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

illinijimbo · Jul 30, 2012, 02:37 PM

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

flyillini06 · Jul 30, 2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

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

Where did you hear that? I hope it's true!

illinijimbo · Jul 30, 2012, 02:50 PM

Its true, because he told me at the Ifund event Friday at Joe's.

GilThorpe · Jul 30, 2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

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

Gene was a disk jockey down in Champaign in the late 70's - early 80's. He has mellow pipes.

I hope he can do a good "First and ten for the Illini"!!

youlikeroses · Jul 30, 2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

Gene was a disk jockey down in Champaign in the late 70's - early 80's. He has mellow pipes.

I hope he can do a good "First and ten for the Illini"!!

Anything will be better than "That's an Illinois... first down."

Lucy727 · Jul 30, 2012, 04:43 PM

Gene was a student at UofI in 1979, when I took a RTV production class with him. I'm not sure if he was College of Communications, or Business. I remember he wanted to be a general manager of a radio station.

DanvIllini · Jul 30, 2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youlikeroses

Anything will be better than "That's an Illinois... first down."

WHOOOO!

mattcoldagelli · Jul 30, 2012, 04:49 PM

Is this true? Because that's amazing news. Gene Honda is the truth.

jackman404 · Jul 30, 2012, 06:47 PM

"FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI!!" One of the best first down calls, and brought the crowd to their feet every time.

"That's an Illinois....first down....WHOOO!" One of the stupidest first down calls and made Illini fans do the wave.

Ramrod2010 · Jul 30, 2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackman404

"FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI!!" One of the best first down calls, and brought the crowd to their feet every time.

"That's an Illinois....first down....WHOOO!" One of the stupidest first down calls and made Illini fans do the wave.

Nah, that was Juice's family. They had a catchy little song to go with it.

doho19 · Jul 31, 2012, 07:59 AM

Gene is a big hockey guy, and has been coming down the last few years to the Illini Hockey Alumni Weekend.

He did a bit of everything around the club, he did radio play by play, he even did some assistant coaching.

Non hockey realted... he was telling me about one of the coolest things he ever did was the Ohio St. game in 83... they were selling tickets to watch the game on a closed circuit TV feed and seating people in Assembly Hall, and he did the play by play.

BobtheBarber2 · Jul 31, 2012, 08:23 AM

I hope this guy is an improvement--I've never heard him.

The guy they have now reminds me of some kid that is working his first job at a small radio station. Not a football voice at all.

DanvIllini · Jul 31, 2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackman404

"FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI!!" One of the best first down calls, and brought the crowd to their feet every time.

"That's an Illinois....first down....WHOOO!" One of the stupidest first down calls and made Illini fans do the wave.

I remember my now wife looking at me first time we heard the switch and she looked at me like a little kid and said "Thats not what I remember." She absolutely detests the WHOO! and thats the reason I do it loud! Somebody give this guy the memo!

Oskee Mayer · Jul 31, 2012, 08:42 AM

I'll be waiting for: "Illini fans.....on your feet!"
Can he bring Jim Cornelison down once or twice? No flyover could compete!

illinijimbo · Jul 31, 2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobtheBarber2

I hope this guy is an improvement--I've never heard him.

The guy they have now reminds me of some kid that is working his first job at a small radio station. Not a football voice at all.

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!

mattcoldagelli · Jul 31, 2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobtheBarber2

I hope this guy is an improvement--I've never heard him.

He's one of the best PA guys I've ever heard.

RHITIllini · Jul 31, 2012, 09:00 AM

Can we get the guy that sings the national anthem too? Package Deal

FlyinIllini 11 · Jul 31, 2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oskee Mayer

I'll be waiting for: "Illini fans.....on your feet!"
Can he bring Jim Cornelison down once or twice? No flyover could compete!

this.. couldnt agree more.. Nothing better than being at the Cell w/ Thunderstruck playing and good ole Gene Honda getting it going with "White Sox fans.....on your feet!!..

illinijimbo · Jul 31, 2012, 09:14 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Honda

MikeWhite · Jul 31, 2012, 09:16 AM

Gene Honda's a member of the Illini Media Alumni HOF. On-air at WPGU: 1975-78. DJ, sports director, assistant news director, production director.

CaptainHindsight · Jul 31, 2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackman404

"FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI!!" One of the best first down calls, and brought the crowd to their feet every time.

"That's an Illinois....first down....WHOOO!" One of the stupidest first down calls and made Illini fans do the wave.

I asked a question on IlliniHQ football chat about why they don't say FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI anymore and the response I got was "that was the previous announcer's signature call, and out of respect they would not use it anymore"

this is an answer I do not agree with BTW.

mattcoldagelli · Jul 31, 2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHindsight

I asked a question on IlliniHQ football chat about why they don't say FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI anymore and the response I got was "that was the previous announcer's signature call, and out of respect they would not use it anymore"

It doesn't even have to be out of respect, it can just be out of a desire to not blatantly rip off somebody else.

GilThorpe · Jul 31, 2012, 10:34 AM

jeez, its not like a patented home run call
I would tell him to just say FIRST DOWN.........ILLINI !!!!! then, if they wanted to do something a teeny bit different.

Im sure Gene can figure something out.

redheadsrage · Jul 31, 2012, 10:37 AM

Gene Honda....Eugene Honda.....E. Honda

The Thousand Hand Slap is coming to Champaign!

mattcoldagelli · Jul 31, 2012, 10:52 AM

Jul 30, 2012, 04:43 PM	#6
Lucy727 Location: Des Plaines, Il Posts: 87	Gene was a student at UofI in 1979, when I took a RTV production class with him. I'm not sure if he was College of Communications, or Business. I remember he wanted to be a general manager of a radio station. __________________

Jul 30, 2012, 04:49 PM	#8
mattcoldagelli Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,450	Is this true? Because that's amazing news. Gene Honda is the truth. __________________ Twitter Blog #JoeTales

Jul 30, 2012, 06:47 PM	#9
jackman404 Posts: 1,473	"FIRST AND TEN FOR THE ILLINI!!" One of the best first down calls, and brought the crowd to their feet every time. "That's an Illinois....first down....WHOOO!" One of the stupidest first down calls and made Illini fans do the wave. __________________ Williams to tie it with a three......HE DOES!!!

Jul 31, 2012, 10:52 AM	#25
mattcoldagelli Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,450	__________________ Twitter Blog #JoeTales

Jul 30, 2012, 02:37 PM	#1
illinijimbo Posts: 85	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

Jul 30, 2012, 02:50 PM	#3
illinijimbo Posts: 85	Its true, because he told me at the Ifund event Friday at Joe's.

Jul 31, 2012, 07:59 AM	#11
doho19 Posts: 206	Gene is a big hockey guy, and has been coming down the last few years to the Illini Hockey Alumni Weekend. He did a bit of everything around the club, he did radio play by play, he even did some assistant coaching. Non hockey realted... he was telling me about one of the coolest things he ever did was the Ohio St. game in 83... they were selling tickets to watch the game on a closed circuit TV feed and seating people in Assembly Hall, and he did the play by play.

Jul 31, 2012, 08:23 AM	#12
BobtheBarber2 Posts: 205	I hope this guy is an improvement--I've never heard him. The guy they have now reminds me of some kid that is working his first job at a small radio station. Not a football voice at all.

Jul 31, 2012, 08:42 AM	#14
Oskee Mayer Posts: 187	I'll be waiting for: "Illini fans.....on your feet!" Can he bring Jim Cornelison down once or twice? No flyover could compete!

Jul 31, 2012, 09:00 AM	#17
RHITIllini Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,751	Can we get the guy that sings the national anthem too? Package Deal

Jul 31, 2012, 09:14 AM	#19
illinijimbo Posts: 85	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Honda

Jul 31, 2012, 09:16 AM	#20
MikeWhite Posts: 2	Gene Honda's a member of the Illini Media Alumni HOF. On-air at WPGU: 1975-78. DJ, sports director, assistant news director, production director.

Jul 31, 2012, 10:34 AM	#23
GilThorpe Location: Hinsdale Posts: 857	jeez, its not like a patented home run call I would tell him to just say FIRST DOWN.........ILLINI !!!!! then, if they wanted to do something a teeny bit different. Im sure Gene can figure something out.

Jul 31, 2012, 10:37 AM	#24
redheadsrage Posts: 15	Gene Honda....Eugene Honda.....E. Honda The Thousand Hand Slap is coming to Champaign!