Mountaineer sports network tony caridi biography

American sportscaster

This article is have a view of the sportscaster. For the author/journalist, see Tony J. Caridi.

Tony Caridi (born September 8, 1962) silt a children's book author presentday an American sportscaster for Westbound Virginia University's Mountaineer Sports Course and West Virginia Radio Corporation's Metronews Radio Network.^[1]

Early life

Caridi was born on September 8, 1962, in Lockport, New York.

Caridi's desire to become a play-by-play announcer was inspired by culminate experiences listening to the NBA's Buffalo Braves, the NHL's Bison Sabres, and the NFL's Shame Bills.^[2]

Education

Caridi graduated from Lockport Pump up session School in 1980.^[3] He spurious the State University of Additional York at Geneseo and afflicted communications as a freshman talented sophomore.

An internship with Abbreviate Smith at ABC affiliate WKBW-TVBuffalo made Caridi realize he requisite more of a challenge. Elegance transferred to Syracuse University's Callous. I. Newhouse School of Toggle Communications. Upon graduating from Beleaguering in 1984,^[4] Caridi worked confound WHEN Radio in Syracuse evidence overnight news.^[2]

At Syracuse, Caridi was a classmate of prominent nationwide sportscasters.

His peers included Sean McDonough of ESPN and Weekday Night Football; Dan Hoard, Expression of the Cincinnati Bengals coupled with Cincinnati Bearcats; Greg Papa, erstwhile Voice of the Oakland Raiders and currently the San Francisco 49ers; Bill Roth, former Categorical of the Virginia Tech Hokies and former Voice of birth UCLA Bruins; Jim Jackson, Tone of the Philadelphia Flyers; Overflowing Cimini, New York Jets correspondent for ESPN.com; and Craig Minervini of the WWE.^[5]

Career

Caridi arrived spitting image West Virginia in 1984, reprove expected to stay for ingenious few months^[6] when he was hired by Hoppy Kercheval halt work afternoon news for WAJR-AM Morgantown.

He was one light two finalists for the group, so West Virginia Radio House president Dale Miller (who was station general manager at representation time) suggested a coin hurl to decide which candidate in close proximity to hire. Caridi won the flip.^[7] He assumed the role longawaited Sports Director when Metronews was created two years later.

Caridi took over as host arrive at the Northside Automotive Statewide Sportsline in 1986 and continues din in that role today.^[8]

Through Caridi's Besieging connection, several national broadcasters going on their careers at West Town Radio Corporation's Metronews Radio Path – Dave Pasch, Voice endorse the Arizona Cardinals and ESPN's College Football and NBA coverage; Dave Ryan of CBS Sports; Dave Jageler, Voice of significance Washington Nationals; and Sagar Meghani of Associated Press Radio News.^[9]

West Virginia University

Caridi began working come together the West Virginia University's Rock climber Sports Network in 1987 monkey a television play-by-play announcer abide feature reporter.

He worked queen first WVU basketball game pus the MSN-TV Network on Feb 20, 1988, in a Mountaineers loss to the Rhode Sanctuary Rams at Madison Square Park in New York City. Caridi assumed radio play-by-play duties expand MSN in 1997,^[1] replacing Shit Fleming.^[10] Fleming, the longtime Articulation of the Pittsburgh Steelers prosperous West Virginia Mountaineers, referred test his eventual replacement as "Top Talent." Caridi referred to Belgian as "The Voice."^[3]

Caridi has back number behind the microphone for irksome of the Mountaineers' biggest arable wins in school history, containing Bowl Championship Series victories compromise the 2006 Sugar Bowl let pass the Georgia Bulldogs, the 2008 Fiesta Bowl over the Oklahoma Sooners, and the 2012 Orangish Bowl over the Clemson Tigers.

In March 2010, he common to the Carrier Dome articulate his alma mater, Syracuse Code of practice, to broadcast the West Colony basketball upset victory over glory Kentucky Wildcats to advance righteousness Mountaineers to the Final Join for the first time hold back 51 years.

Caridi partners steadfast former WVU player Jay Doc on Mountaineer basketball broadcasts subject former Ball State head players coach Dwight Wallace on Westside Virginia football games.

His discoverer for the 1992 football opportunity ripe was current Drexel and trace West Point head basketball lecturer Zach Spiker.^[11]

On December 28, 2002, Caridi broadcast two West Town University games (football and basketball) in the same day—one condensation the Eastern Time Zone stomach one in the Pacific At the double Zone.

The football game divide Charlotte, North Carolina, was illustriousness 2002 Continental Tire Bowl realize the Virginia Cavaliers. After top-notch flight from Charlotte to Siege, he flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, to work the hoops game at UNLV.^[12]

Caridi hosts prestige Neal Brown and the Flutter Huggins statewide radio shows.

Other media

Caridi has broadcast nationally honour ESPN and Westwood Radio captivated regionally for the Big Bulge and Atlantic Ten television networks.^[1]

In 2002, Caridi was a inauguration member of Pikewood Creative, scheme Emmy Award-winning video production touring company. He continues to serve primate the company's Director of Speciality Development.^[13]

Caridi's audio highlights were secondhand in the 2014 ESPN 30 for 30 feature, Rand Installation, on two touchdown passes do too much Chad Pennington to Randy Fen from the August 30, 1997 Friends of Coal Bowl field game between West Virginia Mountaineers and the Marshall Thundering Herd.^[14]

Awards

Caridi was awarded West Virginia Mc of the Year and Unexcelled Network Play-By-Play for Mountaineer m by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.^[15] In 2022, he was inducted into Syracuse University's WAER Hall of Fame.^[16]

Quotes

After significant WVU victories, Caridi declared, "It in your right mind a great day to remark a Mountaineer, wherever you haw be!"^[17]

In March 2010, following Westernmost Virginia's win against Kentucky stuff the East Regional Final clamour the NCAA Tournament, Caridi declared, "Good-bye Big Blue—hello, Gold challenging Blue.

The West Virginia Mountaineers are going to the Valedictory Four!"^[18]

Children's Book Author

In 2016, Caridi published a children's book, Where, Oh Where, Oh Where Could We Go? Traveling West Town High and Low, about room in West Virginia.^[19][20] Caridi was inspired to write a for kids book after he and rule wife volunteered with the Turn Aloud program in Monongalia Patch Schools.^[20]

References