Gene Honda will be the PA announcer for some Illinois games this season

[UIUC2008]

I know he has done some Final Four's as well. Also does Depaul basketball at Allstate. I believe he already had a stint as the football PA at memorial stadium.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by illinijimbo

Gene Honda does PA for the White Sox home games and Blackhawks home games and the Final Four.

He's one of the best there is....and a U of I grad!

He also does a lot of the WTTW fundraising broadcasts.

[256ILLINI]

Thank the lord. Mike Cation seems nice, but his voice makes my skin crawl

[illini55]

I worked with him at WPGU in the 70's. He's the real deal!

[krushdad]

256Illini...Mike Cation did not do football. He is our bball announcer. Football was somebody else?? I think Mike something, but not Cation.

[256ILLINI]

Originally Posted by krushdad

256Illini...Mike Cation did not do football. He is our bball announcer. Football was somebody else?? I think Mike something, but not Cation.

Thanks. I just figured he'd do both sports

[Dan]

Thanks for breaking the news, illinijimbo!

Longtime Chicago PA announcer Gene Honda will call a portion of the #Illini home football games this year. More to come.

http://twitter.com/wdws1400

[bdutts]

Originally Posted by illinijimbo

He's the voice of the Blackhawks, White Sox, Final Four etc.

He will miss a couple games because of Hawks/Sox conflicts, but he'll be announcing the rest

Great pipes! Love the way he does Hawks games.

[Dan]

Audio: Gene Honda talks his new gig as Illinois football PA announcer.

He will PA the following Illini home games-
# Western Michigan
# Charleston Southern
# LaTech
# Minnesota

He will not be able to do the following games-
# Penn State
# Indiana
# Purdue

http://www.wdws.com/audio/2012-08-01...l-stadium.html

[illinijimbo]

Originally Posted by Dan

Thanks for breaking the news, illinijimbo!

no problem, i was surprised it wasn't 'public' knowledge when i posted it!

[goillini75]

i would put gene honda in the same category as jim sheppard. he is pretty much legendary up here doing the white sox and the hawks. He most definitely has the voice for being a pa announcer. to bad he can't do every game.

[BobtheBarber2]

Originally Posted by Dan

Audio: Gene Honda talks his new gig as Illinois football PA announcer.

He will PA the following Illini home games-
# Western Michigan
# Charleston Southern
# LaTech
# Minnesota

He will not be able to do the following games-
# Penn State
# Indiana
# Purdue

http://www.wdws.com/audio/2012-08-01...l-stadium.html

For the remaining 3 games maybe Mike Thomas could copy the Cubs 7th inning stretch gimmick and have guest PA's.
Here's my suggestion list:

Penn State - Ron Zook - He wouldn't have to study much to learn the Illini team.

Indiana - Mike White - A homecoming classic in the making.

Purdue - Oprah - Not sure there's ever been a female PA announcer at a football game.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by BobtheBarber2

For the remaining 3 games maybe Mike Thomas could copy the Cubs 7th inning stretch gimmick and have guest PA's.
Here's my suggestion list:

Penn State - Ron Zook - He wouldn't have to study much to learn the Illini team.

Indiana - Mike White - A homecoming classic in the making.

Purdue - Oprah - Not sure there's ever been a female PA announcer at a football game.

[RHITIllini]

I'm saying sink the money in and bring in Bruce Buffer... nothing would get the crowd more hype than hearing "IIIIIIIIIIT'SSSS TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!"