Alabama announces plan for Eli Gold to return to broadcast booth this season

Eli Gold has already announced his plans to return to the Alabama broadcast booth this season after his battle with cancer. Just over a week before the season starts, the Crimson Tide Sports Network announced the plan for his return.

Gold will call Alabama home games and Chris Stewart will do play-by-play for away games. Stewart filled in for Gold last year as the Crimson Tide’s primary play-by-play announcer alongside John Parker Wilson while also hosting “Hey Coach and the Nick Saban Show” every Thursday. Wilson is not returning this year, and Tyler Watts will join Gold and Stewart in the booth.

Gold has been the voice of Alabama football since 1988 but missed last year due to his cancer treatment. He was back in his rightful spot last week for “Hey Coach” last week, although Saban won’t join the program until next week ahead of the season opener against Middle Tennessee.

The journey was a long one for Gold, who told Paul Finebaum a case of the hiccups raised red flags after initial tests didn’t detect his cancer. But he pushed forward and, eventually, kicked the disease.

“There were two things that kept me fighting,” Gold said. “I was fighting for my family. My daughter is getting married in 2024, next calendar year. I wanted to be here to walk her down the aisle. And of course, my wife who has been absolutely spectacular in helping me and being a caregiver in all of this.”

Nick Saban: ‘I’m excited’ to have Eli Gold back in the booth

The matchup against Middle Tennessee will mark Gold’s first game back in the booth since 2021. If anyone’s happy about his return, it’s Nick Saban — who will be back by Gold’s side at Baumhower’s Victory Grille every Thursday for “Hey Coach!”

“I love Eli,” Saban said. “He’s been with us for a long time. He’s kind of part of the tradition around here in terms of the expectation of being the voice of the Crimson Tide network in a lot of ways, whether it’s a radio show or whatever it is. I’m just happy for him and his family that he’s getting healthier, he’s able to get around and he’s going to be able to get back and do what he loves doing.

“We’re going to do everything we can to support him and even though it may not be 100 percent full-throttle, sort of working him back into it. But I’m excited to have him back because I love working with him.”