Bill Mercer

EagleD · July 3, 2009

I ran into Bill Mercer, the true voice of the Mean Green, Thursday at the Round Rock Express minor league baseball game. He fills in on play by play for the radio broadcast a few times a year. I freelance as a Technical Director for various TV sports gigs, and was really dreading working this game. It had been a very long week, and the production truck was brand new and not quite ready to go. As a TD, this just causes a ton of headaches. Anyway, during pre-production I got a short break and ran up to the press box. I thought I recognized him working on a stat sheet, but it's been a few years and I wasn't sure it was him. Then I heard his voice and recognized him immediately. He's such a class act. He even pretended to remember me from his classes, and was genuinely glad to hear I was involved in sports broadcasting. "So you're in the business", he put it. Thankfully, not behind a mic or in front of a camera. We talked for a short time. He seems to be doing well. If you haven't read, "Play by Play", it's a decent read, (he really could have used a ghost writer, though.) But there are a lot of great stories in there, many of them about NT. You might also come away with a different view of George Dunham.

After that, I had a great game, technical troubles and all. I hope to see him again with more time to chat.

I wonder if anyone else here took his "Sports Broadcasting" classes, or if that class is still offered now that he's retired from teaching. It produced a great many people in the business.

GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!

Green Guy Bass · July 3, 2009

I was lucky enough to learn play by play from Bill at NT. He is a real mentor to myself and so many others to this very day. That is great that you had a chance to work with him in Round Rock. He is one of the best in the business.

FirefightnRick · July 4, 2009

Great to hear he's still going! Thanks for sharing E.D. My time shared with Dr. Mercer was one of the highlights of college, especially during the trip to Salt Lake in '88 and the time preparing for the Centennial. I wonder if there's any chance at all that he will come back for a homecoming some year? Our university and our athletic department owes a great dept of gratitude to him.

Rick

Edited July 4, 2009 by FirefightnRick

bstnsportsfan3 · July 4, 2009

yes im currently taking the sports broadcasting class and its now tought by Hank Dickenson who took it over from Bill. Bill came and spoke to our class, very interesting guy and still on top of the games!