WSU announces football broadcast changes

Bob Robertson will remain Washington State’s radio play-by-play man for football games, but several other changes to WSU’s broadcasts were announced Monday by athletic director Bill Moos. Bud Nameck will move from the sidelines to the booth, and former WSU receiver Shawn McWashington will replace Jim Walden as the color analyst. In addition, Jessamyn McIntyre, a producer at 710 ESPN in Seattle, will take over as the crew’s sideline reporter. Moos said the bigger news, in terms of how it affects the school’s impact across the state, is the announcement that WSU football and basketball games will be broadcast live on KIRO (710 AM) in Seattle this upcoming season. Moos, breaking the news on the Kevin Calabro show on 710 AM, said KIRO is the new “voice of the Cougars” on the west side of the state. KIRO is also the flagship station of the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. “To be mentioned in the same breath as the Mariners and the Seahawks, that’s pretty special,” Moos said. “That’s where we want to be. When I think of sports in western Washington and the greater Seattle area, I think of KIRO.” Some had speculated that Nameck would take over the play-by-play duties from the venerable Robertson, who enters his 46th year in the booth. But Moos said that’s not the case – not yet, anyway. “It’ll be Bob’s,” Moos said. “He and I had a long talk about that. He told me, ‘Bill, if you ever feel that I’m an embarrassment or anything to the program, you’ve got to let me know.’ My feeling is that Bob is no embarrassment. He is synonymous with Cougar football and he will call the play by play. Bud will be there to help him, as will Shawn, and they’ll have roles that are being defined as we speak.” Nameck echoed Moos’ assessment, saying Robertson deserves to call games until he no longer wishes to. When that time comes, Nameck would likely assume the play-by-play duties. But as of now, it’s Robertson’s job. “The bottom line is, Bob is the play-by-play guy and I’m going to do whatever he would like me to do to help the broadcast,” Nameck said. “This is his 46th year, and he’s a legend, and when Bob wants to step aside, that’s when he should be done. “I wouldn’t want to be in the position of replacing Bob if he is forced out or it’s not his choice. That wouldn’t be fun at all.” Nameck said his role will be to provide statistical updates and reports, and “just pick my spots and add something I’m not hearing.” McWashington, an assistant vice president at insurance broker Marsh USA in Seattle, was a member of WSU’s “Fab Five” receiving corps on the 1997 Rose Bowl team. Moos said McWashington has “real sense and knowledge of the game. (He) really brings some of our younger fans – those that are from the Rose Bowl era that can relate to him. I think he’s going to be a super addition.” McIntyre currently produces the Kevin Calabro show, and previously produced college football broadcasts at the national level.