CBS pays tribute to Verne Lundquist after SEC Championship Game (Video)

CBS’ Verne Lundquist has just called his final game of his illustrious career. Here are some of the top coaches in the SEC giving thanks to Lundquist.

The 2016 SEC Championship Game was the final day in the booth for CBS play-by-play college football announcer Verne Lundquist. Lundquist helped bring the SEC to the national stage with his 16 years of outstanding play calling for the CBS SEC Game of the Week.

Many of the SEC’s top coaches including Nick Saban, Hugh Freeze, Kevin Sumlin, and Butch Jones all gave thanks to Uncle Verne in this video. Even the one-of-a-kind Tim Tebow said some kind words about Lundquist.

Lundquist’s 16 years calling games in the SEC for CBS helped legitimize the college football conference as a truly national product. Before Lundquist, few outside of the Southeastern United States cared what went on weekly in the SEC.

Through his smooth tone and ability to not overshadow the stellar play on the field, Lundquist was there for many of the great moments in recent SEC football history. His signature play calls include the Johnny Manziel game versus Alabama in 2012, the Prayer at Jordan-Hare, and the unforgettable Kick Six in the 2013 Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn.

Playing on the 3:30 p.m. ET stage each Saturday is a big deal in the SEC. It means your game mattered and Lundquist would be there to call it as he saw it. It will be strange to not have Uncle Verne in the booth in the 2017 college football season.

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Though he didn’t go to an SEC school (Texas Lutheran) or was around calling games when Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and Steve Spurrier were at their height as SEC coaches, Lundquist is SEC football.