All good things must come to an end, and the legendary career of longtime play-by-play voice Dave Nitz is soon to come to a close. After a half-century behind the mic, the voice of Louisiana Tech athletics for nearly 50 years will retire after the Bulldogs’ baseball season ends.
“Freeway Dave,” Nitz’s nickname since the 1970s because of his love of the road, has focused on just baseball — his favorite sport — in his final years behind the mic. He called 47 seasons of LA Tech football and men’s basketball until the 2021-22 season.
His impressive career spans over 4,500 Tech games, including eight seasons calling Lady Techsters basketball in the late 1970s. Beyond his iconic role, Nitz dedicated 36 summers to professional baseball broadcasting and served as Tech’s assistant sports information director in the ’70s and ’80s.
Nitz, who will be 82 years old in July, has garnered numerous accolades, including induction into the LA Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (2010) and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2019). He was also named Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year in 2009 and has repeatedly received College Broadcaster of the Year honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
It remains to be seen how much longer Nitz has in the broadcast booth, as perhaps LA Tech has a College World Series run it to help extend his tenure just a tad longer.
“I’ve always hoped to be able to broadcast a game in Omaha,” Nitz told the Herald-Dispatch . “I think we’ve got a long way to go there, but heck, you never know about this crazy game.”
Tech (41-15, 18-6 Conference USA) will play Middle Tennessee State on Wednesday, May 22, in the CUSA Baseball Championship. The Bulldogs are projected to earn a bid in the NCAA Tournament and a spot in one of the regionals after the conference championship commences.
Nitz will go as far as the baseball takes him. It’s his first love, after all.
“Baseball has always been my first love,” Nitz said. “I keep telling myself, this may be my last year at Louisiana Tech, but if I can find another job in baseball somewhere, starting next year, I’ll go.”
He tells the Herald-Dispatch that he still feels like he has a few years left. He’s always said that he wants to die when they carry him out of the press box — feet-first,
“I just don’t feel like there’s an ending yet,” Nitz said. “I think I still got a few years in me.”
[ Herald-Dispatch , LA Tech Athletics ]
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