RALEIGH, N.C. — The college football season is underway. Thursday No. 24 N.C. State Wolfpack kicks off their season against Western Carolina University.
What You Need To Know
- The N.C. State Wolfpack kicks off football season Thursday night versus Western Carolina University at 7 p.m.
- Fans will hear a new voice calling play-by-play for football and men’s basketball this year
- Matt Chazanow replaces legendary broadcast voice Gary Hahn
The soundtrack for that football story will introduce a new voice in this season. He’s been tapped as the new lead play-by-play voice of the Wolfpack men’s basketball and football teams.
For the next few months during every Wolfpack home game, Chazanow, with a stack of hand-written notes by his side, will be overlooking all of Carter-Finley Stadium — doing what he does best.
The former lead broadcaster for Washington State athletics is looking to make this new position his own.
“One of the things that can be endearing, I hope, is a certain authenticity. I want to be myself. Above all, I feel a sense of duty to Wolfpack fans,” Chazanow said.
Fans for the last 34 years were used to the same, familiar voice.
Legendary N.C. State broadcaster Gary Hahn was the regular play-by-play announcer for the Wolfpack Sports Network since 1990.
“His work lives forever. That’s one of the special parts about this. I’m the fifth guy to do this since the network was created in 1961, I take that with a great sense of duty and responsibility,” Chazanow said.
As for the team he’s calling, Chazanow said the players are hungry for the school’s first playoff berth.
“At ACC Media Day in Charlotte, those guys didn’t shy away from that, they go, ‘no we want to win the ACC, that’s the next step for N.C. State football,’ and I’ve been at almost every practice. This is a really good football team,” Chazanow said.
On Thursday night, the Wolfpack and Chazanow will have their first game against Western Carolina University at Carter-Finley Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.