Fox Toledo Sports Anchor Brad Fanning Moves to Booth to Become Color Analyst for Rocket Football on WSPD Radio
7/28/2008 4:00:00 AM | Football
TOLEDO - Brad Fanning, the sports director for FOX Toledo News, has been named the color analyst for University of Toledo football games on WSPD Radio (AM-1370), in a joint announcement by UT and WSPD today. Fanning, who spent the last three years as the sideline reporter for Rocket football, will join longtime play-by-play announcer Mark Beier in the booth. Fanning will also join Beier, who is entering his 14th season as the voice of the Rockets, on the UT Football Coaches Show, which airs every Monday evening on WSPD.
"I'm thrilled to be taking on a bigger role in the broadcast booth for Rocket football," said Fanning. "I can't tell you how honored I am to have the trust and confidence of the UT athletic department, the coaching staff and WSPD, as well as the support of Fox Toledo to be able to take on a new career challenge. I promise all Rocket fans that I will do my best."
Fanning is FOX's first and only sports director. He joined the station in 1999 when the newscast expanded and added a nightly sportscast. He has won multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters while in Toledo. He has also done work for ESPN Plus and FOX Sports Net.
Fanning replaces former Rocket quarterback A.J. Sager. Sager, who held the position for eight seasons from 2000-07. Sager, who is the pitching coach for the Toledo Mud Hens, stepped down as UT's color analyst due to commitments with the Detroit Tiger organization. Sager played QB at UT from 1983-86 and is in the school's Varsity ?T' Hall of Fame.
"We're very pleased that Brad will be moving into the booth to become our color commentator," said UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien. "Brad is a respected sports personality in Toledo, and we feel fortunate to have someone of his caliber working with our football program. Also, we would like to thank A.J. Sager for his many years of excellent work as our football analyst. We will miss his voice on game day, but we wish him well in his future with the Tigers organization."
