Paul Eells
Encyclopedia
Paul Eells was an American
sportscaster
.
He was the "Voice of the Razorbacks
", broadcasting University of Arkansas
basketball
games on television and (after 1978) football
games on radio. Eells was also sports director at KATV
in Little Rock, Arkansas
.
Eells grew up in Mechanicsville, Iowa
and graduated from the University of Iowa
. Eells went to Iowa on a baseball scholarship but there found his love in radio. A communications major, Eells soon found himself in television at WMT
in Cedar Rapids. There he worked his way up to booth anchor and would eventually hold the title of "Voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes" for five years.
Eells moved to Nashville, Tennessee
in 1967. During his 10-year stay in Nashville, he was Sports Director at WSM-TV (later WSMV-TV
) and play-by-play announcer of Vanderbilt Commodores
football and basketball on radio.
In 1978, he moved to central Arkansas to become sports director at KATV
in Little Rock; radio play-by-play announcer for the Razorbacks football team; TV play-by-play announcer for the Razorbacks basketball team; and host of the TV football and basketball Razorbacks coaches shows. He was known and beloved statewide for his fantastic broadcasting voice and his trademark "Oh My" and "Touchdown Arkansas" radio calls. While in Nashville, Eells' trademark radio call was "Holy Smokes."
Eells worked with several notable sports figures as "color men" while covering Arkansas Football, including Barry Switzer
, former football coach of the Oklahoma Sooners
and Dallas Cowboys
as well as member of the 1964 National Championship Arkansas Razorbacks
football team; Rick Schaeffer, former Sports Information Director for the University of Arkansas
, Razorback
historian, and author of several Razorback
-themed books; and Keith Jackson
, Arkansas native and former tight end for the Oklahoma Sooners
, and later Philadelphia Eagles
and Green Bay Packers
of the NFL. Additionally, Eells spent several years working with ESPN
commentator and former Razorback
Jimmy Dykes
as part of the locally-syndicated Razorback Basketball non-conference television package.
During his time as "Voice of the Razorbacks," Eells became an iconic figure in the state of Arkansas, as is evidenced by the fact that Eells was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also named Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year 11 times, and was also honored several times with an Associated Press
award for best sports play-by-play. Eells was routinely referred to as the "nicest man" in the state of Arkansas, according to numerous personal accounts aired on KATV-TV and printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
in the days that followed Eells' death.
While returning home from a golf tournament on July 31, 2006, Eells died in an auto accident on Interstate 40
in Russellville, Arkansas
nearly two months before his 71st birthday. He lived in Maumelle, Arkansas
at the time of his death.
In time for the first University of Arkansas football game of the 2006 season, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
proclaimed September 2, 2006 "Paul Eells Day". That night in a game against the USC Trojans
, the Razorback Marching Band honored Eells by spelling his name during its halftime routine. Later that month in Arkansas' football game at Vanderbilt, Eells was honored before the game with a moment of silence. Eells was posthumously honored by the decision to name the home broadcast booth at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium
for both him and Jim Elder
, long-time voice of the Arkansas Travelers
and statistician for the Arkansas football radio broadcast crew. In addition, Eells is honored in the Press Box with a plaque on the Sports Media Legends Wall of Honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
.
He was the "Voice of the Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
", broadcasting University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
games on television and (after 1978) football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games on radio. Eells was also sports director at KATV
KATV
KATV, channel 7, is an ABC affiliated television station serving the Little Rock television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Allbritton Communications Company....
in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.
Eells grew up in Mechanicsville, Iowa
Mechanicsville, Iowa
Mechanicsville is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,173 at the 2000 census. It is named for the many mechanics among the city's early settlers.-Geography:Mechanicsville is located at ....
and graduated from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. Eells went to Iowa on a baseball scholarship but there found his love in radio. A communications major, Eells soon found himself in television at WMT
KGAN
KGAN is the CBS-affiliated television station for Eastern Iowa licensed to Cedar Rapids. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 51 from a transmitter in Rowley near the junction of Buchanan, Benton and Linn Counties. The station can also be seen on Mediacom channel 2 and in...
in Cedar Rapids. There he worked his way up to booth anchor and would eventually hold the title of "Voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes" for five years.
Eells moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1967. During his 10-year stay in Nashville, he was Sports Director at WSM-TV (later WSMV-TV
WSMV-TV
WSMV-TV, virtual channel 4, is the NBC-affiliated television station serving the Nashville, Tennessee area. It broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 10. Owned by Meredith Corporation, its transmitter and tower are located adjacent to its studios on Knob Road in west Nashville, south of...
) and play-by-play announcer of Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores are the NCAA athletic teams of Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The university fields 16 varsity teams , 14 of which compete in the Southeastern Conference...
football and basketball on radio.
In 1978, he moved to central Arkansas to become sports director at KATV
KATV
KATV, channel 7, is an ABC affiliated television station serving the Little Rock television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Allbritton Communications Company....
in Little Rock; radio play-by-play announcer for the Razorbacks football team; TV play-by-play announcer for the Razorbacks basketball team; and host of the TV football and basketball Razorbacks coaches shows. He was known and beloved statewide for his fantastic broadcasting voice and his trademark "Oh My" and "Touchdown Arkansas" radio calls. While in Nashville, Eells' trademark radio call was "Holy Smokes."
Eells worked with several notable sports figures as "color men" while covering Arkansas Football, including Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a...
, former football coach of the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
as well as member of the 1964 National Championship Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
football team; Rick Schaeffer, former Sports Information Director for the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, Razorback
Razorback
Razorback is an Americanism, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia, to describe said animals in that country.-Introduction to the Americas:...
historian, and author of several Razorback
Razorback
Razorback is an Americanism, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia, to describe said animals in that country.-Introduction to the Americas:...
-themed books; and Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson is an American sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports , his coverage of college football , his style of folksy, down-to-earth commentary, and his distinctive voice, with its deep cadence, and operatic tone considered "like Edward R...
, Arkansas native and former tight end for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
, and later Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
of the NFL. Additionally, Eells spent several years working with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
commentator and former Razorback
Razorback
Razorback is an Americanism, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia, to describe said animals in that country.-Introduction to the Americas:...
Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
as part of the locally-syndicated Razorback Basketball non-conference television package.
During his time as "Voice of the Razorbacks," Eells became an iconic figure in the state of Arkansas, as is evidenced by the fact that Eells was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also named Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year 11 times, and was also honored several times with an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
award for best sports play-by-play. Eells was routinely referred to as the "nicest man" in the state of Arkansas, according to numerous personal accounts aired on KATV-TV and printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the newspaper of record in the U.S. state of Arkansas, printed in Little Rock with a northwest edition published in Lowell...
in the days that followed Eells' death.
While returning home from a golf tournament on July 31, 2006, Eells died in an auto accident on Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
in Russellville, Arkansas
Russellville, Arkansas
Russellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...
nearly two months before his 71st birthday. He lived in Maumelle, Arkansas
Maumelle, Arkansas
Maumelle is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States and a suburb of Little Rock. Founded by Jess Odom with federal assistance from the Urban Growth and New Community Development Act, it is a master-planned community....
at the time of his death.
In time for the first University of Arkansas football game of the 2006 season, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
proclaimed September 2, 2006 "Paul Eells Day". That night in a game against the USC Trojans
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
, the Razorback Marching Band honored Eells by spelling his name during its halftime routine. Later that month in Arkansas' football game at Vanderbilt, Eells was honored before the game with a moment of silence. Eells was posthumously honored by the decision to name the home broadcast booth at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium
War Memorial Stadium
War Memorial Stadium is the official name of several stadiums in the United States:* War Memorial Stadium , in Little Rock, Arkansas* War Memorial Stadium , in Buffalo, New York, now demolished...
for both him and Jim Elder
Jim Elder
Robert James "Jim" Elder, OC is a Canadian horse rider famous for his accomplishments in Equestrian. He competed at six Olympic Games between 1956 and 1984, winning one gold and one bronze medal....
, long-time voice of the Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
and statistician for the Arkansas football radio broadcast crew. In addition, Eells is honored in the Press Box with a plaque on the Sports Media Legends Wall of Honor.
Notable Football Games Called by Eells
- October 19, 1991—In the final Southwest Conference matchup between the Razorbacks and the Texas Longhorns prior to the Razorbacks' departure for the Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, the two teams met in Little Rock's War Memorial StadiumWar Memorial StadiumWar Memorial Stadium is the official name of several stadiums in the United States:* War Memorial Stadium , in Little Rock, Arkansas* War Memorial Stadium , in Buffalo, New York, now demolished...
. -- Arkansas 14, Texas 13. - November 13, 1999—dubbed "Redemption" by Arkansas fans, the Razorbacks avenged a prior year loss to Tennessee with a victory over the defending National Champions on a pass from Clint StoernerClint StoernerClinton Jacob Stoerner is an American football quarterback. He is currently a free agent.-High school years:...
to Anthony Lucas, ending Tennessee's hopes of a 2nd National Championship. -- Arkansas 28, Tennessee 24. The winning touchdown as called by Eells, remembered as his signature call of an Arkansas game - "Touchdown Arkansas!! Oh my! Lucas goes up, makes the catch, 23 yards, and the Hogs take the lead in this ball game 27-24." Arkansas would go on to convert an extra point to set the final margin. - January 1, 2000—In the first College Football game of the millennium, former Southwest Conference rivals Arkansas and Texas met in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, TexasDallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Arkansas held Texas to a Cotton Bowl and school record 8 sacks and -27 yards rushing for the game en-route to an upset win. -- Arkansas 27, Texas 6. - November 3, 2001—In what was the longest overtime game in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A) history at the time, the Razorbacks won the game in 7 overtime periods over Eli ManningEli ManningEli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
and the Ole Miss RebelsOle Miss RebelsUniversity of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
. -- Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56. Said Eells on the final play of the game, "58-56, Manning, awaiting the snap, Armstead, Manning rolling out, going over the middle ... it is ... Arkansas wins! Arkansas wins! The two-point conversion falls short, despite the pass being complete, and the Hogs race on the field, in the longest overtime game in the history of I-A College Football." - November 29, 2002—dubbed the "Miracle on Markham," in the final regular season game, Arkansas earned the SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Western Division Championship and an appearance in the SEC Championship GameSEC Championship GameThe SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
, on a last-second touchdown pass from Matt JonesMatt Jones (American football)Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
to Decori BirminghamDeCori BirminghamDeCori Birmingham is a former professional gridiron football running back. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
. -- Arkansas 21, LSULouisiana State UniversityLouisiana 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...
20. The game-tying touchdown was punctuated by Eells' call of "Jones, now, throwing to the end zone... and...it is...complete! A touchdown! Oh my! I can't believe it! Thirty-one yards to Decori BirminghamDeCori BirminghamDeCori Birmingham is a former professional gridiron football running back. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
in the back of the end zone, and this game is tied, 20-20!" Arkansas went on to convert a 35-yard extra point to win the game, after excessive celebration was called against the Hogs after the touchdown was scored. - September 13, 2003—dubbed the "Ambush in Austin" by Arkansas fans, the Razorbacks defeated the Texas Longhorns in a battle of non-conference rivals. -- Arkansas 38, Texas 28. On a 46-yard touchdown run by Cedric CobbsCedric CobbsCedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
to put the Hogs ahead of their long-time rival 28-14, Eells - "The give to Cobbs, right up the middle...Cobbs at the 40, Cobbs at the 30, Cobbs at the 20, Cobbs at the 10, Touchdown Arkansas!!" with added empahsis and grit to his signature call. Arkansas out-rushed the Longhorns 265 to 62 yards en-route to a 4-0 start to the 2003 season. - November 1, 2003—In what is currently the longest overtime game in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A) history, the Razorbacks won the game in 7 overtime periods over Jared LorenzenJared LorenzenJared Raymond Lorenzen is a former professional football quarterback, who is currently the commissioner of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. He most recently played for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
and the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky WildcatsThe Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
. -- Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63. Said Eells on the final play of the game, "There's a fumble, and the Hogs come up with it ... That's it! The ball game is over! Lorenzen was stopped short of the first down and lost the football and the Hogs came up with it, and in 7 overtimes in Lexington, Kentucky, Arkansas will go home finally with a smile on its face, 71-63."