Turn out the lights, The party"s over. It was touching watching Keith Moreland getting choked up. It was a good run. Over all, it could have been more than it was, but a good run none-the-less. 1 of a kind. Doubtful it will ever be duplicated.
Dropped cable two seasons ago and lost LHN when we cut the cord. The only thing I have missed about LHN was the baseball. I am ready to get to watch games again at the Disch on SECN and ESPN+
It hit home for me when they ran a brief video history of Longhorn Network broadcasts from the beginning to the present. They then scrolled a special thanks list of key contributors to all their broadcasts (except they omitted Dave Thomas for some reason).
I know one of the guys who was on the screen listing of names. He told me before the game that, most likely, the airing of games will be handled by the School of Communications, as it is at other schools. ESPN will pick up those Tier 3 rights and broadcast the games on ESPN+ or SEC Network just like our home games are done now. So the quality will go down. I am especially sad to lose Zeke and Zonk. For my money, they are best team in the business.
I've got a buddy who was a former pitcher at UT in the eighties (I don't think he pitched a lot, don't really know for sure). He said he spoke to Keith and Greg a couple of months ago and at that time they seemed to think they would continue doing Longhorn broadcasts on the SEC network. I sure hope so...
I spoke briefly to Swindell before the game. He was at the home plate entrance with (I assume) members of his family. I just told him how I was going to miss LHN and that I hoped ESPN would pick them up. I agree that he & Keith Moreland are a great team.
The live Longhorn baseball games were the best thing about the LHN. But the week old women’s soccer game reruns and that commercial about the sound proof room run a close 2nd and 3rd.
I saw Zeke at the game on Friday as we were walking in. I only tapped him on the arm and gave him a 'Hookem' because any more than that and I wouldve gone into fanboy mode. He and I graduated UT the same year so big fan even b4 LHN.
I cut cable also, but picked up Sling just so I could get LHN. Baseball was supreme, but saw some great Volleyball, Softball, etc that I would have missed otherwise. Collectively, Zeke & Zonk are "the mayan". Keith & I graduated the same year. Haven't watched much on ESPN, but LHN beats the hell out of ESPN+.
Those 2 are gems of the Longhorn Nation. If you have the pleasure of listening to the various ESPN + announcers, you understand just how good we have it. As announcers, I'd put those 2 in the same ballpark as Uecker. (of course both were a lot better baseball players than Uecker...)
Swindell and Moreland said they'd been doing the LHN games for 8 years now. Who were the broadcasters from 2012 - 2016 then? I can't recall!
I have kept cable just for Texas baseball. ESPN+ sucks but it’s better than nothing. I recall a time before LHN I sent an email to ESPN letting them know their coverage of college baseball was pathetic. I was ecstatic when LHN allowed me to watch every home game. (I wish LHN was around in the Gus years)
