Jack Cristil
Encyclopedia
Jack Cristil is the long-time radio voice of Mississippi State University
Bulldog men's basketball
and football
. Born in Memphis, TN to Latvian and Russian
immigrants, Cristil listened to radio stations from Pittsburgh, PA, St. Louis, MO, and Chicago, IL at a young age and knew then he wanted to be a radio broadcaster. He began his duties for bulldog football play-by-play in 1953. He officially announced his retirement on February 23, 2011 after 58 years behind the mic. Over his 58 year tenure, Cristil called 636 football games (or roughly 63% of all football games played by Mississippi State) and 1,538 basketball games (or roughly 55% of all basketball games played by Mississippi State).
at the University of Minnesota
before moving back home to Memphis. Shortly thereafter, Cristil began his radio play-by-play career calling Minor League Baseball
in various places such as Jackson, Tennessee
; Anniston, Alabama
; and Memphis, Tennessee
. He then moved to Clarksdale, MS to call Clarksdale High School football games.
Cristil submitted an audition tape to then MSU Athletic Director C.R. “Dudy” Noble
in August 1953. In September 1953, Cristil began calling Mississippi State football games. His first play-by-play was a 34-6 Mississippi State win over the University of Memphis
.
In 1957, Cristil began calling play-by-play for men's basketball. His first was a win over Union University
in Jackson, Tennessee
, the city where he began his broadcasting career.
on February 23, 2011. Cristil cited health issues as his reason for stepping down after 58 years. He addressed the fans after the broadcast for almost two minutes, expressing thanks and appreciation to the Mississippi State fan base.
Broadcaster of the Year - 1988
21 times named Mississippi Broadcaster of the Year
1991 Inductee of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 Chris Schenkel Award given by the College Football Hall of Fame
"He got it again! He's as hot as a depot stove!"
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to a sun-bathed Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium
on the beautiful campus of Mississippi State University
."
"The Bulldogs are seven yards away from the land of milk and honey, trailing nothing to three with two times out remaining."
"The maroon-headgeared, maroon-jersied, white trousered Bulldogs will have football possession with the ball equidistant from the sideline stripes."
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
Bulldog men's basketball
Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball
The Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball program represents Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS in men's NCAA Division I basketball. The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference and are currently coached by Rick Stansbury. As of the 2010 season the Bulldogs are 1272-1056...
and football
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
. Born in Memphis, TN to Latvian and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
immigrants, Cristil listened to radio stations from Pittsburgh, PA, St. Louis, MO, and Chicago, IL at a young age and knew then he wanted to be a radio broadcaster. He began his duties for bulldog football play-by-play in 1953. He officially announced his retirement on February 23, 2011 after 58 years behind the mic. Over his 58 year tenure, Cristil called 636 football games (or roughly 63% of all football games played by Mississippi State) and 1,538 basketball games (or roughly 55% of all basketball games played by Mississippi State).
Career
In 1947, Cristil studied Broadcast JournalismBroadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
before moving back home to Memphis. Shortly thereafter, Cristil began his radio play-by-play career calling Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in various places such as Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
; Anniston, Alabama
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
; and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. He then moved to Clarksdale, MS to call Clarksdale High School football games.
Cristil submitted an audition tape to then MSU Athletic Director C.R. “Dudy” Noble
Dudy Noble
Clark Randolph "Dudy" Noble was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, track athlete, coach, and college athletics administrator.Noble was born in Learned, Mississippi...
in August 1953. In September 1953, Cristil began calling Mississippi State football games. His first play-by-play was a 34-6 Mississippi State win over the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
.
In 1957, Cristil began calling play-by-play for men's basketball. His first was a win over Union University
Union University
Union University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown, Tennessee, and Hendersonville, Tennessee...
in Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
, the city where he began his broadcasting career.
Retirement
Cristil announced his retirement after the men's basketball game against Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
on February 23, 2011. Cristil cited health issues as his reason for stepping down after 58 years. He addressed the fans after the broadcast for almost two minutes, expressing thanks and appreciation to the Mississippi State fan base.
Awards & Achievements
Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Broadcaster of the Year - 1988
21 times named Mississippi Broadcaster of the Year
1991 Inductee of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Jackson, Mississippi. The hall of fame was established in 1961 and is currently located in a museum that displays the achievements of Mississippi athletes. The museum opened on July 4, 1996...
Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 Chris Schenkel Award given by the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
Memorable Quotes & Calls
"You can wrap this one in maroon and white, my friends.""He got it again! He's as hot as a depot stove!"
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to a sun-bathed Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium
Davis Wade Stadium
Davis Wade Stadium is the home playing venue for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. Located in Starkville, Mississippi, the stadium has a capacity of 55,082. It was built in 1914 as Scott Field and was named for Don Magruder Scott, an Olympic sprinter and one of the University's first...
on the beautiful campus of Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
."
"The Bulldogs are seven yards away from the land of milk and honey, trailing nothing to three with two times out remaining."
"The maroon-headgeared, maroon-jersied, white trousered Bulldogs will have football possession with the ball equidistant from the sideline stripes."