ESPN's Rece Davis explains unplanned tribute to legendary Vols announcer John Ward during Tennessee's win against NC State

During the Tennessee Vols' win against the NC State Wolfpack this past weekend, ESPN's Rece Davis paid tribute to legendary UT play-by-play announcer John Ward.

In the first half, Vols defensive back Will Brooks intercepted a pass from NC State quarterback Grayson McCall and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown.

As Brooks neared the end zone, Davis recreated one of Ward's signature calls, counting down 5-4-3-2-1 before dropping Ward's iconic "give him six!" call.

Davis revealed on The College GameDay Podcast this week that the tribute to Ward wasn't planned, it just kind of happened.

"Your people seemed to enjoy the homage I sent to John Ward at the end of the Will Brooks pick-six call," said Davis to co-host Ryan McGee (a Tennessee graduate). "They seemed to enjoy that. Got a lot of positive feedback, which is not typical for the feedback that anyone in the media gets from Tennessee fans, typically. So I was grateful for that."

"The great John Ward, legendary voice of the Vols, who would start the broadcast, and Ryan can probably tell you specifically, but he would start the broadcast with one of the great opening calls, it's football time in Tennessee, but he would often call touchdowns as they were going in," continued Davis. "His touchdown call was 'give him six', and sometimes he would call it '5-4-3-2-1, give him six'. And it's a great call. So it's in the memory bank. It was there. I didn't say 'I'm going to do it', but it was a big, pivotal play. NC State was scrapping around, trying to stay in the game. And then McCall floats - it looks like they might even tie the thing -- McCall floats his pass, it's going the other way, and it just popped out. And so I'm glad people enjoyed it."

"I like to shout out the people who love it the way we do and John Ward loved it the way we do," added Davis.

The best play-by-play calls happen organically. And that was the case with Davis' fantastic tribute to the late John Ward on Saturday night. It was the perfect moment for it. And Davis absolutely nailed it.

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