AUBURN, Ala. - To celebrate 15 seasons as the voice of the Auburn Tigers, and to fill the void until football season arrives, Rod Bramblett selected his favorite 15 football and men's basketball games to share with listeners.
Rod's 15 for 15 can be heard around the clock on the Auburn Tigers Sports Network's channel on the TuneIn app daily through Aug. 11.
"I tried to pick the top 15 based on the game and not a play or two that might be memorable," Bramblett said. "What games were the most fun to call? That's a question I asked myself. Then secondary to that was the importance of a particular game in terms of Auburn history or a season. There are a few games that aren't in the top 15 that I'm sure fans will ask, 'What are you thinking?'"
Bramblett kicked off the countdown on July 20 with Auburn basketball's 2015 SEC Tournament win over LSU, No. 15 on Rod's list. Auburn football's 10-9 win over LSU in 2004 checked in at No. 14.
"It was incredibly difficult narrowing down to 15 games, and to think this didn't include baseball which I've done for 26 years," he said. "I can't imagine how hard it would have been if those years had been thrown into the mix."
Rod Bramblett, right, with Auburn sideline reporters Ronnie Brown, left, and Quentin Riggins, center.
Four basketball games, including two from Auburn's 2017-18 SEC championship season, made Bramblett's top 15, joining 11 football games.
"It was a really fun summertime project that I hope generates interest and maybe even some debate among the Auburn family," he said.
Auburn's BCS National Championship victory over Oregon in January 2011 ranks No. 1 on Rod's list, followed by the 2013 and 2010 Iron Bowls.
Looking back on 15 seasons behind the mic, Bramblett expressed gratitude for his broadcast partners.
"First of all, I've been fortunate to work with the best broadcast crew from day one on the job," he said. "The passion and dedication in which the folks around me bring to the table is unmatched in the business.
"But individually, I think any broadcaster will tell you the relationships you develop stand out as much as the games you get to call. I've had the opportunity to meet, get to know, and become friends with some amazing people. Tell me what Auburn fan wouldn't want to work side by side with the likes of Stan White, Quentin Riggins, Ronnie Brown, Jason Campbell, Sonny Smith, Joe Ciampi and many others. Not to mention the student-athletes that you get to interact with over the course of the season.
"Then there are the games themselves, as I was going back trying to narrow this list down to 15 I found out how many incredible moments I've been given the opportunity to witness and bring to hundreds of thousands of Auburn fans on the radio. At the end of the day, my job is to paint a picture of the Auburn story. Sometimes I accomplish that task, other times I don't. I still get nervous before a broadcast. I hope that never changes. The day it does probably is the day I need to hang it up because that's the day I've lost an appreciation of just how lucky I am to be Auburn's voice."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter:
Rod's 15 for 15
- BCS National Championship
- Kick Six
- 2010—Alabama
- 2013—Georgia
- 2018, Basketball—Alabama
- 2004—Georgia
- 2007—at Florida
- 2013—Texas A&M
- 2010—LSU
- 2018, Basketball—South Carolina
- 2017—Alabama
- 2017—Georgia
- 2016, Basketball—Kentucky
- 2004—LSU
- 2015, Basketball—LSU SEC Tournament
Honorable Mention (no order)
- 2003—Alabama
- 2005—Georgia
- 2006—Florida
- 2009—Outback Bowl Northwestern
- 2010—Clemson
- 2010—South Carolina
- 2010—Kentucky
- 2010—Georgia
- 2010—SEC Championship Game
- 2013—SEC Championship Game
- 2009, Basketball—Tennessee
- 2018, Basketball—Kentucky