Joe Smith To Retire From Indiana University Football, Men's Basketball Radio Broadcasts

Smith (Photo: WGCL)

Longtime INDIANA UNIVERSITY football and men's basketball pre-game, halftime, and post-game host JOE SMITH will retire after the 2022 football season, he announced on WEDNESDAY (5/25). SMITH, also Sports Dir. of SARKES TARZIAN News-Talk WGCL-A-W254DP/BLOOMINGTON, IN and the HOOSIERS' studio host since 1983, will host the football post-game show while aiding in the transition to a new studio host, EMMIS News-Talk WIBC/INDIANAPOLIS News Anchor JOHN HERRICK.

 "JOE SMITH has been an integral and versatile member of the IU RADIO NETWORK broadcast team for the better part of 40 years," said play-by-play announcer DON FISCHER, who is celebrating his 50th season behind the mic for the HOOSIERS this season. "At one time or another, JOE has served as the broadcast engineer, football spotter, statistician, and our pre-game, halftime, and post-game host through those four decades. He also sat in for me as the play-by-play voice for the SEAWOLF CLASSIC in 1978 and took over late in a game when I developed laryngitis. His ability to step in and do whatever has been asked has made him invaluable to me and our staff. JOE's transition into this new role is just another example of his multifaceted abilities."

"I would not miss DON's 50th season for anything in the world," said SMITH. "Nothing has made me happier than being a part of Indiana football and men's basketball broadcasts with the best play-by-play man in the country. DON is a true friend and to share the booth with him one final year, well, it doesn't get any better than that."

"Even though broadcasting has taken me to many places, it still brought me back to INDIANA," said HERRICK. "No matter where I have gone, I have always been a HOOSIER. It is fitting, then, that I will be joining the IU broadcast team. I, like many others, grew up listening to DON FISCHER and admiring his Hall of Fame work. Now I have the benefit of working alongside a legend and learning even more from DON throughout the football and basketball seasons. I look forward to bringing HOOSIER Nation a broadcasting product it can be proud of."

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