Auburn's Andy Burcham voted Alabama's 2021 Sportscaster of the Year

AUBURN, Ala. – On the night he's scheduled to receive the highest honor of his career, Andy Burcham would rather be somewhere else.

Specifically Omaha, Nebraska.

Burcham, the Voice of the Auburn Tigers, has been voted Alabama's sportscaster of the year for 2021 by members of the National Sports Media Association.

He'll be honored at NSMA's 62nd awards weekend and national convention June 25-27 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. That is, of course, unless the Auburn Tigers are playing in the championship game of the College World Series.

"I am humbled by the award," said Burcham, in his 28th season broadcasting Auburn baseball. "I'm humbled to be in the company of Rod Bramblett, Jim Fyffe, Gary Sanders and Buddy Rutledge."

Beginning in 1988, Burcham called Auburn women's basketball games for three decades, partnering with Bramblett for a quarter-century in the press box at Plainsman Park. When Bramblett died in 2019, Burcham succeeded his friend as Auburn's lead announcer for football and men's basketball, while continuing to broadcast baseball.

"It means a great deal to be in that company, and in the company of other sportscasters of the year, including Eli Gold, Chris Stewart, J.D. Byars, and all the others who have won it," Burcham said. "I'm honored to be on that list, and it wouldn't be possible without the support and understanding of my wife, Jan."

In addition to handling play-by-play for Auburn sports, Burcham hosts coaches television shows for football and men's basketball while anchoring his weekly Talking Tigers podcast.

"I'm doing my job well if I represent Auburn well, first and foremost," he said. "Not just Auburn Athletics but Auburn University. If I call a clear game and someone can follow it and is excited by my commentary of it, that's primarily what I do."'A team award': Sonny Smith, Andy Burcham, Ben Harling and Brad Law in Tuscaloosa
Burcham thanked his broadcast team, including general manager Ben Harling and producer Brad Law, for positioning Auburn's announcer to again be Alabama's sportscaster of the year

"I'm blessed to work with folks here at Auburn Sports Properties," he said. "I could not do it without their work. Brad is invaluable every day to what I do with the Auburn Sports Network."

Burcham also expressed appreciation for Auburn's football and men's basketball crews, as well as Auburn's athletics communications staff for its assistance with game notes and interviews.

"It is a team award and I'm honored to be a part of this team," he said.

At the awards weekend, Burcham will see a familiar face. Jason Caldwell, a 22-year veteran of the Auburn beat, is Alabama's 2021 sportswriter of the year.

"I'm extremely humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers," said Caldwell, who writes for Inside the Auburn Tigers, part of the 247Sports Network. "That's probably the biggest thing about this for me. It's definitely not because I'm a great writer.

"Hopefully I have treated people the right way and tried to let the stories tell themselves. To win the same year as Andy Burcham makes it more special. He's a great broadcaster and an even better man."

Burcham and Caldwell have spent thousands of hours covering Auburn events. For one weekend this summer, they'll take a break to take a bow.

But both would gladly trade the coats and ties of the NSMA convention for the Greatest Show on Dirt if it means Auburn baseball is playing for a national championship.Andy Burcham (right) with Paul Ellen at Auburn's basketball game at Ole Miss
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer