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Longtime Alabama radio play-by-play announcer Eli Gold revealed more details Wednesday about his firing by Alabama, saying he was informed that his performance was no longer adequate for the job after 36 years.
The university announced Wednesday in a brief press release posted to its athletics website that Chris Stewart would replace Gold this season. The school did not otherwise publicize the move or distribute the press release
Gold told Tide 100.9 that the announcement came after a video meeting with athletics director Greg Byrne and Jim Carabin last week. Carabin is the vice president and general manager of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing, part of the sports marketing company Learfield that manages the school’s broadcasts.
They said I wasn’t living up to the standard,” Gold said. “That’s very subjective. There was an indication that I had lost a step, or two, or three, while I was gone battling cancer, and I’ve come back and I didn’t do the job that I should have.
I don’t necessarily agree, as I don’t think they would expect me to agree, but if I felt that I was not doing the job, I would have stepped down. I was not going to embarrass myself or the university. I care too much for those entities. I don’t know all the input, we had some disagreements on a few things, and it was time I guess when they decided to do something different. There’s nothing I can do. I’m a freelance, 1099 contract laborer if you will
Gold, 70, worked through the 2020 season despite having both shoulders surgically replaced. He missed the 2022 season when he spent about six months in hospitals and nursing homes, losing significant weight until he was later diagnosed with esophageal cancer and treated. Gold returned to call home games in 2023, using a cane to walk. But Gold emphasized Wednesday to multiple outlets that he is healthy and has overcome cancer.
Gold told AL.com that his contract expires in June and was not renewed. Gold, who has been Alabama’s play-by-play broadcaster since 1988, told ABC 33/40 that Alabama wanted him to announce his retirement but he refused.