Bulldogs calling one for Munson

Athens —- Georgia will honor Larry Munson on Saturday for his 43 years of service in what is expected to be a quick and emotional tribute at Sanford Stadium.

The Bulldogs will laud the legendary radio play-by-play announcer between the first and second quarters of the Georgia Tech game. The abbreviated tribute was necessary because the football team will honor 27 seniors with Senior Day ceremonies before kickoff. Also, the Bulldogs want Munson —- who has never been on the field during a Georgia game —- to enjoy a sold-out stadium crowd with everybody in their seats.

“If we did it before the seniors, a lot of people wouldn’t be there yet and there wouldn’t be enough time before kickoff,” said Charley Whittemore, Georgia’s assistant athletics director for facilities. “And if you wait until halftime, a lot of people won’t be in their seats. We wanted to do it when the whole crowd is in there, and Larry’s really excited about that.”

Munson, 85, has called Georgia’s games since 1966. He quit traveling to road games last season due to declining health. He retired this season after working the Bulldogs’ first two home games.

A video tribute on the scoreboard will accompany Munson’s appearance. He will also receive a gift —- an original painting by Athens native and Carrollton resident Steve Penley. Prints of that work will be available for purchase online at georgiadogs.com after the game, with proceeds going toward a facilities project being planned in Munson’s honor.

Munson, through his son Michael, declined comment Tuesday.

“He’s a little apprehensive about how emotional it’s going to be,” Michael Munson said. “I know there’s not going to be much time, so I hope we can get it all in. But he is really excited about being on the field.”

Whittemore and his wife, Debbie, are among two of Munson’s closest friends and will be with the group that will accompany him on the field.

“We all like to read, and we started sharing things,” Whittemore said. “We even did his movie group for a while, but we kind of outgrew that. We’ve never really hunted and fished together, but we’ve talked it and shared the spoils. Nowadays he just likes to sit on the porch and smoke a cigar and talk about it.”