Steve Russell....

[gatorr4life]

Anyone listen to this guy? I hate to make fun of people, especially gators... But this guy reminds me of the "good morning, Vietnam" guy. NOT robin Williams. I'm talking about the guy that thinks he's funny and keeps getting pissed at robin. (His superior)

Anyway, Russell reminds me of that guy. Not in appearance, obviously. But in how terrible he is. Vettel, on the other hand, is enjoyable to listen to. Any Russell fans in here?

[Jaggator]

Each weekday from noon – 2 p.m., with your host Steve Russell.

"Steve Russell has been the Sports Director of ESPN Radio 850/900 since 1998 and also serves as the Sports Director for WUFT-TV.

Russell is a graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications and has worked in the broadcast industry since the 1970′s in Gainesville. In addition to his duties as Sports Director, Russell also works for the University Athletic Association and IMG as one of the radio voices for gator baseball broadcasts and he has also hosted the Amanda Butler TV coaches show for the past six seasons as well. he also worked play by play and as a color analyst for Gator volleyball, women’s basketball and softball as well.

A native to Middletown, New York, Russell has two children and his son Grew is graduate of the UF Journalism College and works for Gatorvision and other broadcast properties as a camera operator.

In his broadcast career in Gainesville, Russell has also worked at WYKS Radio, 97X Radio, and at WCJB TV-20 as a sports anchor and reporter. For 10 years he also served as the first ever Public Information Officer for Alachua County government from 1988 to 1998 and served for several years on the Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee.

In his spare time, Steve enjoys playing softball, basketball and golf, reading and coaching; he is the head coach of the Kanapaha Middle School football team and has coached in the area for over 20 years at both the youth and high school level. Russell enjoys helping out various charities as well."

[Jaggator]

each weekday from 4 – 6 p.m., with your host Larry Vettel.

"Larry Vettel has been heard on the airwaves in Gainesville and throughout Florida for more than 30 years, broadcasting every Gator sports team on both radio and television and voicing his opinions on sports and a variety of other topics on daily and weekly talk shows. He pioneered sports talk in Gainesville, creating the market’s first daily show in the fall of 1989.

Currently Vettel is the host of the popular afternoon drive show on ESPN Radio 850/900 weekdays from 4 – 6 p.m.. He also serves as a play-by-play announcer for FoxSports Florida, Sun Sports and Cox Sports Television on telecasts for a number of Gator sports including men’s football, basketball, volleyball, softball, swimming and gymnastics. He has done play-by-play for seven SEC football championship games.

In addition, he is seen on Gatorzone, a television show featuring Gator athletics and as a reporter/interviewer for FoxSports Florida and Sun Sports. Vettel is also a writer for Fightin’ Gators magazine.

Vettel’s earlier career highlights include serving as television play-by-play and color commentator for the FHSAA football and basketball championships for many years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast management in 1981 from the University of Florida and was named sports director for WRUF AM & FM that spring. He built a sports department that would provide the most comprehensive coverage of Gator sports, while also offering practical work experience to University of Florida broadcasting students. More than 10 of his former students worked in some capacity at the University of Florida’s most recent SEC football championship game.

He is a member of the Football Writers Association, the Basketball Writers Association and the National Football Foundation and has been a Heisman Trophy elector for 29 years."

[Juggernautz]

Very impressive, I think.

[gatorr4life]

Had no clue Russell was kanapaha's head football coach. I helped coach their softball team last year. Lol good stuff. I wish I would have known. Probably would have chatted with him. I wonder if they ever played st pat's while urban was here.

[JohnC1908]

NM

[BariTubaBone]

Nm

[GatorJeff]

I think Vettel, Russell and Chuck Cooperstein all graduated with degrees in broadcasting/communications from UF at the same time. Russell is the hardest to listen to of the trio.

[UFreak]

I think Steve posts on this forum.

[grayg8rstevo]

I will be checking ze papers of all who post here.lol

[bmfgator]

SR does a nice job

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by grayg8rstevo

I will be checking ze papers of all who post here.lol

Well, what I really meant to say was that Steve is an outstanding radio host, enthusiastic and informative.

[Go2gtr]

Steve's son's name is Drew.

Larry is the most knowledgeable of the two and by far the most professional.

Steve has developed an overly exaggerated style like a poor man's Howard Cossell where everything he says is this big important pronouncement then he repeats it for added emphasis. Ugh. He used to get into arguments with certain callers and if he posted on these boards back then he read a lot of criticism about himself. He has toned it down. I'm sure the powers that be had a talk with him, he was not in control.

Where can you listen to Cooperstein? He's not on locally is he?

[Go2gtr]

OMG! That post hit while I was composing. I take it all back.

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

Steve's son's name is Drew.

Larry is the most knowledgeable of the two and by far the most professional.

Steve has developed an overly exaggerated style like a poor man's Howard Cossell where everything he says is this big important pronouncement then he repeats it for added emphasis. Ugh. He used to get into arguments with certain callers and if he posted on these boards back then he read a lot of criticism about himself. He has toned it down. I'm sure the powers that be had a talk with him, he was not in control.

Where can you listen to Cooperstein? He's not on locally is he?

Chuck is out in Texas. He's the voice (play by play guy) of the Dallas Mavericks and does Big 12 football broadcasts.

[nortonis]

I like them both. I think they both are very knowledgeable. You should be thankful there is such a plethora of local talent in Gainesville. I live in Tallahassee and there isn't much local sports talk I want to listen to out here. There's only 1 local show I can even think of, and it's not good. Gainesville has 5 daily sports talk shows.

[rserina]

I lived in Dallas for seven years when Cooperstein was there and he is at least on par with Russell in the wrong way.

[ApexNC]

Always been a fan of Larry. He's not Bob Costas by any means, but he knows the Gators and has become part of the family.

[FearNoSpear]

Having had to endure Brady Ackerman and something called an oil can, I enjoyed Steve Russell when they made the switch. That could be a testament to how bad Brady and oil can were. I like Scott Brantley and Doering is hit or miss but I still find the show hard to listen to because of oil can.

I grew up on Larry and continue to love the guy

[UFreak]

I think I just wish there was a more regional focus sometimes. I think it's kind of wonky when local sports talk tries to be national when there is a big Gator Game coming up. I understand you are limited locally and have to address national items at times. But too many times I will be listening and it will be on a Thursday of a game week and the theme of the show will be some NFL topic or golf.
It's a matter of knowing your bread and butter and sticking with it even if it is overkill. For instance, not nearly enough recruiting news on either of those shows right now. They should be covering recruiting hard and breaking stories.