[Husker] Husker Radio Broadcasts

[Gary Fead]

Good Evening:

I believe I did this once before but I'll do it again since there seemed to be some confusion about Husker radio broadcasts. 

At one time (I suppose I could have said "Once Upon a Time...") four radio stations originated Husker football broadcasts they were:

WOW (590 AM Omaha) - no network
KFAB (1110 AM Omaha) - no network
KFOR (1240 AM Lincoln) - set up its own network
KLIN (1400 AM Lincoln) - set up its own network

KFOR and KLIN each had their own networks of 20 or so stations each. In Omaha only the KLIN network was carried on another station (KBON later KLNG) other than WOW and KFAB, the KFOR network was never on an Omaha radio station. 

On these stations were the following talent (in order of their appearance):

WOW - Jack Payne*, Joe Patrick, Russ Baldwin, Joe Patrick
KFAB - Lyell Bremser, Kent Pavelka
KFOR - Dick Perry, Ray Scott
KLIN - Bob Zenner, Don Gill

* - Jack Payne later worked with Lyell Bremser, Kent Pavelka and Gary Sadylmeyer KFAB and later KFAB's Nebraska Football Network. I believe that Jack Payne replaced Dave Blackwell when he left Omaha for Salt Lake City. A side note here Dave Blackwell passed away earlier this year in Salt Lake City. 

Joe Patrick later called UN-Omaha football games as well as Creighton basketball games for several years he has since retired, Russ Baldwin moved to the east coast where he still resides today, Lyell Bremser passed away in 1989, and Dick Perry, Ray Scott and Bob Zenner have also passed away. Don Gill is retired and living in Lincoln and occasionally is a contributor to Nebraska Public Television programs and fund drives. 

In 1981 NU took bids on an exclusive contract for football which KFAB won the rights to. Lyell Bremser called one year on the "Nebraska Football Network" and then turned the reigns over to Kent Pavelka who remained through 1995 when Pinnacle took over. At that point Warren Swain was anointed as the "Voice of the Huskers" and continued for five seasons prior to Jim Rose ascending to the esteemed position at "Voice of the Huskers". Pinnacle as we all know was bought out by Host Communications last month and we continue (for now anyway) to have Jim Rose as the voice of Husker Football, Kent Pavelka is back as the voice of Husker men's basketball. 

Gary Fead
Omaha