BY JEREMY SHERE
For the past 38 years, Don Fischer has been the voice of Indiana University football and basketball. He’s done play-by-play for more than 1,600 games, including three IU NCAA basketball championships (1976, 1981, 1987) and eight IU football bowl games, as well as hosted weekly coaches shows and anchored the daily radio program IU Sports Today. He’s won nearly every sports broadcasting award, including being named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year 25 times. In recognition of his long-standing excellence, Fischer was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 2004, and in 2010 was voted into the Indiana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Yet Fischer’s celebrated career almost ended as soon as it began, in 1968, as a 21-year-old play-by-play rookie calling his first high school football game for WOLI-FM in Ottawa, Illinois. “I set broadcasting back forty-five years; I was horrible, and I knew it,” says Fischer, now 65. “I simply wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know how to prepare.”
Given one more chance by his station manager, Fischer took a private crash course with veteran sports-radio broadcaster Art Kimball (the voice of Illinois State University football and men’s basketball during the ’70s and early ’80s) and eventually mastered the intricate art of play-by-play. He hasn’t looked back since.
What keeps Fischer going, game after game, year after year, is the thrill of bringing games to life for his listeners. “The greatest compliment a guy like me can get is for listeners to say that they were able to visualize the game in their minds. That’s the job, to allow fans to feel the excitement, thrills, and disappointments of the game.”
Fischer is still going strong, calling games, hosting radio sports shows, and anchoring Indianapolis Colts preseason telecasts. When he’s not in the broadcast booth, Fischer enjoys competing on the golf course, playing several tournaments a year as a member of the Indiana State Seniors Golf Association. He also loves spending time with his wife, Susy; their four boys, Chad, 45, Patrick, 43, Scott, 40, and Matthew, 38; and their eight grandchildren.
Fischer’s true and lifelong passion, though, remains doing play-by-play. “I always wanted to be part of a team, even though I wasn’t much of an athlete,” Fischer says. “Calling games allows me to feel connected to a team and to a sport, to be part of something bigger than myself.”
We have been I.U. Fans since 1953 and love Don on the radio. Sometimes we turn the TV to mute and listen to him call the games. Great Announcer and does a very Good Job on the radio.
Thanks Don for all the good work you have done, keep it up.
Thanks Don for making the Hoosier games exciting! I am an avid listener and never watch the games without the radio tuned to your broadcast. Thanks to WOWO I have listened to the games in Florida and Puerto Rico. Keep up the great work and Don!.
I never watch a Hoosier game without the radio tuned to the game!! You make the game come to life like no other! Your best broadcast was the game against UK when Christian Watford made the 3 pointer at the buzzer! I have that saved on my computer!
Don,
I’m a 1957 grad from IU and served as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Manager of the Hurryin’ Hoosiers. I tremendously enjoyed reading this years “Don Fischer’s Basketball Magazine”. Living in California, I don’t get many chances to watch this years team (I did catch today’s victory over Ohio State on ESPN) and of course I can’t listen to your mellifuous tones on radio. Thanks so much for all you do for old IU
Don,
For years I caught the IU games on the local station in Jeffersonville, Indiana and then when I was doing my radio thing in Ithaca, New York I could get the games on WOWO out of Ft. Wayne. The signal from WOWO blew into New York as if it were next door. It was so great to catch your play-by-play. However, I have lived in Wisconsin the past 22 years and the signal doesn’t make it up. I miss your games. You are truly one of the very best in the business. Keep up the great work and bring us some more national championships.
I was raised in Bloomington and always listened to Don because his play by play calling was far superior to Chuck Marlow’s. In the late 70’s I started watching the games with some folks who didn’t know about Don. I was listening to the Bob Knight pregame show in the driveway of my friend’s house once and they all wanted to know what I was listening to. From then on it was “eyeing and flying” at that house! Don is the best.
Fisch is by far “THE BEST” sports announcer ever. I love how the excitement in his voice when you can’t watch it makes you visualize what’s going on in front of you. He has an amazing voice for the job. I hope he continues to be “THE VOICE” of Our Indiana Hoosiers. When he retires it will be a very sad day for us Indiana fans. His enthusiasm makes it exciting.
Of course I embarrassed myself at the Illinois game by telling him I loved him. There’s no one like Don. He’s one of a kind. Thank you Don Fischer for continuing to be Our Voice. I even turn the sound down on the tv just to listen Don While watching.
Great job again thus year “fish”. Been listening to you since you began at IU. I’ve spent a lot of money buying special radios to allow me to sync your broadcast to my satalite tv.
You are the best.
Thanks
I’ve been listening and watching IU since I was a little kid and am also a 1986 alum. I’ll never forget all the championships and the rest of the years we didn’t make it but I’ll tell you, the most memorable game was the 76 one. I was 12 and lived on your every breath because we also turned down the tv sound to listen to you. I can’t thank you enough for all you mean to Hoosier fans worldwide!
Dennis Svilar
Nothing will ever top the excitement of Don Fischer and Max Skirvins calls of the ’74 – ’75 and ’75 – ’76 IU basketball seasons. Nothing.