One-on-One with Darren Goldwater

Darren Goldwater, noted Joe Paterno apologist and former sidekick to Bobby Hartin on ESPN Radio 910-AM's Fan Talk, will take over this football season as the new radio voice of The Citadel Bulldogs. A 2002 graduate of Penn State, Goldwater is a veteran of Citadel baseball and basketball broadcasts, and served as studio host for Bulldog football games. He took time out from his new duties to go One-on-One with The Post and Courier's Jeff Hartsell:

You've done Citadel baseball and basketball and spent three hours a day with Bobby Hartin. But are you nervous as you take over for Robby Robinson as the Voice of the Bulldogs?

"No, I don't think nervous is the right word. I think anxious and excited would be a better way to phrase it. It's a new challenge, both personally and professionally, but in a lot of ways I feel as though I've been training for this job for five years. Bobby kept me on my toes every day so nothing really catches me by surprise anymore, and Robby taught me the ropes for being the lead guy on a statewide network. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today had it not been for the two of them."

What is it like in the student section at Beaver Stadium on a fall Saturday afternoon?

"It's a madhouse. It's one of the three biggest stadiums in the country. The 'We Are Penn State' chant just resonates throughout the entire stadium and you can hear well outside of the walls of the stadium too. To be honest my love for college football really only goes back as far as my days at Penn State. I grew up as more of an NFL fan following the Redskins, but once I got to State College, everything changed. Say all you want about the passionate SEC fans, the Penn State faithful are just as loyal, equally passionate, and they tailgate just as well. That place is heaven on earth."

Shouldn't Joe Paterno have retired years ago?

"You know, I was one of his biggest supporters a few years ago, and I still am really. But it's tough to deny that you lose a step or two once you reach 80-something years old. The bottom line with JoePa will always be that he achieved everything the right way. He's an unbeatable ambassador for the sport and the University. The recent rash of arrests is unfortunate, but it doesn't tarnish his image at all. He's simply an icon."

Who, aside from Bobby Hartin, do you admire among broadcasters and why?

"Nobody can top the Big Kahuna, he's the man. I think Fan Talk has been on the air for 14 years now ... that's unprecedented. But Jon Miller (San Francisco Giants, ESPN, formerly the voice of the Orioles) is the best play-by-play guy out there. A year or two back somebody called into Fan Talk and told me he though I sounded like Miller on the air. That's the biggest complement I've ever received. I'm nowhere near his league, but I'm sure glad somebody thought differently."

What is it like to be married to a TV star (Ryan Nelson, co-host of WCIV-TV's "Lowcountry Live)?

"It's a blast. We both have similar professions so we can easily relate to some of the ups and downs of the industry. What she tries to hide is how much of a sports fan she is. Her dad's a great guy, he raised her right. She loves watching football with me on Sundays. Too bad my Redskins are twice the team Ryan's Bears are."

What kind of season are you expecting for the Bulldogs?

"Like most fans, I'm expecting good things. We've got an experienced offensive line and a experienced and big defensive line, both of which should anchor the team. The fact that (QB Bart) Blanchard has three games under his belt is a huge advantage, but we have to find a receiver to complement Andre Roberts or he'll be blanketed all year long. I'm really excited about the stable of running backs, too. One thing to keep in mind though, the schedule is brutal. I challenge anybody to find a tougher FCS schedule. The Citadel plays at Clemson, Florida, App State, Furman, Wofford and Samford. There isn't a guaranteed victory in that group. Bottom line is that Kevin Higgins has improved this team each year, and hopefully the trend will continue."

How do you draw the line between rooting for the home team and telling it like it is?

"I've never claimed to be a "homer." It's clear in the baseball broadcasts I've done that I'm rooting for The Citadel, but once you start to be a blatant homer, you're only cheating the listeners. My job is to portray the action in an entertaining, easy to follow manner, so the listeners can see the action through my eyes. When broadcasters spend each broadcast being "homers" it sounds like they're blaming the refs for everything that goes wrong. Now, if a call is clearly wrong or if a player clearly missed an assignment leading to a touchdown, I'll point that out, because again, it's my job to paint the picture of exactly what's happening."

Robby was noted for his signature call of "Touchdown Citadel, touchdown Bulldogs!" I won't ask you to spill the beans, but are you working on one, or will it just come naturally?

"Everyone's favorite question, thanks for phrasing it slightly differently. It will come naturally. If I think of one beforehand, I'll be focusing on saying it the right way as Andre Roberts takes Saturday's opening kickoff back to the house. Instead of calling the play, I'll end up tripping all over the call. Let's hope the signature call happens naturally on a game-winning touchdown against Wofford. I understand the Bulldogs are due for a victory in that series."