After more than 40 years of calling Florida State football and basketball games, Gene Deckerhoff, a Jacksonville native, retires.
NFF Chris Schenkel award recipient and Florida State broadcaster, Gene Deckerhoff, listens during the 56th National Football Foundation Annual Awards ceremonies held at the Waldorf Astoria, on Tuesday, Dec.10, 2013 in New York. – Close your eyes and picture a great moment in Florida State football or basketball. It’s nearly impossible to hear any other voice than Gene Deckerhoff’s calling the action.
“Number one, great games, great coaches, great wins over rivals, Florida, Miami, Clemson,” Deckerhoff said, with a tinge of sadness in his voice. “The fans. I was walking up today and ran into a great friend who just lost his wife. We said a little prayer. I’ll miss that.”Deckerhoff says he is under contract for one more year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers broadcast, with another option year after that. But starting this summer, he will have more time on his hands.
Minutes before his final broadcast, Deckerhoff held court, as he is wont to do, remembering the early days of his broadcasting career, calling for Bowden to be added to Mount Rushmore, and praising Florida State every chance he got. Deckerhoff has received scores of messages of congratulations, including from one broadcaster with whom he shared the crow’s nest at Tully Gym years ago.