From those of us old fashion enough to not trust ANYONE with their credit card numbers except the most established of retailers and just listen to hockey on WRPI, a shout out is warranted to the newest student addition to the stable of RPI broadcasters. Joe, despite very limited play by play experience, called an excellent game which was very easy to follow. A very good addition to what is almost certainly the best and deepest collection of RPI sports broadcasters ever.
No implication that there were not good ones in the past. The list of RPI radio broadcasters going back to day one, including time on commercial stations, has almost always had good broadcasters. The list includes:
1950's (before my time)- George Miller and Roy Schudt on WGY. Both men were far better known for their summer time work as race callers at Saratoga Harness. Schudt would later move on to larger tracks like Brandywine in Pennsylvania and them on the the west coast where he became a legendary voice of the sport. He is generally credited with coining the phrases "here they come- there they go" and "their coming for home"
Early 1960's (also before my time)- Ed Dauge while a student at RPI. Eventually, everyone in the Capital District knew who he was. Anchored the news at one time or another for ALL THREE local network affiliates that existed for the bulk of his career.
Rest of the 1960's- Paul Midghall on WGY after his playing days were done. Very good announcer.
1970's- RPI Hockey was no longer on commercial radio but there were still the likes of Al Able and the absolute wackiest color guy there ever was in Marcelle LaPoint. As best as I know, Able never used his RPI degree. He took a sports writing job at the Troy Record and eventually ended up as a sports editor at a big city Canadian paper.
1980's- Richie Glassberg, who could make coffee nervous, and his sidekick "the voice of reason" Dave Simon. Legend has it that one night Glassberg got so revved up at UVM when RPI gave up the first five then scored the next eight that he passed out. Supposedly, he was revived when the rest of the crew carried him outside and threw him in a snowbank.
1990's- Some of the very good current day guys like Kurt and occasionally Rob were first heard. Former standout announcer Jayson Moy also first showed up at in this time frame.
2000's- Pretty much highlighted by Tim Heinman. Like Able earlier, also did not become an engineer. Can presently be heard doing various games for the ESPN networks and as the voice of the double A affiliate of the Mets in Binghamton. Pretty good resume for a career that is still in its' early stages.
Hope I did not leave out or forget anyone. Regardless and as good as those listed above were in their time, the golden age of RPI sports broadcasting is RIGHT NOW. Previously, there just plain and simple was not the depth there is these days. You have Perry (mens' and womens' hockey as well as baseball), Kurt (football and occasional mens' hockey), Jeff (mens' hockey and baseball), Ed (some football and some mens' hockey, hopefully more in the future), Rob (occasional mens' hockey) and Yancey (everything but hockey with mens' basketball on RPI TV to boot). Based on the work done by Joe at Brown hockey game earlier, the impressive current day stable has one more positive addition. Of course, it also does not hurt that a very small spattering of less than stellar, not knowledgeable, unprepared and often not listenable types have now come and gone and are no longer on air.
Hopefully, there is now even enough depth that one of these guys may want to take a Florida "vacation" and broadcast the six Florida baseball games on radio or even RPI TV!!! It would sure beat live stats.
