Alabama Declines To Retain Longtime Broadcaster Eli Gold

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Longtime Crimson Tide sports broadcaster Eli Gold announced on Wednesday that he will no longer be in the broadcast booth for the University of Alabama in a move that was not Gold's decision.

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“Well, the university has chosen not to bring me back,” Gold told AL.com on Wednesday. “This is not, with a capital N-O-T, not at all health-related. I am very healthy. Everything is wonderful. I am healthy as a horse ... “I am not retiring. The university has chosen, as they say, to go in a different direction. And that’s certainly their right.”

Gold has served as the Tide's football radio broadcaster since 1988 and also hosted "Hey Coach!"

The news came as a major shock to many in the Crimson Tide fanbase and follows Gold's triumphant return to the airwaves last football season after missing the 2022 campaign after being diagnosed with cancer.

Gold, 70, will now be replaced by longtime Crimson Tide Sports Network broadcaster Chris Stewart, who filled in on football broadcasts during Gold's absence.

“Eli has been an invaluable member of our broadcast team,” Jim Carabin, vice president and general manager of the Crimson Tide Sports Network told Bama Online. “We are grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in this next chapter. CTSN is fortunate to have someone as part of our existing broadcast team in Chris to step up and seamlessly transition into this role.”

This is a developing story. Tuscaloosa Patch will have more information as it becomes available.