Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Charlie & Debbie

New WWE Announcer Brings Feeling of Legitimacy To Pro Wrestling

Author Charlie & Debbie

Okay first, don’t be thrown by my use of the word “legitimacy.” I am a lifelong professional wrestling fan. The men and women of sports entertainment are beyond legit athletically. That being said, it’s no secret that the result of each match is 100% pre-determined. So, when I heard the voice and saw the image of Joe Tessitore on last night’s Monday Night Raw, I was taken aback. There have been announcers go from the WWE to mainstream sports broadcasting (Jim Ross, Tony Schiavonne, and Jonathan Coachman), but I have never heard of it going the other way.

How Legit Is Joe Tessitore

I cannot stress enough how big a deal this is for the WWE. “Joe Tess” has been the lead announcer on Monday Night Football, college football on ESPN and ABC, “Holey Moley” on ABC, as well as being one of the best blow-by-blow boxing guys in the business. And now, Joe Tessitore brings his decades of sports broadcasting gravitas to World Wrestling Entertainment’s signature weekly show. I mean, c’mon, the dude broadcast The Orange Bowl this year!

Joe Tessitore Isn’t The Only WWE Broadcasting Change

The timing of Joe Tessitore moving into the lead chair is interesting as Monday Night Raw is set to leave the USA Network for Netflix in January of 2025. Tess is not the only announcer change within wresting’s dominant company. In fact, far from it. Let’s start with longtime lead announcer Michael Cole. He leaves the Raw brand to exclusively head “WWE Smackdown” as it moves from Fox to the CW. Also, Cole’s sidekick, Pat McAfee is taking his annual break from wrestling to focus on his ESPN College Football gameday gig.

Is Joe Tessitore Done With Mainstream Sports Broacasting?

This was my question. I’ve been around people like Tess my entire career. They are driven and addicted to “being there” at bigtime sports events. I cannot imagine the money it would take to make someone like Joe Tessitore give that up. Thankfully for everyone involved, Tess isn’t exclusively doing pro wrestling. His agreement allows him to still work for ABC/ESPN and the WWE.

Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.

4 High-Profile Football Coaches I'd Want My Kid To Play For

As a youth coach, there is no better feeling than being able to be able to coach a team that your kid is on. But you realize, if your little athletes goes on to play post-youth ball, they will eventually play for someone else. This led me to think about which high-profile football coaches (in both the NFL and NCAA) I would want my kid to play for today.

This is focused on the sport of football for three main reasons. The first is that is the sport I coach him in. Second, it’s the sport of the season. Lastly, it’s the sport my son loves the most right now.

In today’s modern era of professional and high-profile college sports, the head coaches are very prominent figures. Their press conferences are posted to social media. Furthermore, their demeanor is constantly evaluated,, as the press formulate an opinion as to whether or not they are doing a good job.

“Put Me In, Coach!”

So, what do I look for when thinking about who I’d want my son to play for? Well, in this hypothetical scenario, it is important to note that I am selecting a coach, and not a team. Then, it boils down to attitude. These coaches seem to have an attitude that goes way beyond winning. There’s an empathy to their approach. They carry themselves as unique individuals first, and then as a coach. This then leads their locker room to do the same. Lastly, each of them has bet on themselves, and some point had to have the unwavering belief that they would be great at what they do. They never quit on their dreams or their teams.

I have never met any of these coaches. In addition, none of them coach the team I cheer for. They simply inspire me with how they go about their craft and inspire their players.

Here are the four football coaches I’d want my kid to play for.

  • Dan Campbell - Detroit Lions

    After the Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Dan Campbell stood at the team locker room door and congratulated each player on his team as they entered. A hand shake, a hug, a slap on the shoulder pads, or a “great job, man” was issued to each member of the squad. This sentiment is nothing new for Campbell. He’s a player’s coach; he relates to his players. Why? Because he was one. Campbell played tight end in the NFL for the Giants, Cowboys, Lions, and Saints before becoming a coach. Campbell makes sure his players know two things before they take the field. That he believes in them, and that he has their backs. Furthermore, Campbell always exemplifies gratitude for his moments. He knows what it’s like to fail and get back up. In 2015, Campbell was named the interim head coach of the Dolphins. He was not retained. Now, he has the Lions in the playoffs.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Detroit Lions (@detroitlionsnfl)

  • Dan Lanning - University of Oregon

    From a NFL Dan to a college football Dan. Yes, the Oregon Ducks lost heartbreakers to the University of Washington Huskies this past season. Yes, you can argue Lanning had some interesting calls in those games. In response, Lanning said, “I think this game is 100% on me,” he said.” He took responsibility and held himself accountable, which is what he expects of his players. A coach who has the confidence to show his or her leadership while simultaneously recognizing the responsibility that comes with such a title, is someone you want your kids to look up to. Speaking of kids, Lanning had to move countless times until he earned his Oregon head coaching job. He too, failed more than once, but believed in himself to get back up without having a plan B. Even when his kids were babies, he bet on himself to keep going after his dream instead of taking a paycheck outside of coaching. 

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Oregon Football (@oregonfootball)

  • Mike McDaniel - Miami Dolphins

    If you want an example of overcoming adversity and defying the odds, Mike McDaniel is a pretty great example. As a young kid obsessed with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel used to ride his bike to their training camp. One day he lost his hat and then met the team assistant, Gary McCune, who felt bad for this kid who was so upset. This led to McDaniel eventually becoming a ballboy. At 22, he was a coaching intern for the Broncos. Over the next 17 years, he would do every odd job possible as an NFL assistant. He got fired a few times, successfully completed rehab, and lost a Super Bowl. McDaniel never stopped grinding, even when he’d frequently get called the “IT guy” due to his smaller size. He didn’t look like a NFL coach, and he had his own style. This is what has led to McDaniel’s success with the Miami Dolphins. His players love playing for him, just as much as he loved coaching for them. He also gets to the office at 3 am.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Miami Dolphins (@miamidolphins)

  • Kalen DeBoer - University of Washington

    I am staying in the Pacific Northwest for my college choices here. However, it’s a non-football related story that made me take to Coach DeBoer, who led the Huskies to the championship. Prior to the Oregon game, the Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. partnered with a local artist named Keegan Hall. Together, they signed prints of Hall’s incredible drawing of Penix Jr. They sold 200 of them and donated every dollar earned to a local charity. Coach DeBoer was involved in this effort, showing a high level of support. Then, Hall shared a story where DeBoer went out of his way, while on the field during the Oregon game to express his sincere interest in what Hall and Penix Jr. had accomplished. “Without a doubt, @kalendeboer has been incredibly successful on the field but, in my opinion, it’s what he does off the field that enables that success,” Hall said, telling the story in an Instagram post. This type of authentic human-element is something you can’t teach. DeBoer has shown he cares about the person, and the impact, not just the football player.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Washington Football (@uw_football)

Get The Country 103.7 All Access Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Enjoy the latest country music, entertainment, and local stories, plus exclusive contests, games, and more!

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Charlie & Debbie
Category:
Tags:
,,

More Country 103.7

Load More