TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football’s offseason has been characterized by changes highlighted by Nick Saban’s retirement. Those changes continued on Wednesday as the program will have a new radio play-by-play announcer for the first time in nearly 40 years. Longtime broadcaster Eli Gold will not return to the Alabama radio booth this fall, according to a statement released by the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
Gold’s commentary spanned 35 seasons, eight head coaches and seven national championships. On Thursday, Gold shed light on the decision and what’s next for his career. He made one thing clear: The decision to part ways was not his.
“I was called into a meeting a couple of weeks ago in (Alabama athletic director) Greg Byrne’s office,” Gold said in an interview with Tide 100.9 radio. “The indication I was given was that the university was ready to make a change. I did offer a compromise. I said, ‘Look, let me do one more year. Let me do one more full season, home and away (games), and then I would quietly walk off into the sunset, and you wouldn’t hear from me again.’
“They respectfully declined that, and then they came back the very next day and said I was not being retained.”
Gold’s tenure at Alabama ends after missing the entire 2022 season with a bout with cancer. He returned to the radio booth in 2023 in a limited capacity, only calling home games and the Auburn game, which was on the road. Despite possible concerns about his health, Gold, 70, said he has a clean bill from his doctors and can work without limitations.
Gold said there were a few other factors that led to the split.
“They were not pleased with one or two things that I have said,” Gold said. “I was not pleased with the way (2023) was handled because I thought I was ambushed when they didn’t allow me to do the road games. They claimed it was for my health, but at that point, my health had already been cleared by the doctors, and I was doing well. It was just an uncomfortable situation. And it was clear that they felt it was time for me to be sent packing, and that’s how it goes.”
The end of Gold’s legendary tenure didn’t sour his feelings toward Alabama, which he said he maintains an immense love for, as he does for the fans and people he has created relationships with. One of those is Saban, with whom Gold exchanged messages on Wednesday. The end of the Saban/Gold era is replaced by Kalen DeBoer and Chris Stewart, Gold’s replacement.
Stewart has been with the network in a variety of positions since 1998 and filled in for Gold during the 2022 season. During the 2023 season, Stewart handled all road games and Alabama’s postseason games. He is currently the voice of the men’s basketball program and expects to continue that role even with added football commentary.
“I’ve got great a friendship with Chris; he’s on the road with us, and he’s a good dude,” Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats said on Wednesday night following a 98-93 win over Florida. “If I could go back and have his calls with the TV view of the game, I would probably do that every time. No disrespect to the TV announcers we’ve had, but there’s something about Chris’ voice on the play-by-play.”
Gold’s Alabama departure doesn’t signify a retirement. He said he received multiple job offers within minutes of Wednesday’s news release. He has accepted a role with a professional organization, and the announcement is set to be made Friday. He projects that he could be calling games for at least another decade.
“I’m healthy. I’m ready to work. I’m strong. I’m doing great,” Gold said. “When you look at (New York Yankees broadcaster) John Sterling still calling games at age 84, I can tell you that 70 is still youthful. So I’m going to keep working and have a great time and look back on these last 36 years with memories that will never ever fade from my mind.”
He didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to an Alabama game this fall or later down the road as a fan, but it will depend on his schedule with his new position.
“I might. I would hope so,” Gold said. “I don’t know what my schedule will allow, and there are going to be some Saturdays now where I’m going to be on the boat and enjoying time with the family. That’s one of the things I am looking forward to doing so we’ll see, but I just can’t thank the viewers and listeners enough. It’s been a magnificent, magnificent time.”
(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
