BREAKING: ESPN Honors Jim Hawthorne As Best Play-by-Play Announcer In College Sports, Cementing His Legacy As LSU’s Golden Voice

The roar of Tiger Stadium. The swish of a basketball net inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The crack of a bat at Alex Box Stadium. For generations of LSU fans, those iconic moments were not just seen but heard—painted into memory by the unmistakable voice of Jim Hawthorne. Today, ESPN officially recognized what LSU faithful have long believed, naming the legendary former “Voice of the LSU Tigers” as the Best Play-by-Play Announcer in College Sports. The honor, a capstone to a career spanning over three decades, reverberates far beyond Baton Rouge. It is a recognition of a voice that became synonymous with LSU athletics and a reminder of how one man’s storytelling can become an integral part of a university’s soul.

Jim Hawthorne’s journey to the pinnacle of college sports broadcasting was never about personal fame. Instead, it was always about bringing fans closer to the action, about making sure that whether you were sitting in your living room, driving down a Louisiana highway, or halfway across the country, you could feel like you were right there in Tiger Stadium. His cadence, timing, and genuine love for LSU made his calls unforgettable. Every touchdown, every buzzer-beater, every walk-off home run became more than just a play—it became a piece of shared history narrated by a trusted voice.

To understand why ESPN’s recognition carries such weight, one must understand what Jim Hawthorne meant to LSU athletics. For over 30 years, he was more than just a broadcaster; he was the bridge between the fans and the field. When Billy Cannon’s legacy was honored, when Shaquille O’Neal was rewriting college basketball, when Warren Morris delivered one of the most dramatic moments in College World Series history, it was Hawthorne’s voice that gave those moments their eternal echo. He was the trusted narrator through triumph and heartbreak, through seasons of glory and rebuilding. His words were woven into the fabric of Tiger fandom.

It was in football, perhaps, where Hawthorne’s resonance reached its deepest level. LSU football is a religion in Louisiana, and Saturdays in the fall are holy ground. Hawthorne’s voice, carrying through the airwaves, was the sermon. He described the electricity of Death Valley, the unrelenting power of the marching band, the heart-pounding tension of a last-second field goal attempt. In doing so, he wasn’t just telling fans what was happening; he was pulling them into the heartbeat of LSU itself. Even those who never set foot in Tiger Stadium could feel its pulse because of him.

But Hawthorne’s gift extended well beyond football. His ability to pivot between the sports seasons with the same enthusiasm and authority demonstrated his unmatched versatility. In basketball, he painted pictures of high-flying dunks, clutch three-pointers, and the grit of conference rivalries. In baseball, he slowed down the pace just enough to match the rhythm of the game, allowing listeners to savor the tension between pitches and the explosion of excitement when the Tigers delivered in the clutch. He had an innate sense of timing that allowed him to rise and fall with the game’s tempo, enhancing its drama without ever overshadowing it.

What set Jim Hawthorne apart from so many others in the world of broadcasting was not simply his professionalism or his technical skill, though both were exceptional. It was his authenticity. He was a fan himself, a believer in the teams he covered, and that authenticity came through in every broadcast. Listeners knew they were hearing not just a call of the game, but the voice of someone who lived and breathed LSU. His emotions, whether joyful or disappointed, mirrored those of the fans. He was one of them, elevated only by the microphone, yet grounded always by the same passion that filled Tiger Nation.

ESPN’s decision to crown him the Best Play-by-Play Announcer in College Sports speaks to his influence across the country, but for LSU fans, it is a validation of something they have always known. Hawthorne was not just the best in the booth; he was the heartbeat of their sporting lives. Generations of Tigers grew up with his voice serving as the soundtrack of their childhood Saturdays, their spring afternoons, and their winter nights. Parents introduced their children to LSU athletics not just through tickets to the game, but through the ritual of turning on the radio and letting Hawthorne guide them through the action. His voice became a thread stitching together decades of fandom, creating a shared experience across ages.

When Jim Hawthorne retired in 2016, LSU honored him with the respect and gratitude he so richly deserved. His final football season was celebrated as a farewell tour, with fans, players, and coaches acknowledging that an era was ending. Many wondered if the magic would fade without his voice carrying through the airwaves. And yet, the beauty of Hawthorne’s legacy is that it does not disappear—it remains, in recordings, in memories, in the very cadence of how LSU fans describe their greatest moments.

This latest recognition by ESPN ensures that Hawthorne’s influence will not only remain in the hearts of LSU fans but will also be etched into the broader history of college athletics. His name now stands alongside the legends, a symbol of how broadcasting, when done with heart, can transcend the act of calling a game. It can become storytelling of the highest order, capturing the drama of sport while deepening the connection between a team and its community.

Hawthorne’s award also underscores the importance of the play-by-play announcer in sports culture. In an age where fans have endless access to highlight reels, live streams, and social media updates, there is still something irreplaceable about a skilled announcer guiding you through the game. They provide context, emotion, and connection. They create continuity between the past, present, and future. Hawthorne exemplified this better than anyone, reminding us that the voice behind the microphone can shape the way we remember history.

For LSU, this is yet another reminder of the uniqueness of their athletic heritage. The Tigers are not just defined by the trophies in the case or the banners hanging in the rafters. They are defined by moments—moments that live forever because they were experienced together. Jim Hawthorne was the one who bound those moments into a collective story, ensuring that LSU’s triumphs resonated not just in the stadiums but in homes across Louisiana and beyond. His recognition today is, in many ways, a recognition of LSU itself, of the culture and spirit that he represented so faithfully.

Fans across social media reacted instantly to the announcement, flooding timelines with tributes, favorite calls, and heartfelt gratitude. Many recalled the exact moments when Hawthorne’s voice carried them through games they will never forget. Others spoke of listening to his broadcasts with parents or grandparents, of how his words created bonds across generations. The overwhelming response is not simply about honoring a broadcaster, but about cherishing the role he played in shaping their lives as fans.

In receiving this award, Jim Hawthorne has been elevated into the pantheon of college sports legends, but those who knew his broadcasts understand that his greatness was never about chasing titles or recognition. It was always about love—for LSU, for the games, and for the fans who tuned in year after year. That is why this recognition feels so fitting. ESPN may have made it official today, but the people of Louisiana and LSU loyalists around the country have been celebrating Jim Hawthorne’s greatness for decades.

As the sun sets on this day of recognition, one can almost hear Hawthorne’s voice once more, rising with excitement as the Tigers take the field, falling with reverence as a moment of history unfolds. His career reminds us that voices carry weight, that they shape how we feel, how we remember, how we belong. For LSU, Jim Hawthorne will always be more than a broadcaster. He will forever be the golden voice of the Tigers, the trusted companion through victory and defeat, and now, officially, the Best Play-by-Play Announcer in College Sports.