Time for Munson to retire

The post-game analysis came soon after Georgia's win Saturday over Georgia Southern. Friends, family, co-workers and even my pastor all agreed on one thing -- Bulldogs play-by-play announcer Larry Munson sounded horrid. To give the legendary "Voice of the Dogs" the benefit of the doubt, I was at Sanford Stadium. I didn't hear a single word. But if you can't trust your mother and your pastor, who can you trust?

Before the game, I saw Munson in the press box walking -- albeit slowly -- to his booth. Physically, he looked OK. But that gravelly voice, that famous voice that's churned out decades of memorable calls, is obviously on the decline. My pastor said he didn't think Munson would finish the game.

At 85, Munson (who turns 86 later this month) has put together a remarkable career behind the mic. To Georgia fans everywhere, he is one of the all-time Bulldog greats. If there were a UGA version of Mount Rushmore (Stone Mountain?), it would have four faces -- Herschel Walker, Vince Dooley, Mark Richt and Larry Munson. But while his greatness is clearly indisputable, Munson's skills are deteriorating. And if what everyone is telling me about Munson is true, and I have to believe so (Hey, it's my mom and my pastor), then it's time for one thing.

Larry Munson needs to step down. Not at the end of the season. Now.

It hurts me to write that. Sincerely. My mom turned me onto Georgia football at a young age. Soon after, I became a Munson addict. I was too young to remember Rex Robinson or Lindsay Scott or Herschel Walker. But I enjoyed listening to Munson's calls of the Bulldog greats delivering Georgia from the perils of defeat. Thousands of times I've listened to Matt Robinson hand the end-around to Richard Appleby, who threw a bomb to Gene Washington who, Munson exclaimed, "thinking of Montreal and the Olympics, ran out of his shoes right down the middle 80 yards. The Gator Bowl rocking. Stunned. The girders are bending now." The 1975 Georgia win over Florida is a favorite.

His calls are instant classics, ones I still enjoy and play for my 2-year-old triplets. We watch on YouTube as Buck Belue tosses a pass to Lindsay Scott and we listen to Munson (and my daughter Hannah) yell "Run Lindsay." Munson never said "touchdown" that fateful fall day in 1980 when the Bulldogs defeated the Gators on that last-minute miracle. He didn't have to. He was too busy trying to celebrate, his chair -- the one with the 5-inch cushion -- he broke it.

Munson's voice still can be heard at multiple tailgate parties held throughout Athens, Ga., on gameday. Through Munson, Herschel Walker ("My God a freshman!) is still running over Tennessee's Bill Bates. Georgia fans still hear Munson fretting over the Bulldogs' chances with one second on the clock just before Mike Bobo tosses a Hail Mary pass to Corey Allen for a game-tying touchdown at the end of regulation against Auburn in 1996; Georgia later won in four overtimes. And Munson makes everyone wonder "What's a hob-nailed boot?" after David Greene's last-second touchdown pass to Verron Haynes in 2001 crushed Tennessee's face.

While Munson's calls still bring a smile to Georgia fans, his current voice does not. It's time for Munson to pass the baton to color analyst Scott Howard (who does play-by-play on the road games). Howard admitted -- if and when he does get the job -- he will not be the next Munson. Howard will be his own man, and he'll do a fine job.

I suggest Munson and Howard switch places. Let Munson slide into the role of color analyst. He won't have to fumble around trying to quickly (and correctly) get names of players. Let Scott Howard carry the load. Munson can provide insightful commentary -- not just for this season but for years to come.

Chances are I'll be at this week's Georgia game. I will be unable to listen to Larry Munson. I wouldn't want to anyway. I like to remember the Munson who once screamed into the mic, "Look at the sugar falling out of the sky. Look at the sugar falling out of the sky."

Hours after this week's game, I expect to hear from family and friends. They'll give me an update on Munson. My pastor will probably pass along a few honest words as well. Unfortunately, I don't expect a good report. And when we talk about the Georgia legend I think I know where the conversation will drift: It's time for Munson to step down.