Rumors Fly In Radio Host’s Dismissal
The abrupt dismissal of an immensely popular University of South Carolina radio host has many Gamecock fans fightin’ mad – and several athletic department insiders speculating about what really happened to Mike Morgan, who handled play-by-play duties for the school’s basketball and baseball programs.
Morgan – who was canned on Monday after more than a decade with the school – was viewed by many as a much better announcer than Todd Ellis, who handles play-by-play for the school’s football program.
In addition to his announcing duties, Morgan hosted a wildly-popular sports talk show on Columbia’s 107.5 “The Game” radio station – another position he has allegedly been forced out of.
Morgan’s dismissal – which was portrayed by USC as a resignation – was totally unexpected, totally unexplained and has spawned a torrent of reaction on Gamecock message boards, as well as some speculation in this week’s Free Times (an alternative weekly) about “egos in athletic department” being to blame.
No official excuse has been given, although the Charleston Post and Courier has reported that sources close to the decision cited “no single reason” as being responsible for Morgan’s firing.
Needless to say, FITS has uncovered the real back story on what went down.
Seriously, people, did you expect any less from us?
Some of our former contacts at USC – where our founding editor served as a feature writer prior to Morgan’s arrival – clued us in on it the deal, and we’ve spent this afternoon chasing it down.
You won’t believe it ’till you read it, people … stay tuned …
Comments
By Todd on April 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I still like Casey Manning, Tommy Suggs and Todd Ellis. These three guys really, really love USC and people can feel it. These three guys have worked at knowing somebody in every small town, cross road, nook and cranny in South Carolina. These out of staters running USC need to appreciate that fact. Morgan was cool and really knew sports, loves sports and loves athletes who work hard and do well. He is very, very bright. Let’s all be friends, please. We need that at USC.
By Jenny W on April 23rd, 2009 at 9:51 pm
There is no doubt that Manning, Suggs and Ellis love USC but are they the right people in the booth? All three of them are color analysts and Mike Morgan was the only one with excellent play-by-play calls. He painted the picture. I’d rather listen to a baseball game on the radio than on tv. He will be missed.
By Matt on April 24th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Heard a rumor that it had something to do with Time Warner. If this is true, be prepared to start preparing to boycott Time Warner.
By hammerheadSC on April 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Ellis, has gotten better, but he still is not the best fit. Next to George Rogers though, Ellis looks like the next Madden.
By Toyota Kawaski on April 24th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Todd “Mr.Interception” Ellis and Tommy “legend in his own mind”Suggs suck real bad just like Pistol Pete Yanity and Will “im real cool”Merritt up at clempson suck.Dam i miss Bob”The Voice”Fulton and Jim Phillips.Thanks Mike im sure you will catch own with a real team soon Thanks for your time here
By Catawba on April 24th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Matt (above) is onto something with his Time-Warner connection. I have heard rumors too. I think fans (and even non-fans) are gonna be really angry over the dimissal when they find out the real reasons ISP fired the best play-by-play guy in the State. As FITS says, stay tuned.
By ellis blows on April 24th, 2009 at 10:46 am
You really need to listen to at least one entire SC game on the radio while watching it on television (if the audio lag does not drive you crazy) to appreciate how truly bad Ellis and Suggs are.
They cannot paint a picture, as another reader wrote and Suggs’ continuous ‘lapdog’ status has not improved in the last 20-30 years or however long he has been on these broadcasts. Ellis’ groans and grunts – which pass for attempts to articulate what is happenning on the field, are a true embarassment.
But hey, maybe if they would win a few football games all would be forgiven – that and the fact that if y ou are female, you miss an entire quarter of the game if you have to pee. The bathroon situation for women is absolutely horrible. I have been to every other stadium in the conference and this one here is the worst.
By Calhoun Fawls on April 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I grew up loving college sports in a time when they were not on televison all the time. Radio broadcasts were it. There was Munson at Georgia, Phillips at Clemson, and of course, Fulton for the Gamecocks. Those guys lived and died with their teams, as did the guys from Georgia Tech, Alabama and LSU I could pick up on AM as a boy.
I thought Morgan was cut from that mold, and I hate to see a classical sports radio guy get the ax. Just more insults to the Carolina faithful. First, they made us pay for the right just to buy tickets. They will soon take away the Farmer’s Market parking from those of us who have been there for years. Now, they send a classical radio guy packing.
Any wonder why ticket sales are down this year and more and more are just tired of giving money to people who don’t give a damn about us? Maybe I missed something. But, when did the fans, the folks who pay the bills, stop mattering to Carolina and Clemson for that matter?
By Pres on April 24th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
How exactly do you boycott TWC? The are pretty much a monopoly.