Can we PLEASE have someone in the radio broadcast producer/director room tell our “side announcer” Matt Zimmerman to NOT TALK SO MUCH!! I do not think he is any longer employed by the U of A and actually he was looking for a local job of some sort after being let go last year when Mike Anderson was fired. Not sure if he got one in the coaching circles in Arkansas high school system or anywhere else. So I assume the radio sports network hired our Chuck Barrett radio assistant Zimmerman and wonder why because last year all comment websites asked that he (1) quit butting in on Chuck, (2) don’t talk SO fast and (3) don’t talk so LOUD. Can someone talk to Barrett or the network about listening fan concerns? We need a calmer “color analyst”, or more and more fans will listen to the TV announcers and turn off the Razorback Radio Network announcers during TV games. Slow, softer and non interruptive announcing PLEASE Mr. Zimmerman!!! That’s all we ask. You may know how to coach and have been an assistant in the U of A BB program but announcing to the fans is another ballgame!!
He used to go overboard criticizing officials (I mean it was every call).
In the two games I’ve listened to this year, he has improved in that area.
Maybe someone has talked to him.
Personally, Matt Zimmerman is my favorite color analyst that we’ve had on basketball. I don’t want him to change anything.
With all due respect…he is really not very good.
Agree Clay. Can we not just enjoy the win? Good gracious. No one has won anything in Fayetteville in years and y’all are complaining about a radio broadcast. Zimmerman is greatness!
TU southpaw. I forgot about the official critique thing last year. It was way too much and his personal opinion and often not correct after looking at the video replay. Excitement is one thing but Chuck Barrett is the calming force, IF he is allowed to start talking before the play action begins and not start his comments during a play. It can be confusing for sure.
I think he does a good job.
I too agree with Clay. I don’t want a calm color manAnd, I think he is easy to understand and knowledgeable
Clay and Richard… I do appreciate his knowledge but I feel SO MANY people think there is a time to talk between Chuck’s commentary and not on top of Chuck so much. I do like his excitement but putting it in the proper place is important IMHO and not in a screaming fashion on top of Chuck trying to talk. Nuff said. You both have valid comments but I am sure you see the other side I hope.
Matt is pretty dang good and he really understands the game.
I want a big homer on our broadcast. Matt has really improved the last two years
I’m sure they critique themselves.
Chuck really likes having Matt on the broadcasts with him. He and I have talked about that several times. I defer to Chuck.
Did anyone hear him postgame? He said we would win the conference. Now that’s a homer!!!
I really enjoy listening to Matt. I appreciate two guys who are passionate hog fans doing the broadcasts.
I know Chuck too but have not had the heart to ask him, assuming they do talk to each other about ‘how to do things’… If Chuck is OK with things, then that’s fine with me. Chuck is the main announcer and paid to do so and goes back and forth to Florida to do the best job he can. I LOVE Chuck’s play by play but just asking to hear it a bit more clearly when things get exciting. I remember Matt’s coaching in Arkansas high school basketball. Great basketball mind and wish Anderson had used him more appropriately on the actual sideline…
I like Matt.
Matt is far from polished, but I think that - coupled with his fandom - is what endears him to a lot of people. I’ve also heard from a number of people who don’t like him because he is unpolished.
You’re never going to find a broadcaster universally liked. Everyone has speech patterns and tendencies that are going to grate on some nerves.
I know the RSN people wanted him back badly this year. David Shoemaker, who hires the radio personnel, told me that for this profile I wrote on Matt a few weeks back.
Razor will, in the closing seconds of them game did you hear him say, “The SEC seems to be down this year?”
It’s probably too early to be making those comments. It’s doubtful our staff would appreciate it either.
Matt has coached and in my opinion brings much to a game being broadcast. I don’t always agree with him but that’s the same for everybody.