Think back on your favorite SEC on CBS moment and there’s a better chance than not you’re hearing the voice of legendary play-by-play man Verne Lundquist call the action.
“Uncle Verne” became synonymous with SEC Saturdays and you always knew it was a big game whenever he was welcoming you into a broadcast.
Lundquist officially retired from calling college football and basketball games in 2016, but this Saturday marked the final SEC on CBS game before the deal between the conference and network expires. Soon it’ll be the Big Ten on CBS and the big SEC games will be shown elsewhere.
So before No. 1 Georgia and No. 8 Alabama kicked off in the SEC championship game, CBS gave everyone the one thing it wanted: one last moment with Verne on an SEC broadcast.
During a pregame video, the 83-year-old Lundquist got college fans everywhere ready to settle in for some big time action.
In life and in football, we long to be remembered. We fantasize about leaving a legacy.
Today, @GeorgiaFootball and @AlabamaFTBL look to make a lasting memory.
For one final time, it’s the SEC Championship Game on CBS. pic.twitter.com/bYK95AKMqO
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 2, 2023
This had college fans everywhere in their feelings.
CBS really brought back Uncle Verne to narrate the farewell video 😭
🎥: CBS Sports Tik Tok pic.twitter.com/WW0Vh0RPii
— Riley (@Ri_S_OB) December 2, 2023
Today, we celebrate the final chapter of the SEC on CBS.
Thank you all for joining us on an incredible ride.pic.twitter.com/frgcg48kQ4
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 2, 2023
Verne Lundquist and Brad Nessler opening up the final SEC Championship to be aired on CBS pic.twitter.com/j6qalHBz78
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 2, 2023
That’ll do, Uncle Verne. That’ll do. https://t.co/IKhv9LyPpE
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) December 2, 2023
Narrated by the great Verne Lundquist, whose career includes covering the Kennedy Assassination and Kick Six. https://t.co/1asxPZuUFi
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) December 2, 2023
Uncle Verne!
The legend has joined us on set at the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/qcrTVUPJ3k
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 2, 2023
Verne Lundqvist narrated intros hit different.
Enjoy the SEC Championship Game, football fans. #NCAAFootball | #SECChampionship
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) December 2, 2023
So glad they had Verne Lundquist do the final SEC on CBS broadcast intro. Absolute legend. https://t.co/tuv8V3FF88
— Rhiannon Potkey (@RPotkey) December 2, 2023
Not Verne showing up.. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/WmpkYPCsBz
— you (@topofthemorn9) December 2, 2023
Uncle Verne is one of the greatest to pick up the mic. Great seeing and hearing him again https://t.co/aYpz4B4ga3
— Myck Miller (@MyckMiller) December 2, 2023
Verne narrating the Alabama intro for the last SEC on CBS broadcast and then passing the “torch” (microphone) to Nessler to narrate the UGA part of this introduction is beautiful man
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 2, 2023
Seeing Verne in that intro pic.twitter.com/pD4NlGTqBA
— Ghost of Neyland (@GhostNeyland) December 2, 2023
OK I AM CRYING
VERNE 🤝🏼 BRAD @SEConCBS
— Jamie Erdahl (@JamieErdahl) December 2, 2023
Verne made this video 1000 times better. #SECChampionship
— Griff Bordignon (@MrGriffB) December 2, 2023
Verne in the game intro. I don’t know if I’m ready pic.twitter.com/us8fBJGHwD
— Austin Wader 🐗🏴☠️ (@austin_wader) December 2, 2023
uncle verne passing the mic to brad nessler got me emotional???????
— kelsey orr (@kelseytayorr) December 2, 2023