The Oregon Ducks announced about two hours before kickoff that the voice heard inside Autzen Stadium on Gameday would not be that of Legendary Autzen Stadium Announcer Don Essig who would miss just his second game in -get this- 47 years. Yes, you read that right 47 years. Essig is best known for his line during the weather forecast, “It Never Rains At Autzen Stadium” goes back decades to when fans were allowed to bring umbrellas into Autzen Stadium for football games.
Missing his 2nd game in 47 years, Don Essig says
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) November 8, 2015
"It still never rains in Autzen Stadium." Get well soon, Don. pic.twitter.com/U8dIgTUwnU
Essig’s voice was also not the prominent voice during the Pac-12 Championship Game on a Friday night in 2011 against UCLA. It was said at the time it was an attempt to make the game more ‘neutral’. Without Essig at the microphone tonight it may rain at Autzen Stadium for just the second time in 47 years. How’s that for a drought. We can hope it’s not like the monsoon that greeted the Ducks and Beavers two seasons ago which was more of a ‘heavy mist’. In his stead, Andy McNamara, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications will be on the microphone at Autzen. McNamara is a regular on the IMG Oregon Sports Network as a guest on Duck Insider. He has also done play by play work for Oregon Athletics.
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The Oregon Ducks and Cal Bears kickoff at 7:30pm Pacific Time on ESPN2.