The University of Wisconsin Badgers have had the same broadcast booth for many of its athletic events since 1994, providing students, alumni and fans with a familiar sound each year. Prior to the start of the 2023 season though, one member of that team was asked to leave his job in a request that left him “blindsided.”
Mike Lucas, the school’s sports color commentator, has been working with play-by-play voice Matt Lepay since 1994 but is now out of the booth in favor of former NFL offensive lineman Mark Tauscher. The former secondary analyst for home games over the last decade is now being elevated to the lead booth and has been hosting an ESPN Milwaukee radio show since 2016.
During a recent appearance on The Wisconsin Sportscast podcast, Lucas, who is working with the Madison, Wisc.-based news outlet, The Capital Times, expressed his sentiments towards the ordeal. The discourse started with the expression of envy towards Tom Oates, who used to write for the Wisconsin State Journal, in that he had the ability to choose when he wanted to step away from the role. Conversely, the decision seemed to be implicitly forced upon Lucas, who voluntarily left the role and avoided the school potentially choosing to fire him from his post.
“I got kicked to the curb by [athletic director] Chris McIntosh – my radio assignment and along with my writing for the UWBadgers.com,” Lucas said. “It’s their prerogative to pick who they want in the booth and they wanted jocks in the booth, which is fine; I’m fine by that, but handle it with dignity; handle it with class; handle it with a little professionalism. Don’t be callous, [and] don’t be cowardly.”
The forthright, candid remarks came from a place of indignation and understanding from Lucas, who was commended for his years at the school in May through a social media post on X. The university expressed their gratitude for his more than 50 years covering the program in various capacities, which included being on the call for nine Big Ten championships and three Final Fours in men’s basketball.
Yet Lucas believes that the characterization of the announcement indicated that he was retiring, which was not the reality of the situation. Instead, he feels that he was forced out by the school and wishes that the decision could have come at his own accord. Nonetheless, he is elated to be back in print journalism with The Capital Times, an outlet he previously worked with for over 39 years and is making the best of the situation.
“This is not about grievance,” Lucas said, “but I felt in fairness to some people who still thought I retired, but in fact I was retired, I thought it was important just to get it out there. Now that it’s out there, it’s done. Like I said, I’m playing the cards I have in my hand, and I’m glad to be doing so.”
