Jim Brandstatter and Dan Dierdorf opened their first radio broadcast of the Michigan Wolverines’ 2021 season by acknowledging that it would be the last one with the duo in the booth. They will both retire at the end of the season.
“Before we get started, there’s a quick announcement I want all of you to listen to,” said Brandstatter. “For Dan Dierdorf and I, this will be our last season broadcasting Michigan football. As Crash Davis said at the end of Bull Durham, ‘We’re hangin’ ’em up.'”
Brandstatter is a pillar of sports radio in the state of Michigan. Not only has he been on the Wolverines’ radio call in some capacity since 1979, but he was also the color commentator on the Detroit Lions’ radio crew from 1987 until 2018. He is a member of both the state’s broadcasting hall of fame and its sports hall of fame.
He thanked his listeners by saying “You’ve invited me into your homes on the radio for Michigan football, and television for Michigan Replay and Inside Michigan Football. Without you and your support, I don’t have the job of my dreams and I am eternally grateful.”
Dan Dierdorf joined the team in 2014, replacing Frank Beckmann. Prior to that, he had a long career calling NFL games on television, including 13 seasons on Monday Night Football.
“We hope our last year is a resurgence of sorts for Michigan football after last year,” Dierdorf told Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News. “We’re both happy. We’re happy because we know in our heart of hearts we made the right call.”
