Last Thursday, when Ouachita Baptist Football began its 125th season of football one man began his 41st season as the ‘Voice of the Tigers’. We sat down with Rex Nelson, for a quick conversation before the Tigers hit the road, to Alva, Oklahoma, to take on the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers this upcoming Thursday. Nelson would take us beyond the microphone and into his memories of his time on the radio, what OBU means to him, and more in our conversation.
Runs In The Family
The story of Nelson and Ouachita Baptist takes us back to the 1940s when his father, Robert “Red” Nelson played for the Tigers in this era. Rex spoke about what the Ouachita Baptist campus means to him. With pride in his tone, Nelson said “My father played at Ouachita in the 1940s and roomed with Cliff Harris‘ father. He was the starting Ouachita quarterback in the 1947 Battle of the Ravine on Thanksgiving Day. So Ouachita football is really just a part of who we are in my family.”
When listening to Nelson paint the picture of OBU football you can hear this pride in his voice. Moreover, you can hear the passion he takes in his position with a University and football program that in his own words is “who we are in my family.” If you need further validation of this we harken you back to the ‘Battle of the Ravine’ game from 2021 and the final play. Trust us when we say you will not be disappointed.
The elder Nelson would be hired at Newport High School{AR} in 1948 following his graduation from OBU. After a successful coaching tenure in all sports and creating a buzz state-wide as a coach to watch for the future, Red would step away and start an athletic supply company with his brother. In 2007, Red Nelson was inducted into the Ouachita Sports Hall of Fame in what was a more than well-deserved honor.
The love and admiration for his father and the traditions he bestowed upon Rex live on through every broadcast.
“It Has Never Gotten Old”
We started with the elder Nelson and the connection to the University yet Rex recalls memories from his youth. When alluding to his role and if he still gets excited after all these seasons. Nelson would without delay state “It has never gotten old. I thought it would become less important as the years went on, but it has become more important.”. He then would, again, take us on a trip back to his childhood as he recalled his best friend, and broadcast partner, Dr. Jeff Root.
In life, we do not often get to find lifelong best friends much less get to work with them on a weekly basis. Nelson stated “A major reason for that is my relationship with Dr. Jeff Root, who has been at my side for most of those 41 seasons. We realize how special an opportunity this is. We both grew up a block from the stadium. To in essence be a part of the program since birth is a special thing.” when elaborates on why the position has remained fresh as we enter week two of the 41st season.
In addition to getting the position never becoming “old”, Nelson would enlighten us on another nugget of information. People ask Nelson often if he still gets nervous after all these years to his answer of “every game”. In his words “If you’re not nervous, you’re not ready. I want our broadcast to reflect well on my alma mater.” and they accomplish this to perfection to the untrained eye.
No “I” In Team
When speaking on the broadcast, Nelson would speak on the Network the Ouachita Baptist athletics stream their games on. The “Ouachita Sports Digital Network” includes a team that operates one of the largest radio networks in all of Division 2 Football as it reaches all four corners of the state.
Nelson would praise this team by saying “The team I have with me — Jeff Root, Richard Atkinson, Michael Westbrook, and Casey Motl — are good enough to work on any broadcast in America. I mean that sincerely. It’s pretty neat to have put that together at such a small school. We all take pride in the work we do. We have fun, but we’re serious about what we put on the air. My definition of fun is being able to look back with pride on a job well done.”
When closing, Nelson would speak on the pride in OBU athletics he grew up listening to a block from the stadium. He enlightened us on the ultimate mission statement of “we do everything in our power to make it sound like a Division I broadcast even though it’s for a Division II team.” and we will attest that this is accomplished with each broadcast.
This Thursday night, beginning at 6 p.m. you can watch, and listen, to Nelson’s “Paint It Purple” as he calls the action on the OSDN YouTube Page. When the Tiger scores you will hear his famous call of “5,4,3,2,1 PROMISED LAND” followed by “TOUCHDOWN OUACHITA” and the LEGENDARY TEAM alongside the ICONIC voice is calling it just as he did when he debuted in 1983 with nerves, passion, love for the University, team on the field, and team alongside him.
