Murray State University Athletics
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"Voice of The Racers" Neal Bradley - 2011 OVC Media Award Honoree
8/4/2011 11:31:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Basketball
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On Thursday the Ohio Valley Conference announced that Neal Bradley, “Voice of the Racers” for the past two decades, has been named the winner of the 2011 OVC Media Award, given to media who exhibit the highest commitment to covering the OVC.
In 2010 the awards were established as a way to recognize the media members who provide publicity for the Conference, its member institutions and intercollegiate athletics, perform their jobs in a fair, consistent and accurate manner, provide all-around coverage for a variety of sports and demonstrate the ability to go above and beyond their normal beat or job description.
Bradley earned the award given to current media members covering the league; the OVC Media Lifetime Achievement Award (given to someone who formerly covered the OVC) was not awarded this year. Brian Nielsen of the Mattoon Journal Gazette/Charleston Times-Courier (current media member) and Frank Layne, formerly of the Cookeville Herald-Citizen (Lifetime Award), earned the inaugural awards.
“The OVC has a lot of great stories to tell and we are fortunate to have an outstanding group of media covering our schools, which was evident in the great candidates we had for the awards this year,” said Kyle Schwartz, OVC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations. “It is great to have an award that recognizes media members who have made significant contributions in covering the OVC and its member institutions.”
Bradley, who is the play-by-play voice for Murray State football and men's basketball, has covered Murray State and the OVC since 1991. He is also the sports director and morning show host at WNBS & WOFC.
Over the years Bradley has become a fan favorite, with some of his calls of big Murray State wins becoming audio clips that people routinely save and even use as ringtones on their phones. One of the most memorable calls occurred in 2010 when Murray State upset Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as Danero Thomas hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift the No. 13 seed Racers to the 66-65 win.
“I am really flattered and taken aback by this award,” said Bradley. “The OVC has been dear to me since I was a little kid and to be honored by the league that I consider a part of my life is really beyond words for me.”
Bradley is also highly respected by his peers in the media, is known for his tremendous work ethic and also for being well prepared for each and every broadcast. Bradley is very active in social media and is known to tweet and retweet (@NealBradley) key information about the OVC and its member institutions.
"Murray State is fortunate to have someone with Neal's talents serve as the voice of the Racers,” said Murray State Director of Athletics Allen Ward. “I congratulate him on the award and he is certainly deserving. He does a great job covering the Racers and the OVC. In my opinion, he's the best in the business."
"Neal has been a colleague of mine for more than 20 years and I'm thrilled to see him honored like this,” said Dave Winder, Murray State Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations. “Neal has painted pictures with his words over the years for Racer fans and I know they join us in congratulating him as he receives this award."
The OVC Media Awards are determined in a nomination process and vote that included the media relations staffs at OVC member institutions as well as the Conference office. Winners are presented their awards in the fall during to be determined athletic contests on the campus of the school whose beat they cover/have covered.
On Thursday the Ohio Valley Conference announced that Neal Bradley, “Voice of the Racers” for the past two decades, has been named the winner of the 2011 OVC Media Award, given to media who exhibit the highest commitment to covering the OVC.
In 2010 the awards were established as a way to recognize the media members who provide publicity for the Conference, its member institutions and intercollegiate athletics, perform their jobs in a fair, consistent and accurate manner, provide all-around coverage for a variety of sports and demonstrate the ability to go above and beyond their normal beat or job description.
Bradley earned the award given to current media members covering the league; the OVC Media Lifetime Achievement Award (given to someone who formerly covered the OVC) was not awarded this year. Brian Nielsen of the Mattoon Journal Gazette/Charleston Times-Courier (current media member) and Frank Layne, formerly of the Cookeville Herald-Citizen (Lifetime Award), earned the inaugural awards.
“The OVC has a lot of great stories to tell and we are fortunate to have an outstanding group of media covering our schools, which was evident in the great candidates we had for the awards this year,” said Kyle Schwartz, OVC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations. “It is great to have an award that recognizes media members who have made significant contributions in covering the OVC and its member institutions.”
Bradley, who is the play-by-play voice for Murray State football and men's basketball, has covered Murray State and the OVC since 1991. He is also the sports director and morning show host at WNBS & WOFC.
Over the years Bradley has become a fan favorite, with some of his calls of big Murray State wins becoming audio clips that people routinely save and even use as ringtones on their phones. One of the most memorable calls occurred in 2010 when Murray State upset Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as Danero Thomas hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift the No. 13 seed Racers to the 66-65 win.
“I am really flattered and taken aback by this award,” said Bradley. “The OVC has been dear to me since I was a little kid and to be honored by the league that I consider a part of my life is really beyond words for me.”
Bradley is also highly respected by his peers in the media, is known for his tremendous work ethic and also for being well prepared for each and every broadcast. Bradley is very active in social media and is known to tweet and retweet (@NealBradley) key information about the OVC and its member institutions.
"Murray State is fortunate to have someone with Neal's talents serve as the voice of the Racers,” said Murray State Director of Athletics Allen Ward. “I congratulate him on the award and he is certainly deserving. He does a great job covering the Racers and the OVC. In my opinion, he's the best in the business."
"Neal has been a colleague of mine for more than 20 years and I'm thrilled to see him honored like this,” said Dave Winder, Murray State Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations. “Neal has painted pictures with his words over the years for Racer fans and I know they join us in congratulating him as he receives this award."
The OVC Media Awards are determined in a nomination process and vote that included the media relations staffs at OVC member institutions as well as the Conference office. Winners are presented their awards in the fall during to be determined athletic contests on the campus of the school whose beat they cover/have covered.
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