Brad Brownell shares appreciation for Dick Vitale, return to broadcasting

In an iconic career, Dick Vitale has become the voice of college basketball for many fans around the country. However, in recent years, he’s largely been sidelined due to his battle with cancer limiting his ability to work. So, when he did get to return to broadcasting again in 2025, it was a thrill for everyone.

One person who was particularly appreciative of Dick Vitale in his return was Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell, who led his Tigers to an upset win over the Duke Blue Devils in Vitale’s first game since getting back to broadcasting.

“It was great,” Brad Brownell said. “I’ve spent some time with him. He actually called me the day before we played NC State to let me know that this was gonna be the game that he was gonna return to, and we had a lot of conversations in the subsequent days. It’s just so good for college basketball.”

As a player, Dick Vitale played for the Seton Hall Pirates before getting into coaching. He would go on to be the head coach of the Detroit Mercy Titans before going on to coach the Detroit Pistons. When that run came to an end in 1979, he would join ESPN as a broadcaster. That’s the role he became a legend in and he has since been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

ESPN put together a Dickie V montage with a special message from the man himself before he returns to the broadcasting booth today. pic.twitter.com/TCkELbXcr7

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 8, 2025

Dick Vitale had been unable to call a game since April 3, 2023. In the meantime, he’s been dealing with melanoma, lymphoma, and vocal cord and lymph node cancer, which has kept him away from broadcasting until he returned on Saturday.

“What he means for college basketball — I was a young guy watching him on his start at ESPN,” Brownell continued. “And really he was doing a lot of games that I wasn’t paying attention to until ESPN and he started getting into it. He’s changed college basketball for television. So, to have him back where he belongs is terrific.”

For his return, Vitale had a fantastic game. Clemson, hosting Duke, was able to pull off a major upset. Late in the game, Duke was looking to close a late gap when star freshman Cooper Flagg slipped going toward the hoop, traveling as he fell to the ground. That turnover iced the game and gave Duke its first ACC loss this season.

Even more emotional than the win was the standing ovation he received from fans in his return. It was another reminder that, after generations of fans have tuned into watching his games, there is still a deep love for Dickie V.

Dick Vitale delivers tearful message to start ESPN return

When the Clemson vs. Duke broadcast began, the ESPN cameras turned to Dick Vitale. There, he began his return to broadcasting with a tearful message to fans.

“I just want to say thank you to all the people. The reception here has been really off the charts. I’m sorry for being so emotional, but I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here. I was telling Cory before, this is like my Super Bowl. Sitting courtside doing a game, it beats the hell out of chemotherapy and radiations,” Vitale said.

“I want to say to all cancer patients out there, please, listen to me. Think positive and have faith and keep fighting and fighting and fight. I know what you’re going through, and it’s not fun. But to be here, this is my Super Bowl, Dave. It is my championship, no matter what happens.”