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SAUNDERS: Cass let Broncos fans have final say

By Dusty Saunders, Special to the Rocky

Published July 21, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Alan Cass proudly shared a job description with the late Bob Martin, Larry Zimmer and Dave Logan.

He was a voice of the Denver Broncos.

But there was a difference.

Cass' voice was in the air, rather than on the air.

The 67-year-old Cass, who also has gained national fame as the curator of the Glenn Miller big band music archives at the University of Colorado, has ended his 20-year career as public address announcer during Broncos home games. KOA Radio's Alan Roach, also a veteran sports public affairs announcer, will replace him this season.

Public address announcer?

Such a title seems bland (like someone announcing a Kmart blue light special) in summing up the career of Cass and, for that matter, Roach. There's a sense of accomplishment in the job -- and some notoriety.

Ask any Broncos fanatic who, at Mile High Stadium or Invesco Field at Mile High, has yelled "IN-COM-PLETE" after a visiting team's failed passing attempt. The chant became Cass' trademark, although he only said it once.

"The Broncos were playing the Chiefs at Mile High in 1996," Cass recalled.

"Denver had been whipped badly earlier in the season at Kansas City, so the fans wanted revenge. Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono was having a terrible passing day. So during the first half I announced: 'Bono's pass is IN-COM-PLETE.'

"The fans took it from there, picking up the chant during every home game."

Cass and the Broncos management agreed NFL executives might frown on such cheerleading on the public address system. So for 10 seasons, Cass said only: "The pass is . . . "

The fans supplied the punch line.

Cass laughed and said: "That's kind of a sneaky bit of commentary, isn't it?"

He began his "in-the-air" career in 1980, calling CU football and basketball -- jobs he still has. The Broncos signed Cass following the death of Hal Taft, who, like Roach, was a local professional broadcaster.

Cass worked more than 200 consecutive games before a case of West Nile virus sidelined him for the first half of the 2007 season. Roach filled in.

"I've left the Broncos on my own terms," Cass said, while recalling eight-hour game days, sitting in the booth with the on-the-air broadcasters.

He also had his own spotter, son Casey.

"Accuracy is important in my work. But I never aspired to be a broadcaster. That takes too much talent," Cass said.

"And I have never been close to team members. In fact, I've never met John Elway. I've kept my career in perspective.

"Mike Moran (former CU sports information director) once told me, with a smile on his face, not to take my job too seriously. Mike said half of the crowd doesn't listen and the other half doesn't care. Still, I'm a professional."

The career of Cass, both in the broadcasting booth and in the growing Glenn Miller archives, has been anything but "IN-COM-PLETE."

AROUND THE DIALS: Marcia Neville's local women's sports show has been resurrected on Fox 31 as an occasional feature.

Now titled Sportswomen of Colorado, Friday's half-hour (9:30 p.m.) is highlighted by a profile of 13-year-old Missy Franklin of Littleton's Powell Middle School, the second youngest swimmer at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Colorado Sportswomen, on Channel 4 for nearly 10 years, was an intelligently produced series that won numerous local Emmy Awards and national recognition.

* While Tom Watson's commentary was a plus during coverage of the British Open on ABC and ESPN, special applause should be given to the camera crews.

Did you note, during the windy conditions, the intriguing close-up shots of a putter and a slightly moving golf ball before players stroked?

On the negative side: too many confusing bottom-of-the-screen graphics listing players' scores.

PARTING SHOT: "College hoops can never be great again, partly because so many stars leave early." - Billy Packer, following the announcement he won't return to CBS next season.

Dusty Saunders writes periodically about sports broadcasting. Contact him at tvtime@ comcast.net.

Comments

  • July 21, 2008

    8:12 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    troopermsu writes:

    IN-COM-PLETE is one of the dumbest "cheers" I've ever heard. Right up there with "Red Wings s---" and the wave.