Chris Stewart to Handle Tide Basketball Play-by-Play
10/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Chris Stewart will handle the play-by-play duties for Alabama basketball radio, Crimson Tide Sports Marketing General Manager Butch Henry announced Tuesday.
Stewart, 32, has worked with CTSM on a variety of projects over the past four years including football, basketball and radio broadcasts. Stewart handled the play-by-play last year for the Tide's game with McNeese State which conflicted with a football game.
"We are delighted to have Chris handle the play-by-play duties," Henry said. "He brings both experience and basketball knowledge to our network. We worked closely with Coach Mark Gottfried on the search and believe we have the best person to describe Crimson Tide basketball."
Stewart will team with Tom Roberts who is entering his 16th season as the analyst on Tide broadcasts.
"I want to thank Coach Moore, Dr. (Finus) Gaston, Coach Gottfried, and everyone at Crimson Tide Sports Marketing for the confidence they have shown in me, by allowing me the privilege to work in this capacity.
"With the job Mark and his staff have done over the past few years, I don't know that there has ever been a more exciting time to be involved with Alabama basketball. I'm thrilled to have the chance to relay that excitement to Crimson Tide fans over the state of Alabama," Stewart said.
The selection of Stewart completes a reorganization of Tide Network broadcasts that began with the two-year extension the University of Alabama granted CTSM this year as its multi-media rights' holder.
"We believe we have the most distinctive football broadcast in the South with Eli Gold and Kenny Stabler," Henry said. "We are pleased both have signed multi-year contracts to continue on our football broadcasts."
In addition, the weekly "Hey, Coach" program on Thursday nights has been re-vamped with Roberts co-hosting with Coach Dennis Franchione working the audience at Wings Sports Grille. CTSM has added an additional hour to its football broadcasts with Stewart hosting the Crimson Tide Tailgate Show at Wings Sports Grille.
Also, the Dennis Franchione Television Show was moved to NBC-13 in Birmingham with sports director Jim Dunaway hosting. The move has proved very popular with overnight ratings this week reaching a 6.4. That's three times the ratings for the show the same week a year ago.
