Gov. Mike Beebe Has a Future in Radio Play-by-Play

Steve Sullivan, Gov. Mike Beebe, Justin Acri

That Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is a football fan isn’t exactly news to many in the state, but that Gov. Mike Beebe is a natural in the booth calling play-by-play is a fun fact you may not have known.

For the UCA Bears’ 2013 season opener in Conway Aug. 29, Beebe was in Estes Stadium pulling for the home team and getting a chance to enjoy the first college football game of the weekend in Arkansas. At some point, the governor was invited to the booth to join the voice of the UCA Bears, KATV’s Steve Sullivan (who normally carries the play-by-play duties) and 103.7 The Buzz’s Justin Acri, who provides analysis for UCA Bears’ games on the radio.

Beebe does a great job, too, even though he’s not calling the action for his beloved Arkansas State Red Wolves.

As Rex Nelson noted last season:

It’s safe to say that no Arkansas governor has ever been as close to a college football team as Gov. Mike Beebe is to this group of Red Wolves. Not that Beebe is a Johnny-come-lately, mind you. In fact, he has had the same seats at what’s now called Liberty Bank Stadium in Jonesboro since the stadium opened in 1974.

Never fear, Bears’ fans, Beebe manages a “Go Bears!” with gusto after making the call on a touchdown. He clearly knows the players, too. At one point Beebe shares an interesting story of how he got a chance to watch the 1969 Shootout in Fayetteville as a law student, you Razorback fans will appreciate.

Audio Courtesy of 106.7 The Heartbeat in Little Rock