Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 13, 1993 TAG: 9301130044
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HUNZIKER MAKES RADIO CALLS FOR HIGHLANDERS
The days of tuning in to the world by radio are, for most, distant memories. But not for Dave Hunziker.Growing up in the small northeastern Missouri town of Kahoka, he listened to radios intently during the 1970s as University of Missouri basketball broadcasters like Bob Costas (now an NBC commentator) and John Rooney (now the Chicago White Sox' radio man) brought games to life.
Hunziker had to use the radio to follow sports because cable TV didn't reach his house until he went to college in 1984.
Now he's bringing Radford University basketball games to listeners throughout the New River Valley as the "voice of the Highlanders" on the Radford Sports Network, which is carried on WPSK 107.1 in the New River Valley.
"I know how much I was glued to the radio waiting to hear if a simple shot was going to fall for Missouri or whoever," Hunziker said. "Having been on the other end of it for so many years, I thought this would really be fun. I know how much it meant to me and how much I developed an almost personal relationship with that guy calling the game."
Wanting to make the radio calls came as naturally as some kids' desires of becoming doctors or pro athletes, and now Hunziker is actually fulfilling his childhood dreams.
"It's what I've always wanted to do. There was never a doubt in my mind about it," he said. "I just always loved sports, even as a very young child.
"Basically, I like to talk. That's what it comes down to."
He's had lots of practice. As early as his senior year of high school Hunziker got a taste of broadcasting at a radio station in Memphis, Mo., as a play-by-play and color commentator. He also worked as a disc jockey.
After he graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in broadcast journalism in 1988, he worked for Columbia, Mo., radio station KFRU doing sports and a nightly call-in show for three years.
Then he moved on to Columbia College, an NAIA school, and worked as sports information director and assistant athletic director; he also did play-by-play on the radio. "I was even golf coach. You name it, I did it," he said.
Then the Radford post came open.
He has been running at a pretty hectic pace since he arrived at Radford in November to replace former Highlander play-by-play man Hank Dickenson, who departed for Virginia Commonwealth University.
"I like having the responsibility of capturing the excitement and passing it on to people who for whatever reason aren't able to be there," he said. "That's what is exciting to me."
Hunziker is pretty excited about the Big South Conference and Radford University, too.
"One of these nights the Big South is going to score a huge win, and I don't think that is too far away," he said. "And that's really going to be an eye opener."
Sports is the ultimate arena for dreamers, and, like any radio sports announcer, Hunziker has spent lots of time perfecting his dream call:
"I sit around and daydream about Radford winning the conference tournament and the team's celebration of making the NCAA tournament," Hunziker said. "Then I dream about somebody drilling a three at the buzzer to beat Duke in the opening round. To just be a tiny part of that and all the excitement around it would just be awesome."