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Woody Durham: A Tar Heel Voice
From 1971 to his retirement in 2011, Woody Durham was the “Voice of the Tar Heels,” the radio play-by-play man for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this autobiography, Woody takes the reader on a nostalgic stroll down memory lane―from his descriptions of a sleepy Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and the days of football legend ChooChoo Justice to the enormous changes in college sports and how they are covered to his dozens of behind-the-scenes stories about the coaches and players he worked with during his tenure. An appendix offers Woody’s thoughts on every football and basketball player he covered who has an honored jersey at UNC. Adam Lucas grew up dreaming of becoming a Carolina basketball player. A severe lack of both height and talent curtailed that dream, but he discovered another way to get as close as possible to the Tar Heels--writing about Carolina sports. He is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and Tar Heels Today and a columnist on GoHeels.com. He is author of seven books about Carolina basketball. Adam lives in Cary with his wife, Jennifer, and four children. "Woody Durham is the epitome of a professional broadcaster, who just so happened to also love the Tar Heels as much as he did his craft. He prepared for each game as if it were the national championship and spoke about each player and coach with an enthusiasm that connected them to his listeners in a unique way. Woody helped bring the Tar Heels to life for generations of Carolina fans." Roy Williams
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Woody Durham
1 book3 followersWoody Durham, known as “The Voice of the Tar Heels,” served as longtime play-by-play radio announcer for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football and basketball teams from 1971 to 2011. He grew up in Albemarle, N.C., and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1963 with a Bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures.
Woody began his career at WZKY, a small AM radio station in his hometown of Albemarle, at age 16. He began working with UNC in 1971.
During his 40 years as the Voice of the Tar Heels, Woody called more than 1,800 games. He worked with six head football coaches and their 900 football lettermen, including 19 first-team All-Americans, and four basketball coaches and their 200 lettermen, including 33 All-Americans. Woody earned the honor of North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year 13 times and was inducted into the N.C. Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Before the end of his tenure, Woody received the Lindsey Nelson Outstanding Sportscaster Award from the All-American Football Foundation and the Chris Schenkel Award from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
Woody announced his retirement on April 20. Still active in the UNC community, he writes a regular column for Tar Heel Monthly and serves with his wife as an honorary chair of the expansion campaign for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, N.C. His two sons have gone on to be radio announcers for Elon University and Virginia Tech.
Woody lives with his wife, Jean, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Woody began his career at WZKY, a small AM radio station in his hometown of Albemarle, at age 16. He began working with UNC in 1971.
During his 40 years as the Voice of the Tar Heels, Woody called more than 1,800 games. He worked with six head football coaches and their 900 football lettermen, including 19 first-team All-Americans, and four basketball coaches and their 200 lettermen, including 33 All-Americans. Woody earned the honor of North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year 13 times and was inducted into the N.C. Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Before the end of his tenure, Woody received the Lindsey Nelson Outstanding Sportscaster Award from the All-American Football Foundation and the Chris Schenkel Award from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
Woody announced his retirement on April 20. Still active in the UNC community, he writes a regular column for Tar Heel Monthly and serves with his wife as an honorary chair of the expansion campaign for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, N.C. His two sons have gone on to be radio announcers for Elon University and Virginia Tech.
Woody lives with his wife, Jean, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 29, 2012
Woody's book is great! Of course, if you don't share his frame of reference -- the past 40+ years of Carolina football and basketball -- you will wonder what the Heel he is talking about. But for those of us who do, this is a treasure trove of priceless gems straight from the guy in the front row seat.
Woody remembers great plays and great players. He dishes on coaches, players, decisions and situations that were not so great. Here are the early days of tv broadcasting, the realities of doing radio, a bit of family stuff, a lot of Dean and Roy, football from Dick Crum to Matt Brown to Torbush and Bunting and Butch Davis and now Fedora, the fans, the Rams Club, chancellors, announcers, uniforms, championships, egos, attitudes, manners, personalities, and on and on. You even get the idea that he kinda wishes he hadn't retired.
More than a memoir, this is your own memories of Carolina as seen from Woody's side of the mic, as told in the voice we know so well. Adam Lucas is co-writer, but he doesn't overwork it into a finely crafted piece of literature, just lets Woody talk and the rest of us feel lucky to listen in.
Woody remembers great plays and great players. He dishes on coaches, players, decisions and situations that were not so great. Here are the early days of tv broadcasting, the realities of doing radio, a bit of family stuff, a lot of Dean and Roy, football from Dick Crum to Matt Brown to Torbush and Bunting and Butch Davis and now Fedora, the fans, the Rams Club, chancellors, announcers, uniforms, championships, egos, attitudes, manners, personalities, and on and on. You even get the idea that he kinda wishes he hadn't retired.
More than a memoir, this is your own memories of Carolina as seen from Woody's side of the mic, as told in the voice we know so well. Adam Lucas is co-writer, but he doesn't overwork it into a finely crafted piece of literature, just lets Woody talk and the rest of us feel lucky to listen in.
January 23, 2013
This book is about Woody's life, but it is just as much about the era in Carolina athletics. It's fun to hear Woody's stories from the many football and basketball teams he covered in his career.
The book has simple and direct writing, which is what I expected. The book reads like an old man telling memories, which just feels right. He does do a bit too much of the "back in my day" thing sometimes, though.
Woody isn't scared to talk about his relationships with coaches, good or bad. He also writes it if he thinks a coach, administrator or even his former employer made a bad decision. I guess you get to do that when you're retired.
I did feel like some stories kept being repeated, like the 8 point comeback in 17 seconds against duke, even though the story was referenced in a different context.
Overall, a fun and easy read. I recommend it for Carolina fans. If you don't care about UNC athletics, you're not going to get much out of this one.
The book has simple and direct writing, which is what I expected. The book reads like an old man telling memories, which just feels right. He does do a bit too much of the "back in my day" thing sometimes, though.
Woody isn't scared to talk about his relationships with coaches, good or bad. He also writes it if he thinks a coach, administrator or even his former employer made a bad decision. I guess you get to do that when you're retired.
I did feel like some stories kept being repeated, like the 8 point comeback in 17 seconds against duke, even though the story was referenced in a different context.
Overall, a fun and easy read. I recommend it for Carolina fans. If you don't care about UNC athletics, you're not going to get much out of this one.
September 25, 2012
I enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with Woody Durham. What a fun and remarkable ride he has had. This was a very fast and interesting read. I cannot wait to pass it on to my neice...and HUGS Tar Heel fan in Missouri! :) I give it a solid 3 stars.
My rating system is as follows:
5 stars - Excellent, Worth Every Penny, Made It Into My Personal Library!
4 stars - Great book, but not a classic.
3 stars - Good overall, generally well written.
2 stars - Would not recommend based on personal criteria.
1 star - Difficult to read, hard to finish, or didn't finish. Wouldn't recommend purchasing or reading.
In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book I review was provided to me by the publisher, media group or the author for free and no financial payments were received, unless specified otherwise.
My rating system is as follows:
5 stars - Excellent, Worth Every Penny, Made It Into My Personal Library!
4 stars - Great book, but not a classic.
3 stars - Good overall, generally well written.
2 stars - Would not recommend based on personal criteria.
1 star - Difficult to read, hard to finish, or didn't finish. Wouldn't recommend purchasing or reading.
In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book I review was provided to me by the publisher, media group or the author for free and no financial payments were received, unless specified otherwise.
September 16, 2012
My 15 year old son loved this book-which is amazing because getting him to read is more difficult than getting him to clean his room! He told me it was interesting & insightful. He adores basketball & hopes to be a commentator after his successful pro career(he dreams big & at 6'1 he should;) I received this book for free through a Goodreads contest~thank you so much. If a book gets my son to read it & then talk about it for days & days afterwards it is a true winner to me!
November 30, 2013
Woody Durham is one of the best play by play guys ever in my opinion. Would always have the TV sound off and the radio on for all UNC football and basketball games. No one can call a game like Woody!
Really enjoyed this book. Interesting reading about Woody's start and growing up around UNC. Was good to get the perspective of someone close to the UNC program.
Highly recommend for UNC fans.
Really enjoyed this book. Interesting reading about Woody's start and growing up around UNC. Was good to get the perspective of someone close to the UNC program.
Highly recommend for UNC fans.
February 22, 2023
Excellent book!!!
March 3, 2013
I wanted something light and this hit the spot.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews