Mike Keith explains how one of Tennessee's biggest moments of this century helped open his eyes to returning to the Vols
The Tennessee Volunteers found their voice on Thursday. Long-time Tennessee Titans play-by-play announcer was announced as the new voice of the Vols by the University of Tennessee, succeeding outgoing Bob Kesling on football and basketball broadcasts. As many fans already know, Keith is returning to the Vol Radio Network rather than making his first stop. […]
The Tennessee Volunteers found their voice on Thursday. Long-time Tennessee Titans play-by-play announcer was announced as the new voice of the Vols by the University of Tennessee, succeeding outgoing Bob Kesling on football and basketball broadcasts.
As many fans already know, Keith is returning to the Vol Radio Network rather than making his first stop. Keith, who graduated from Tennessee, was a part of the Vols' football broadcasts for over a decade until John Ward's retirement in 1998 as well as handling the baseball play-by-play duties from 1992-1998.
As such, his return was one that many had called for and wondered when, if ever it would come.
As it turns out, there was a point when Keith knew he wanted to come back to Knoxville, and it was during a moment that is very near and dear to the hearts of Tennessee Vol fans – during UT's 52-49 win over Alabama in 2022.
Keith was dealing with his father being in the hospital at that time the Vols snapped their losing streak to the Crimson Tide, and he told Ramon Foster, Kayla Anderson, and Will Bowling on 104.5 The Zone on Friday morning that, in that moment, everything that took place right then piqued his interest in returning.
"Two years ago, I kind of had a bit of an awakening when I went through some stuff with my dad," Keith said. "In watching the Tennessee-Alabama game in 2022 while my dad was in the hospital, I was really filled with a lot of different things that I hadn't felt in a long, long time. Just seeing the stadium from afar, and just remembering all my experiences, and seeing the students and a great football game. My brother, Beau, took my nephew, Will, to the game, like my dad would take me and my brother, Beau, to the game.
"So, there were all these things that happened, and when I left the hospital that day, I remember thinking, 'you know, if they ever do call, I think I would be really interested in listening' because all of the experiences I had growing up came flooding back in a moment in life. Honestly, I took it as a Godsend. Just to share with the audience. I did."
Once Tennessee had his attention, Keith says those with the university and the Vol Radio Network had a clear vision and sold him on their plans.
"And so, they called. And they made it very clear what they were looking to do. The thing about the University of Tennessee right now – and it's the university as a whole, including the athletic department – is that they want to be great at everything. They want to win in everything, from the students to everybody else involved. That's what's really special about what's happening at Tennessee in 2025. They knew what their plan was, and I was thrilled to hear what they thought. Because they – (Tennessee deputy athletic director) Alicia Longworth was my contact on all of this along with along with Steve Early from the Vol Network – they said, 'this is what we want to do, and we think you can be a part of it.' They said, 'we'd like for you to be a part of the team'.
"So, as Michelle and I waited, and it just happened to be at a moment in our life where things opened up from a business standpoint, from a personal standpoint. We thought a new adventure would be exciting. And I thought, you know, when we really went through all of this, this is something I want to do."
One of Keith's calling cards has been the excited nature of his calls on some of the biggest moments for the Titans during their games. His trademark call of "TOUCHDOWN….TITANS!" is one that football fans in the Volunteer State know well. As opposed to the generally more reserved and measured Kesling's calls, Keith will bring a level of excitement and energy to the broadcasts that there hasn't been in a long time.
And that has no small part to do with the moment when Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt combined for five touchdowns and Chase McGrath's wobbly duck cleared the crossbar to give the Vols their biggest win in over 20 years.
The fruits of that victory have continued to sprout years later, from a growing football program to a legendary voice returning home to call the action on fall Saturdays.
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