CBS announcer Verne Lundquist will be leaving the SEC on CBS at the end of the 2016 season, the network announced on Tuesday.
Lundquist has been a broadcaster for 53 years and has called more than 20 different sports for CBS. In 2000, he started calling SEC football games for the station. Lundquist will stay at CBS and be a part of the networks college basketball and golf coverage after he leaves the SEC, according to CBS Sports. Brad Nessler will replace Lundquist in the booth.
“Being a part of the SEC on CBS since 2000 has been the most significant assignment I’ve been given in my more than five decades in this business,” Lundquist said in a statement, “Now, it’s time to step back and take in the aroma of those tulips, those roses, and those daffodils that friends have been telling me about for years. In 2017, I’ll happily step aside from college football and welcome Brad to the booth. I’ve known Brad for more than 30 years and have always admired his work ethic and his on-air presence. He shares the same passion for college football that I do. The SEC on CBS is in great hands. Brad and Gary will form a great partnership in the years ahead.”
Nessler joined CBS in 1990 and called college football and men’s and women’s basketball. For the last 24 years he was at ESPN and was calling Saturday night college football games for ESPN, according to the Associated Press. Nessler will call some SEC games for CBS this fall when the network has two conference games.
Next year, Nessler will join lead analyst Gary Danielson and reporter Allie LaForce as part of the SEC on CBS team.