As Chris Stewart embarks on his first full season as the new voice of Alabama Crimson Tide football, there’s nobody he’d rather have as his sidekick than color analyst Tyler Watts.
“Tyler and I go so far back,” Stewart said before speaking at the 42nd annual Bama Day event in Dothan on Tuesday, which was presented by the Houston & Henry County chapter of the Alabama National Alumni Association.
“I did the TV play-by-play on Tyler’s first-ever high school start as a ninth grader. I’ve known him his entire adult life.
“I called his high school games; I did his college games … I’m talking about on replay on television. And then almost as soon as he graduated, he joined us on the old pay-per-view broadcasts.
“In various roles we did the postgame show together for years and we started doing high school games together.
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“It’s very comfortable working with him because Tyler and I have done games together for almost 16 of the last 18 seasons. So it’s as comfortable as it could possibly be to step into the role I’m stepping into, because it’s a friend and familiar person to work with.”
It was announced in February that Stewart would be replacing longtime Alabama play-by-play announcer Eli Gold. The duties were split last season with Gold handling the home games as the lead broadcaster and Stewart the road games.
Two years ago when Gold had to miss the season due to health issues, Stewart filled that void, but now he’s “the man” leading the Crimson Tide Sports Network as the voice of the football program, the same role as he’s held for more than 20 years as the Tide’s basketball announcer.
“It literally was a dream come true,” Stewart said. “When I was given the opportunity to fill in for Eli two years ago, it was so special. It’s still a surreal thing to think that 5-year-old boy growing up in Fairfield, Alabama, who listened to John Forney call games is now sitting in the John Forney seat.”
After completing the season two years ago, Stewart knew he could handle the duties even if he never got the chance to do it again.
“When the year was over with, I remember going, ‘If I never get to call another one, at least I don’t have any doubt in my mind I can do it,’” Stewart said. “I didn’t mean that in an arrogant sense. It’s one thing to believe you can do something, it’s another to actually get to do it and feel comfortable that I could.”
Stewart is certainly no stranger to Alabama listeners, having joined the Crimson Tide Network in 1998 and has called sports in a variety of roles, from radio to television to tape delays. Stewart also hosted “The Nick Saban Show.”
Watts is certainly a familiar face and voice as well to Alabama fans. He was a quarterback at Alabama from 1999 to 2002 and has also served a variety of roles on the CTSN.
Working side-by-side with Stewart is now very natural.
“We did over 120 (high school) games together,” Watts said. “Chris does as good a job as anybody of setting the scene, setting the play up and then giving you enough time as a color analyst to come in and kind of fill up the picture up more with the layout he has provided.
“Regardless of what direction you go, he’s always able to bring it back to the next play and set things up. So any goof-ups you may have along the way, he’s able to cover and get things back on track.”
Watts lives in Birmingham and is an independent insurance agent. He still finds time to get plenty prepared for game day.
“You watch film throughout the course of the week; you try to listen to as much talk radio to see what conversations are going on,” Watts said. “But mainly watching film and try to get down to practice at least once – kind of seeing who is going to be available, what the game plan potentially is looking like, any differences that you are noticing in practice that you didn’t the week before. Just little bity wrinkles like that you might be able to bring up and add a little color to what’s going on during the broadcast.”
Watts has been impressed with new head football coach Kalen DeBoer.
“I have met him and he was great as far as being very comfortable in the conversation … he was very cordial; was very nice,” Watts said. “It was brief and in the middle of a practice, but he took time out to say hey to me.
“I’ve been impressed with just watching him. Through the course of practice, it’s a different approach, however it’s still effective and focused on what makes you a better football player and makes you a better team. I’ve got high expectations for this group.”
The Tide is still in the process of hiring a sideline reporter for the fast-approaching season, but Stewart and Watts are ready to roll.
Stewart takes the responsibility serious of now assuming the duties held for 35 years by Gold, someone he worked closely with and respects.
“There’s been an amazing line of play-by-play announcers and they set such a high standard, that I have the challenge now of continuing it, and hopefully I’ll be able to do that,” Stewart said.
Jon Johnson is sports editor of the Dothan Eagle and can be reached at jjohnson@dothaneagle.com or 334.712.7965. Support his work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com. Follow Jon Johnson on Twitter @eaglesportsed
