Charlie Mac tabbed as football play-by-play announcer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced today that Charlie McAlexander would be the new play-by-play voice for Blue Raider football. A nine-time Sportscaster of the Year and familiar voice in the midstate area, McAlexander will also host the Rick Stockstill radio and television shows.

"Middle Tennessee had an overwhelming response in regard to the play-by-play position and all of the candidates were highly qualified and brought strong credentials to the table," said Massaro. "After careful consideration and thoroughly reviewing many of the applicants and their work we are pleased to bring in a veteran whose peers regard him as one of the best in the play-by-play business in Charlie McAlexander. Charlie Mac has won Sportscaster of the Year in four different states during his career."

McAlexander, who earned the Lindsey Nelson Award in 2006, has worked the previous three years handling play-by-play for selected Jefferson-Pilot Sports and Fox Sports Net South games. Prior to his involvement with JP and Fox Sports, he served as the Voice of the South Carolina Gamecocks from 1995 to 2003. He handled USC's football and men's basketball broadcasts, along with hosting television shows for football, basketball, baseball, and women's basketball. McAlexander was tabbed South Carolina's Sportscaster of the Year in 1996, 1999, and 2002.

The Delta State University graduate handled the play-by-play television duties for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1992 to 1995 and called the 1994 and 1995 SEC Basketball Tournament championships for the SEC Network. During his stint with the Wildcats, McAlexander was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Board of Directors and earned Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year honors in 1992, 1993, and 1994.

No stranger to middle Tennessee, McAlexander worked in the Nashville market for 14 years from 1978 to 1992 as the play-by-play voice of the Vanderbilt Commodores and was the state's Sportscaster of the Year in 1990 and 1991. From 1978 to 1986 he doubled as the Sports Director at WSMV-TV 4 before taking over as Sports Director at WLAC radio from 1986 to 1992.

McAlexander also served as the play-by-play voice of the Ole Miss Rebels from 1972 to 1978 where he earned Sportscaster of the Year honors in 1975.

"My heart has always been here and I have always had a long relationship with the middle Tennessee area and great respect for the program," said McAlexander. "I am honored to have this opportunity and I am privileged to sit in the same seat Dick Palmer occupied for so many years and a guy I have the utmost respect for in the broadcast business."

Longtime veteran announcer Dick Palmer, who stepped down as the football play-by-play announcer at the end of the 2005 season, will remain on the Blue Raider Network as the play-by-play voice for men's basketball. Palmer, who has called Blue Raider action for 25 years, will also handle the Kermit Davis radio show.

Chip Walters, who has been on the Blue Raider Network for 14 years, will remain as the color analyst for football and will serve as host of the Kermit Davis television show.

All football and men's basketball games will be carried by local flagship station WGNS 1450 AM and Nashville flagship 106.7 FM - The Fan.