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Eric Collins

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For the speedway rider, see Eric Collins (speedway rider). For the American businessman, see Eric Collins (investor). For the rapper born Eric Dwayne Collins, see RBX.

Eric Collins (born June 16, 1969) is an American play-by-play sports announcer, currently the voice of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets on Bally Sports South.[1][2]

Education

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Collins is a graduate of St. Lawrence University. He earned a master's degree from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1992.[3]

Career

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In 2002, Collins filled-in for Mike Tirico on College Football on ABC along with analyst Irving Fryar.

From 2009 through 2013, Collins served as the part-time television voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking over the duties of Dodger radio voice Charley Steiner, who was the team's play-by-play announcer on road telecasts calling games east of Phoenix.[4][5]

Collins' broadcasting experience also includes play-by-play for NBC Sports' coverage of the USA Baseball team during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics,[5] as well as calling ESPN's coverage of college football, college basketball, and college baseball and softball Super Regional tournaments and Women's College World Series games (WCWS in 2005 and 2006); part-time announcing for the Chicago White Sox in 2004 and 2008; and working in Minor League Baseball for the Schaumburg Flyers and Rochester Red Wings. He is known for his extreme and exciting calls during Hornets games in the 2020–2021 season.

He also worked as a sideline reporter for Chicago Bulls broadcasts from 1997 to 2002. Collins has broadcast every game of the World Cup of Softball on ESPN since its inception in 2005, with partner Michele Smith. In August 2010, the Big Ten Network announced that Collins would handle play-by-play duties in college football and basketball.[6] He also does play-by-play announcing for Fox College Hoops.[7] He was the announcer for the famous Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks men's basketball's win over Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 26, 2019. His call for the buzzer beating layup by Nathan Bain was "BAAAIINNN... YES! THE LUMBERJACKS HAVE DONE IT!"[8]

On August 27, 2015, Collins was named the new television play-by-play announcer for the Charlotte Hornets, replacing Steve Martin, who returned to his original role as the team's radio play-by-play voice. Collins was joined by former Hornet Dell Curry and Stephanie Ready, the NBA's first full-time female analyst.[9][10][11]

In 2021, Eric called the 2021 The Basketball Tournament alongside long-time TBTR analyst Fran Fraschilla.[12]

Collins returned to football as he was the announcer for FS1's 2022 coverage of Duke vs. Northwestern on September 10, 2022.[13]

Media

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In 2024, Collins was profiled in a short film by Joey Garfield entitled "It's On Like a Pot of Neckbones: Inside the Mind of Eric Collins." The film highlights Collins' rigorous preparation and the unique charts he employs with the help of his daughters.

References

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  1. ^ Plowright, James (December 5, 2023). "Eric Collins Nominated For Major Broadcasting Award". Sports Illustrated Charlotte Hornets News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hornets Announcer Eric Collins Was the Real Star of Karl-Anthony Towns' 62-Point Game". The Big Lead. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Burrows, Ben (October 14, 2019). "Who are the top sports broadcasters from SU?". syracuse.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Dodgers.com: Eric Collins to join Dodger broadcast team in 2009". Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Powell, Brian (March 23, 2009). "The Dodgers Hire ESPN's Collins". Awful Announcing. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Dodgers' Eric Collins adds Big Ten football to his announcing chores
  7. ^ "2013-14 Fox College Hoops Announcers | B-FLO 360". Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "Stephen F. Austin's 'biggest' win over Duke sends clear signal to college hoops critics: November matters, too". November 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "FOX Sports Southeast Announces 2015-16 Hornets Telecast Team". NBA.com.
  10. ^ Simone, Jack (March 23, 2021). "The Hornets announcer earning the attention of millions nationwide". At The Hive. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Keeler, Ricky (December 6, 2021). "Eric Collins: I Don't Care If Opposing Fans Like How I Call A Game". Barrett Media. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "ESPN Set for TBT 2021 Championship Week July 31 – August 3". ESPN Press Room U.S. July 30, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Duke vs Northwestern Football Game Highlights 9 10 2022, retrieved September 10, 2023
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