked hearing that music before a Georgia game because it was usually a big game and there was a good chance we’d gak it up or face plant. This year was therapy but it’ll take one or two more before the reflex is cured.
LikeLike
Absolutely. I still get that pain in my gut, I played the clip just now and it’s still there.
LikeLike
Brad Nessler is my favorite football play by play guy. I loved the combination of Nessler and Todd Blackledge back in the day and for my money, I would trash Danielson and replace him with Blackledge. Todd has a lot more perspective and doesn’t make the commentary about what he said a couple of weeks ago or even an hour ago about a player, a team or a particular topic. Which is Danielson’s schtick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blackledge was always so fair and complimentary on UGA games on CBS that I could almost forgive him for that Sugar Bowl loss. Danielson is really smart about Xs and Os, but sometimes the tone is annoying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said.
LikeLike
Danielson is really, really good with Xs and Os, but you just can’t take the arrogant Yankee out of him so his delivery is annoying. I have to get over it and accept the message as being good. Blackledge is the total package, good prep work and understanding of the game, makes balanced comments, and delivers them with just the right touch, at the right times. I know he was born in Ohio, but credit his parents for bringing him up well…no reason most people cannot overcome their birth issues.
LikeLike
Someday some genius is going to decide to change this music because it sounds “dated” or whatever. That will be a sad day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That person should be drawn and quartered.
LikeLike
Vern was right about Army-Navy. Been fortunate to have been to 5 of them. Nothing like it in sports.
LikeLike
Anyone else remember when Nessler, Ken Burrough, and Skinny Bobby Harper did the Falcons broadcasts? It sounded like they had an open bar during the game.
LikeLike
Dreamland? Archibald’s is where it’s at. I don’t know any T-town locals who eat at Dreamland.
LikeLike
Agree with you, Dreamland was one of my biggest disappointments in Tusky (we won the game). Their ribs were fine, but I had never been in a BBQ joint that only served ribs. What the hell do they do with the rest of those pigs?! Never went back to Dreamland, prefer other options when I am out, besides the Golden Flake Chips, like an outside cut pulled pork sammich.
LikeLike
Munson was irreplaceable in my opinion. Next is Uncle Vern.
LikeLike
IMO, the best CFB play by play guys of all-time are: 1. Keith Jackson. 2. Gene Deckerhoff. 3. Larry Munson. 4. Vern
LikeLike
Ron Daniels?
LikeLike
No question Larry was the very best, but that was radio. I certainly enjoyed Keith Jackson for decades, but have to admit, Mike Tirico was very impressive in that ND game. Would put him with the best I have heard on TV, and he was very fair considering he is on a one-team network.
LikeLike
There is nothing simpler in this world that gives me goose bumps than that music. You’re a couple beers deep, the afternoon sun is coming through the windows in your house but the shadows are getting just a touch longer. You are pacing back and forth between the kitchen/grill and den as the song comes on and you feel like you have 100 things to do in the next 3 or 4 minutes and you can only take in a breath when you have finally reached your seat on the couch.
LikeLike
I’ll give you a better sound -” 7 notes on a Trumpet”
LikeLike