For decades, listening to the pleasant twang of the legendary Jim Hawthorne over the autumn airwaves was vital to the tradition of LSU football.
But many LSU fans don’t know that, for the past few seasons, Hawthorne has gotten assistance from another “Voice of the Tigers”—but in another language, 225 reports.
Mario Jerez, a broadcast journalism senior at LSU, is entering his fifth season as the Spanish Voice of the Tigers.
Spanish-speaking listeners have been tuning into KDDK 105.5 FM in Baton Rouge and KGLA 1540 AM/105.7 FM in New Orleans since 2011 to hear broadcasters describe the sights and sounds of LSU football.
For Jerez, prepping for the weekly LSU football broadcasts is second nature because of his familiarity with the program.
The night before a game, Jerez usually finalizes his broadcast notes by studying tape of the Tigers’ opposition, as well as depth charts, storylines and key players.
“I always make sure I have speaking notes, and the rest of the game just kind of flows,” Jerez says. “I think the key thing is to always know what you’re talking about, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Game days are low-key for Jerez compared to his English-speaking colleagues. The KDDK/KGLA broadcast typically starts about 15 minutes before the game, with very little pregame show included.
“We always pause and say, ‘Here come the Tigers,’ and the crowd goes wild,” he says.
When the Tigers score, Jerez can be heard yelling his signature call, “Toooooouchdown!” often followed by “¡Viva los Tigres!” or “Long live the Tigers!”
The Spanish-language broadcasts attract an estimated 40,000 listeners, according to Jerez. He hopes to see interest in the sport continue to grow within the Hispanic community.
“A lot of people [in Latin America] are interested in football,” Jerez says. “Obviously, LSU has a really passionate fan base, and people [who] come here and are of Spanish descent end up picking up football and really getting into the game.”
