Rod Bramblett

Roderick Jon Bramblett Jr. (November 5, 1965 – May 25, 2019) was an American sportscaster who served as radio play-by-play announcer for Auburn Tigers football, basketball, and baseball. He received national media attention during the 2013 football season for his calls of the game-winning plays against the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Career

A 1988 graduate of Auburn University, Bramblett was the lead announcer for Auburn baseball for 11 seasons before he was chosen to succeed the late Jim Fyffe as lead announcer for Auburn football and men's basketball on June 23, 2003. Fyffe had died of a brain aneurysm on May 15, 2003.

Jim Fyffe was known for his enthusiastic "Touchdown Auburn" call and Bramblett initially chose to honor that legacy by using "Touchdown Auburn" in a similar style at least once during football games. He would opt for "Touchdown Tigers" or other phrasing during other times. But in a 2013 interview with AuburnTigers.com writer Charles Goldberg, Bramblett reflected on how he transitioned into using "Touchdown Auburn" exclusively:

Former Auburn quarterback Stan White served as Bramblett's color commentator throughout his tenure. White has been the network's color commentator since the 2001 football season.

Bramblett also served as the Auburn Network's Director of Broadcast Services, the host of the network's call-in show, Tiger Talk, and the host of the weekly Auburn Football Review TV show.

Awards

Bramblett was named Alabama Sportscaster of the Year three times (2006, 2010, and 2013).

Bramblett was honored as Sports Illustrated's Play-by-Play Announcer of the Year in 2013, primarily based on his calls of the winning plays in Auburn's final, regular season games against Georgia and Alabama.

Memorable Calls

2003: Alabama at Auburn

Prior to the 2013 season, this call was, perhaps, Rod Bramblett's signature call. The 2003 season had been disappointing for Auburn and the game was played under speculation that head coach Tommy Tuberville would be fired regardless of the outcome. Running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams had said in previous interviews that he "was crazy" when he was in the zone, and Auburn players had said they "go crazy" when Carnell does. Williams had left his first game against the Crimson Tide in 2001 after suffering a shoulder injury during the first series, and suffered a season-ending leg injury against Florida in 2002. His return to action against the Crimson Tide was highly anticipated. On the first play from scrimmage, Williams took the handoff from quarterback Jason Campbell. In the Auburn radio booth, Rod Bramblett made the call:

The Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide 28-23.

2013: Georgia at Auburn

Auburn was in the midst of an improbable turnaround under first-year head coach Gus Malzahn after going 3-9 in 2012 (0-8 in SEC play). The Tigers entered their game against the No. 25 Georgia Bulldogs with a 9-1 record and a No. 7 ranking in the AP poll. The Tigers dominated the first half, leading 27-10 at halftime, and 37-17 with 12:39 to play in the fourth quarter. But Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray led a fourth quarter comeback and the Bulldogs took a 38-37 lead when Murray scored on a 5-yard run with 1:49 to play. The Tigers started their ensuing possession on their own 22. After managing one first down, Georgia's Jordan Jenkins sacked quarterback Nick Marshall, setting up a 4th-and-18 play for the Tigers, from their own 27 yard line. Rod Bramblett made the following call:

Ricardo Louis's catch gave the Tigers a 43-38 advantage (a two-point conversion failed), but Georgia would get one final possession as Aaron Murray led the Bulldogs into Auburn territory. But a Dee Ford sack on fourth down sealed the victory for the Tigers.

The Ricardo Louis touchdown was named the play of the game by CBS Sports and Rod Bramblett's call was used for the video replay. It was later heard on ESPN on both SportsCenter and College Football Final. During the week of the Iron Bowl, ESPN's Tom Rinaldi interviewed Rod Bramblett and others for a feature, titled "Prayer at Jordan-Hare", to be used for ESPN College GameDay, which would be in Auburn for the Iron Bowl. Bramblett called it "the most incredible, phenomenal, improbable, maybe impossible moment that I've ever witnessed and had the opportunity to call."

2013: Alabama at Auburn

Two weeks after the miracle win against Georgia, the Tigers faced in-state rival and No. 1 ranked Alabama. ESPN's College GameDay was in town, and the two teams, for the first time since the inception of division play in 1992, would be playing to represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game.

The Tigers took an early 7-0 lead on a Nick Marshall touchdown run, but the Crimson Tide pulled out to a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Tigers closed the gap with a Tre Mason touchdown run and were down 21-14 at the half. The Tigers tied the game in the third quarter with a Nick Marshall touchdown pass to C. J. Uzomah. But after pinning the Crimson Tide on their own 1-yard-line, Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron completed a 99-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper to give the Crimson tide a 28-21 lead. The two teams traded defensive stops late in the fourth quarter and Auburn had the ball with 2:32 to play at their own 35. The Tigers ran the ball six consecutive plays and had 1st-and-10 at the Alabama 39 with 0:44 to play. Marshall kept the ball running left, then found receiver Sammie Coates wide open for the game-tying touchdown.

Alabama's ensuing possession started at their 29. After an incomplete pass, T. J. Yeldon ran twice for 9 yards and 26 yards to the Auburn 38. Yeldon appeared to have been pushed out-of-bounds as time expired. But after an official review, it was determined that 0:01 remained in regulation and Alabama sent freshman kicker Adam Griffith in to attempt a 56-yard field goal. After a time-out, Auburn sent defensive back and kick return Chris Davis into the end zone in anticipation of a short kick. On the Auburn IMG Sports Network, Rod Bramblett and Stan White called the play that would become known as the Kick Six:

Chris Davis's return was the CBS play of the game which, once again, allowed the TV audience to hear Bramblett's call. It was also played numerous times on various ESPN programming. Bramblett's call was also featured on ABC News on the Sunday following the game.

On the Monday following the game, Bramblett was interviewed on Fox & Friends and the Tim Brando Show. Richard Sandomir of the New York Times wrote, "Auburn Announcer Has the Call of a Lifetime, Twice in One Month" in a feature story on Bramblett.

Bramblett's Iron Bowl call has itself become part of Auburn folklore. Just days after the game, a video of a 25-year-old woman from North Carolina with no previous connection to Auburn lip synching to Bramblett's call went viral on YouTube. Other similar videos, mostly of young Auburn fans syncing the call, followed.

A week later, the Tigers defeated Missouri 59-42 in the 2013 SEC Championship Game. The win, and Michigan State's win over Ohio State, sent the Tigers to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game vs. Florida State.

Death

On May 25, 2019, Bramblett and his wife Paula were involved in a car accident in Auburn, Alabama; their Toyota Highlander was struck by a Jeep on Shug Jordan Parkway. Bramblett was airlifted to UAB Hospital, where he later died of head injuries. His wife was pronounced dead in the emergency room at East Alabama Medical Center from multiple internal injuries. The 16-year-old driver of the Jeep was under the influence of marijuana and was going 89 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone, and was charged with manslaughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bramblett, Rod
1965 births
Place of birth missing
2019 deaths
American sports announcers
Auburn University alumni
Auburn Tigers football announcers
Auburn Tigers basketball broadcasters
Auburn Tigers baseball announcers
College football announcers
College basketball announcers in the United States
College baseball announcers in the United States
Road incident deaths in Alabama