Courtesy Colorado State University

(May 12, 2010) Colorado State fans have heard Brian Roth’s accounts and analysis of Rams football and basketball, in a supporting role, for nine years. But beginning in 2010, Roth will take the lead microphone on the CSU Radio Network as Voice of the Rams.

The CSU athletic department, in conjunction with Nelligan Sports Marketing, made the announcement Wednesday, making Roth only the fifth individual over the last two decades to hold that title. Roth will call play-by-play action for every CSU football and men’s basketball game.

"I am humbled to be named Voice of the Rams,” Roth said. “Colorado State athletics is something I have a very strong passion for and I hope I can translate that passion to the Ram fans on gamedays.”

In addition, the Rams announced Wednesday, Kevin McGlue will move permanently from the sideline to the football booth, to serve as Roth’s color commentator. Nelligan and the CSU athletic department have 4-5 finalists already selected to fill McGlue’s sideline role for football, and Roth’s play-by-play role for women’s basketball. Applications are no longer being accepted.

During the football season, Roth will host the Coors Light Steve Fairchild Radio Show on Wednesday nights, as well as the Coors Light Basketball Coaches Show during the hoops season. Both shows air live from the Stonehouse Grille in Old Town Fort Collins on the CSU Radio Network.

CSU’s flagship radio outlet is Denver-based KLZ, 560 The Source, a 50,000-watt AM station that reaches five states during the day and seven states at night. Other members of the CSU Radio Network include AM stations 600 KCOL in Fort Collins, and 1100 KNZZ and 980 KGLN on the Western Slope.

A versatile and accomplished professional, Roth worked the past three years alongside Jerry Schemmel (2009) and Rich Bircumshaw (2007-08) as the Rams’ color man for football broadcasts. For six seasons before that, he served as the network’s sideline reporter.

Roth, 35, debuted as the play-by-play man for CSU women’s basketball in 2000-01, and held that role until this week. During his 10-year tenure courtside at Moby Arena, Roth was behind the microphone for three NCAA tournament games, a regular-season MWC championship and an MWC tournament title.

Roth has also filled in as the play-by-play voice on many Colorado State men’s basketball broadcasts, including 2007 when Tim Miles’ squad captured the BP Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"The future of Colorado State is bright,” Roth said. “Paul Kowalczyk has the Rams moving in a positive direction and the athletic programs across the board are on the upswing. With coaches like Tom Hilbert, Steve Fairchild, Tim Miles and Kristen Holt, I am confident Ram fans will have a lot to cheer for in the coming years."

The transition
Roth replaces Schemmel, the Rams’ voice during the 2009-10 academic year. Schemmel, the Denver Nuggets’ play-by-play man since 1992, in January accepted a position to join the Colorado Rockies booth, potentially tying him up from spring training in March through the World Series in early November.

“I very much appreciate CSU’s willingness to work through the schedule conflicts, I really do,” said Schemmel, who would not have had even a one-week vacation during the 12-month calendar had he remained as the Voice of the Rams. “I'm flattered that CSU would want to navigate with me through all that. I have told CSU over and over again that I loved the last eight months working with Steve Fairchild, Tim Miles and the Rams! Honestly, I have. It’s been a blast! And I feel terrible at having to leave. My family and I have been treated like royalty from Day 1 and I really, really appreciate that. It has been an awesome experience. In fact, I told my wife that if the Rockies opportunity had not surfaced, I would do the Rams for as long as they would possibly have me at CSU.”

But as disappointed as the Rams are at losing Schemmel, they’re equally as excited at promoting Roth, one of the industry’s most talented young broadcasters, whose career is ready to take off.

“Brian marks a decade working with our radio team this fall, and we are very fortunate to have him as the voice of our football and men’s basketball programs,” said Director of Athletics Paul Kowalczyk. “Our coaches, student-athletes and staff know him very well. He’s a very impressive representative of Ram Athletics and this is a well-deserved promotion for him.

“Jerry Schemmel is first-class. He told us several times during the last two months he wanted to return to his role at CSU, calling our games as well as the Rockies. But in the end, we both realized that he needed to place his full energies with the Rockies. Jerry will always be an honorary Ram, and we’re grateful we were able to take advantage of his substantial skills this past season.”

Roth’s career
A Colorado native and 1993 graduate of Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colo., Roth resides in Denver. The general manager of Ingrum Sports Production Network (ISPN), he oversees production of more than 125 events per year for Comcast Entertainment Television (CET). Roth manages a 14-employee production team for ISPN and brings an unparalleled knowledge of high school sports in the state of Colorado to the broadcast booth. Roth has also called WCHA college hockey for Comcast and Big Sky basketball for Altitude Sports and Entertainment.

A 1998 graduate of the University of Colorado, Roth and his fiancée Corinne Hofstetter have plans for an Aug. 1 wedding. Hofstetter, a Mountain West Conference champion in the 200 Butterfly in 2003 and ’04, powered Colorado State to consecutive runner-up finishes at the MWC championships during those two seasons.

History of the Voice of the Rams
Schemmel replaced the late Rich Bircumshaw, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2009, as the Voice of the Rams. Schemmel (2009-10), Bircumshaw (2002-09), Wyatt Thompson (1996-01) and Steve Anderson (1989-96) preceded Roth. Prior to Anderson, Gene Benson (1987-88), Mike Haffner (1985-86), Larry Zimmer (1983-84), Mike Nolan (1980-82) and Al Trask (1979) called Rams action over the last 30 seasons.

"This is a very special job to me,” Roth added. “The people that make up Colorado State are extraordinary and to continue to be a part of this university is something that means so much to me. And to follow in the footsteps of such great broadcasters that have come through here is exciting and daunting. Wyatt Thompson really helped me as a young broadcaster. My late friend Rich Bircumshaw is one of the most remarkable men I have ever met and he will always be present in our CSU broadcasts. And of course, to work with Jerry Schemmel last year was a thrill. I am honored to be part of such a great collection of broadcasters.”

Before Trask, several other announcers called Rams contests since Fort Collins station KCOL first began airing Colorado A&M football games in the 1940s.

McGlue also familiar to CSU fans
Like Roth, McGlue has served on the CSU radio team for several years, entering his ninth season on Rams broadcasts. In past years, McGlue has served in a variety of roles on the broadcast, including color commentary, sideline reporting and booth production. McGlue also has several years of experience on the CSU Radio Network calling women’s basketball action.

A native of Colorado, McGlue can also be heard as a member of the two-time CHL champion Colorado Eagles radio broadcasts, as the Voice of the Eagles and director of broadcasting for the team. Comcast subscribers may also recognize McGlue from his work providing color commentary and play-by-play during the broadcasts of many high school sporting events on CET. What’s more, McGlue has served as a postgame television host for Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles broadcasts on Altitude Sports and Entertainment.

In addition to his work in the world of sports, McGlue also has served as the assistant news director at Clear Channel of Northern Colorado, and even makes occasional appearances on CNN’s Headline News. McGlue was born in Denver and attended Wheat Ridge High School, where he played lacrosse and golf. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado-Denver. McGlue and his wife, Jenny, currently reside in Evans, Colo.

Roth and McGlue, who called the Rams’ Green & Gold Game April 24, will make their official debut together in the CSU football booth at Invesco Field Sept. 4 when the Rams clash with in-state rival Colorado.

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