Casey at the Mic: Former UF Tight End Excited for Next Gators Challenge
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry
The iconic jump pass from Tim Tebow against LSU, of course.
What else could it be, right?
"It's just one of those things that resonated with football fans over the years," Casey said Tuesday. "It comes up more than you'll ever know."
And yet, not this time.
Instead, the UGA fan made mention of a couple highlight moments Casey enjoyed during his career against the Dogs. He even brought up a block Casey executed against a safety in the open field that sprang Percy Harvin for a long touchdown run.
The conversation put a big smile on Casey's face.
"When someone really makes my day, it's when they bring up something other than the jump pass," he said.
Well, he's about to get those moments in droves. On Sept. 1, Casey will make his debut as sideline reporter for the Gator IMG Sports Network when UF opens the 2018 football season at home against Charleston Southern. Casey, 33, will join forces with longtime play-by-play man Mick Hubert, color analyst Lee McGriff and pregame/halftime host Jeff Cardozo. He'll replace Brady Ackerman, who in the spring took a job as inside receivers coach at Jackson State.
For Casey, this second job— he currently works sales in Jacksonville — represents an incredible opportunity. While he's done some radio spots here and there since leaving UF with a sports management degree following the '08 season, this will be Casey's first full-blown media gig. He's definitely qualified, however. Casey will go in with first-hand knowledge of how Coach Dan Mullen, as well as assistants Billy Gonzales (receivers) and John Hevesy (offensive line), manage football games, having played for all three during those two Southeastern Conference titles and two national championships in 2006 and 2008.
"The knowledge of the philosophy Dan wants to bring to the program, and to the offense, knowing what those guys expect and are trying to accomplish in the heat of the moment, that's going to help me," said Casey, the Odessa,Texas product who caught 28 passes for 370 yards and seven touchdowns in 52 career games at Florida. "I admit, I may have my work cut out for me with the defense, but I'm excited about learning more on that side of the ball and talking to all the coaches and preparing in the production meetings. I want to bring something that will help Mick and his team. He's the star of the show, but I do think I can provide some insight to listeners that will help them better follow the game."
Ackerman served in the role the last eight seasons, and along the way oftentimes bumped into Casey on the UF sideline. And during the games, naturally, they talked about the games. When Ackerman left he threw Casey's name at the IMG decision-makers as someone they needed to seek out for an audition.
Good call.
"He's going to do great," Ackerman said. "He loves the game, knows the game, and knows Dan. His personality is going to show through. No ego. He probably will be nervous his first time, and he won't be as good in his first game as his 12th game, but Mick and Lee will tee him up when they need him and he'll get his timing down with them. I'm excited for him."
It all starts next week.
"I'm absolutely stoked to get this going," Casey said.
Wonder if the … you know … will come up during that first broadcast?
"I'm used to it. It's funny, because I had some other touchdowns that were prettier than the jump pass," Casey said. "But I can promise you, if I'd dropped that one, they'd talking about that, too."
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