Bill Davidge, longtime Columbus Blue Jackets broadcaster and ambassador, passed away at the age of 72.
What We Know: Davidge spent two decades defining Blue Jackets hockey for Columbus fans. He joined the organization as a scout in 1999, then moved to radio alongside play-by-play voice George Matthews in 2000. He later transitioned to Fox Sports Ohio TV before retiring in 2019. His signature call — “You better believe it!” — became a rallying cry for the franchise.
What They Said: The Columbus Blue Jackets released a statement on Davidge’s passing: “Our organization has never known a greater advocate or ambassador for our team and sport than Bill. If the Blue Jackets were somewhere in the community, there was a good chance Bill was there. And he was making an impact. There were no strangers in his world, only friends.”
What Remains Unclear: Details surrounding his death have not been disclosed. Davidge battle with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, began with a 2014 diagnosis. His Blue Jackets legacy, however, stretches further than broadcasting — he played hockey at Ohio State, captained the Buckeyes in the mid-1970s, and spent 23 years coaching at Miami University.
What It Means: Davidge connected communities, uplifted strangers, and represented Columbus with grace. While he may have been retired for the past seven seasons, his signature calls created memories amongst Columbus hockey fans for generations.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
