What Eli Gold, Crimson Tide Sports Network said after his departure from Alabama football
The Crimson Tide Sports Network announced Wednesday that Eli Gold will not be retained to call Alabama football games for the 2024 season, and Chris Stewart will move into the role full time. Gold has made clear that it was not his decision to depart.
He spoke to numerous media outlets Thursday, including The Tuscaloosa News, to share that message.
"I’m not retiring," Gold told The Tuscaloosa News. "That was very important for me to make clear. It was important for me to make clear that nothing that has gone on has had anything to do with my health. My health, thank the good Lord, is perfect. I go through all these tests, and my health is perfect and I am totally cancer free. That’s item No. 1. No, I’m not retiring. My intention in the master plan in life was to have them carry me to the cemetery directly from the broadcast booth. That was my intention."
In the wake of Gold's interviews, CTSN decided to release another statement on Thursday after the initial press release on Wednesday.
"As we noted in yesterday’s release, Eli Gold has been a legendary broadcaster in a career spanning 52 years. In 2023, we worked out a plan to have Eli call the home games plus Auburn, with Chris Stewart handling away games," the statement on Thursday read. "We are incredibly appreciative of the positive things Eli has contributed to the Crimson Tide Sports Network and The University of Alabama during his time with us, which is why our desire was for him to remain part of the gameday broadcast and allow us to celebrate his UA broadcast career. But at this point, the interests of UA and CTSN are best served by Chris Stewart handling play by play for all games. After a series of conversations over a period of time, Eli was presented with an opportunity to continue his contributions to the CTSN broadcast team in the coming years in a more limited role, including the lead broadcast role for this year’s A-Day game. Unfortunately, he declined the opportunity. We will always appreciate Eli and wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavors. We are incredibly excited about the future of CTSN and what Chris Stewart will bring to the broadcasts in his new role."
Gold, 70, told The Tuscaloosa News he was informed UA had "decided to go in a different direction" and that "I had been told my work was not up to par. I didn’t agree with that, but that’s subjective. Everybody can hear things differently."
Although Gold disagrees with the decision, he said it is "totally their right to do" because his contract expires at the end of June.
Gold has called Alabama football games since 1988. He missed the 2022 season before announcing a cancer diagnosis 13 months ago, and returned to his previous role in 2023 for Crimson Tide home games and the Iron Bowl. Stewart filled in for Gold during the 2022 season and called 2023 road games and the postseason.
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Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Eli Gold is out as voice of Alabama football: What he, CTSN said
