Mike Keith delivered first legendary phrase from John Ward as the Tennessee Volunteers took the field against Syracuse

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Craig Smith | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 1:34 PM ET

"It's football time in Tennessee!"

Those words from the legendary Tennessee radio announcer John Ward let everyone across the state of Tennessee know that the Volunteers were taking the field in Neyland Stadium or elsewhere across the country. The words have become interwoven into the fabric of the university and are as much as part of the gameday experience as the game itself.

New play-by-play radio announcer Mike Keith took over for Bob Kesling this offseason, and he delivered his own version of the iconic call as the Vols prepared to do battle against Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.

IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE@tennvoice @VolNetwork pic.twitter.com/I4vaw7xpyV
— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) August 30, 2025

"Where will the journey lead? We have no clue. But we all welcome what is to come over the next few Saturdays. It's football season. Even better - it's Tennessee football season. The Volunteers are about to arrive on the field here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That tells us so. As does this famous phrase: ladies and gentlemen, wherever you're listening around the world, it's football time in Tennessee!"

Keith accepted the job back in January. A Tennessee alumnus, he started his broadcast career at the university as part of the Vol football broadcast coverage with Ward. He also served as the voice of Tennessee baseball from 1992-1998, calling the Vols' 1995 trip to the College World Series. He's best known for his work as the Tennessee Titans' radio play-by-play announcer for 27 years, becoming known for his loud and passionate calls of big plays made by the Titans.

It didn't take long for that energy to carry over to the Vols, as Keith's style was in display in the first quarter with an Arion Carter sack.