Bulldogs’ play-by-play broadcaster retires after 50 years

Ruston, La . (KTVE/KARD) — In this week’s Bulldog Blitz sponsored by Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, the Louisiana Tech Diamond Dogs took care of business last weekend in their final home series against Western Kentucky. They captured the sweep to take over sole possession of first place in the Conference USA Baseball standings. The moment that managed to stand tall above the rest had nothing to do with the game itself, it was longtime play-by-play broadcaster for Louisiana Tech sports Dave Nitz calling it a career after 50 years.

The Diamond Dogs and fans gave Nitz a farewell standing ovation to recognize the efforts he presented as being the voice of Bulldog sports for five decades. Louisiana Tech Baseball Head Coach Lane Burroughs also came to the realization that the end of an era was coming to a close and how much Nitz means to kids and adults that grew up listening to his broadcast.

“I get that because that’s the person you grew up with when we didn’t have social media that’s the voice that took you through Saturdays and through football season, all the basketball games and baseball. I really didn’t — the season is getting away from us, and I did pregame, but now I have to go up and do it because obviously Dave is not moving around as good as he used to, and I walk in and there’s like photographers and I’m like what is — and I’m like yeah, it’s coming to an end. You really don’t think about it. I’m glad I got to be a part of his legacy. He still got the pipes, and he can still call a baseball game, and he still knows the game. He let it be known when I got here that this (baseball) was his favorite sport,” said Burroughs.

The Diamond Dogs have one more series to wrap up the regular season against on the road Liberty starting on Friday.