Woody Hayes felt the time was right.
Hayes told the Tallahassee Democrat on Monday, Sept. 21, that he has resigned as the public address announcer for Florida State men’s and women’s basketball home games, ending a 25-year run courtside at the Tucker Center.
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The decision comes two months after FSU replaced Hayes as the voice of Doak Campbell Stadium, a role he held for 16 years. He was succeeded by Eric Luallen, the current radio play-by-play voice of FSU baseball and a former Seminole football player.
Hayes announced his departure in a lengthy and heartfelt social media post Monday, thanking FSU and its fans for the memories he accumulated during his decades-long association with Seminole athletics.
“I leave with a heart full of gratitude, a lifetime of memories, and tremendous pride knowing that for 25 years, when the lights came on and it was time for Seminole Basketball, I got to be one of the voices welcoming everyone home,” Hayes wrote.
“The microphone may be going quiet, but my love for Florida State and Seminole Basketball never will.”
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Woody Hayes a familiar name in Tallahassee radio
FSU has elected to replace longtime Doak Campbell Stadium football PA announcer Woody Hayes.
Beyond his work with FSU athletics, Hayes has enjoyed a longtime career in Tallahassee radio, where listeners know him by his on-air name, Woody Hayes. His given name is Woody Pelt.
Hayes, 57, succeeded longtime Doak Campbell Stadium announcer Nick Menacof in 2010 as he was selected from four finalists who auditioned during the Seminoles’ spring football game. Hayes received the most votes in a poll of fans held on Seminoles.com.
Hayes’ departure from the football role sparked disappointment among many FSU fans when the change was announced in July.
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Supporters took to social media to praise Hayes for his long tenure as the voice of Doak Campbell Stadium, with many expressing surprise that one of the most recognizable voices in Seminole athletics was being replaced after 16 seasons. Fans shared memories of hearing Hayes announce game-day lineups, touchdowns and other memorable moments, viewing him as an integral part of the game-day experience at FSU.
Menacof, mwanwhile, spent 25 years as the voice of Doak Campbell Stadium before retiring after the 2009 season. He died in 2017.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: After Doak Campbell exit, Woody Hayes resigns as FSU basketball announcer
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