ESPN’s Marty Smith can’t wait to feel SEC football this fall

ESPN’s Marty Smith will be back on the road for the 2021 college football season ready to sing along with fans SEC conference wide.

The excitement in Marty Smith’s voice was palpable as he started to talk about fans returning to SEC venues in full capacity this fall. Life getting back to somewhat normal feels pretty good.

“I’ve been on the road since last May,” Smith told the Kyle Koster show. “I was the first reporter in the field when Nascar came back. I’ve gotten to experience the slow rebirth of all this. It was super weird doing college football last year.”

Smith was on the road, but the fans of course were missing at mostly half-full or less stadiums. Games were being canceled and or postponed. The impact was noticeable for one and all.

“We are made to gather as human beings,” Smith said. “I think all of us have new perspective on the awesome blessing that is being in the same energy with all those people. I think any of us that love college football and college sports.”

SEC venues are ready to return to full capacity this fall. 100,000 people bellowing out fight songs and the game day traditions might be better than the actual football for Smith.

“I realized very deeply how much I missed that energy and what a void that was in my life,” Smith said. “To go back to it and feel it again will be magical. I can’t wait to be in Bryant-Denny Stadium when they are singing Dixieland Delight. I can’t wait to be in Death Valley on Saturday night when they are singing Callin’ Baton Rouge. I can’t wait to be in the SEC venues.”

Smith will be on the road with his partner in crime Ryan McGee on the SEC network broadcasting from 9-10 ET each Saturday morning. The two have worked together over two decades so it should make for some entertaining pregame programming.

Maybe they can sing their own versions of the best of the SEC songs.

ESPN’s Marty Smith is working with Academy Sports + Outdoors Back to Sport campaign.