Tennessee, Notre Dame share ties with Lindsey Nelson
The venue is named in honor of Lindsey Nelson, a legendary sports commentator, who has ties to both schools.
Nelson gradated from Columbia Central High School in Columbia, Tennessee, where the football stadium is also named in his honor. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1941.
Nelson founded the Vol Network and was the first radio play-by-play voice for Tennessee football.
He later became the play-by-play voice for the New York Mets.
Nelson, a member of multiple journalism and broadcasting halls of fame, served as a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants. He also called NFL games for CBS and Mutual Broadcasting System.
Former Cleveland Brown star Jim Brown, left, signs an autograph in the press box before the start of National Football League game between Los Angeles and Green Bay, Sunday, Nov. 13, 1977, Milwaukee, Wisc. Brown joined the CBS-TV broadcast team for the game. At the right is Lindsey Nelson. (AP Photo/Steve Pyle)
Nelson’s voice was a signature one in college football for more than three decades. He served as the play-by-play voice of Notre Dame football for 14 seasons.
During his career, Nelson became affectionately known as “Mr. New Year’s Day,” as he called 26 Cotton Bowl games, five Sugar Bowl contests and four Rose Bowl matchups.
He also provided play-by-play for multiple Army-Navy games, including the 1963 telecast, which was the first to utilize instant replay.
