Longtime radio veteran Mike Hathcock pairs with Nolen Sanford for WEIS high school football broadcasts

Mike Hathcock is joining Nolen Sanford for WEIS radio high school football broadcasts this fall. Photo Special to WEIS Radio.

CENTRE – The WEIS high school football broadcast booth is going to have close to 70 years of experience this fall.

Longtime Northeast Alabama broadcast veteran Mike Hathcock, whose first full-time radio position was at WEIS in 1977, is coming back to the station to team with Nolen Sanford, bringing fans all the Friday night action over the airwaves.

“It’s been more than 15 years since I’ve been in the broadcast booth as far as sports goes. I obviously didn’t think I would be doing it again, but a great opportunity came up to work with Nolen and the guys at WEIS. I’m looking forward to it,” Hathcock said. “I’ve been doing this for a long, long time, probably about 35 years when I look back. I’ve done several sports, including basketball in addition to football. I even did television. I did play-by-play for JSU football for a couple of years, so I’ve done a lot of broadcasting over the years, that’s for sure.”

Hathcock, who lives in Centre, still works part time for two other radio stations – WVOK AM and FM in Oxford, and has his own Sunday morning gospel show in Gadsden at WGAD. He is the father of Tony Hathcock, who is part of the WEIS Buttram, Hawkins and Hopper Scoreboard Show crew on Friday nights.

“I don’t think we could’ve looked anywhere else and found anybody any better,” WEIS station manager Jerry Baker said. “We were not aware Mike was available, but we were glad that it turned out he is coming on board with us to do the color analyst, with Nolen in the booth as our play-by-play announcer.

“Mike has well over 40 years of experience in the broadcast booth, and we’re excited to have all that experience on our team with Nolen. I think it will bring a lot of professionalism that we need on the color side of things. I think that will balance us out very well. We’re excited about a great season, and we’re excited to have Mike on board.”

Sanford is excited to have Hathcock on board as well.

“I think having Mike aboard is an awesome addition,” Sanford said. “He’s got so much experience. He’s done it on the local level. He’s done it on a state level. He’s called basketball and football. He’s a fixture in the Northeast Alabama area. I personally believe it’s a great addition. Jerry did a great job, and I’m excited Mike is going to be with me in the booth. It’s going to make the broadcast really good this year.

“I think it’s a fantastic situation for us. It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to really learn more. In the past, it’s almost been like I wasn’t having to learn as much, but now I think I’m going to start learning again.”

Hathcock and Sanford’s first live football broadcast together will be Aug. 20 during the Whitesburg Christian at Gaylesville game. Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m. on AM 990 and FM 100.5.

“I’m just looking forward to getting started,” Hathcock said. “All the schools (in and around Cherokee County), they have a great following. Their fans support them, which is a little bit unusual today. A lot of the schools in larger cities, nobody goes to a high school football game anymore, but there’s really good support in Cherokee County.”

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