‘Voice of Auburn’ football and ‘Miracle in Jordan-Hare’ dies in car crash

The Brambletts’ 2017 Toyota Highlander was waiting to make a turn when it was rear-ended by a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 16-year-old near the Auburn campus.

Rod Bramblett, 52, died from a head injury, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said Sunday. His wife, Paula, 53, who worked in Auburn’s Information Technology Department, died from internal injuries. The teen driver sustained serious injuries.

“All of us in the Auburn family are devastated by the tragic passing of Rod and Paula Bramblett,” Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene said in a statement. “A nationally recognized broadcaster, Rod’s love for Auburn was fervent. You could hear it coming through the radio loud and clear each time he exclaimed ‘Touchdown Auburn!’ ”

Alcohol is not suspected as a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Lee County Coroner's Office and the Auburn Police Division,  the Opelika-Auburn News reported.

A pubic memorial service has been planned for 2 p.m. (CT) Thursday, May 30, at Auburn Arena.

The Brambletts had been together since high school. They are survived by two children, daughter Shelby, an Auburn student, and son Joshua.

“I’m heartbroken by the loss of Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula,” football coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement. “(Rod) loved Auburn and it showed in his work. This is a difficult time and we will continue to pray and offer our support to the Bramblett family, especially their children Shelby and Joshua.”

Rod Bramblett graduated from Auburn in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He began his Auburn broadcasting career in 1993 calling baseball games. He had been the play-by-play announcer for Auburn football and basketball games since 2003.

Bramblett was a three-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year. Sports Illustrated named Bramblett the national broadcaster of the year in 2013 after his calls during wins over Alabama — “Kick Six” — and Georgia — “Miracle in Jordan-Hare.”

He called Auburn’s first Final Four trip in April.

Tributes on social media poured in on Sunday: