Price named 'Voice of the Bulldogs'
Learfield announced Friday [June 16] that Neil Price has been named Mississippi State's new "Voice of the Bulldogs" beginning with the 2017-18 athletic season. He will be relocating to the Starkville area from Lexington, Ky., where he was a member of the Kentucky Wildcats' UK Sports Network broadcast team for 12 years.
Price will assume the play-by-play role for Bulldog football and men's basketball previously held by veteran broadcaster Jim Ellis, who retired from calling those two sports in March. Price will also host the football and men's basketball coaches' shows and oversee various digital responsibilities.
"We are privileged to have one of the great broadcasting talents in the country join the MSU family," MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen said. "Neil has 12 years of Southeastern Conference experience and a contagious enthusiasm that will extend our legacy of outstanding Mississippi State broadcasters."
During his stint with Kentucky, Price served as play-by-play broadcaster for UK women's basketball and baseball, producing more than 700 broadcasts since March 2005. He also served as host for the UK football pregame show, host for the basketball and baseball coaches' shows and Kentucky Wildcat daily shows. He also was vital in maintaining communication with the 70 UK Sports Network radio affiliates building formats and coordinating with other talent and show guests.
Before calling Wildcat games, Price spent two years with Middle Tennessee State University as the Blue Raiders' play-by-play broadcaster for women's basketball and baseball, as well as host for all pre- and post-game shows for football.
"Without a doubt, Starkville is a special place, and we know the fans are incredibly passionate, engaged and proud of their Bulldog teams and we feel certain Neil Price is a great match for the pageantry and tradition here," said Tom Boman, vice president, broadcast operations for Learfield, which manages all broadcast aspects as Mississippi State Athletics' multimedia rightsholder.
"We conducted a comprehensive, incredibly thorough national search and couldn't be more pleased with Neil. His professionalism, talent and eagerness to be a part of the Bulldog faithful is evident, and we believe fans will really embrace him as their new 'Voice,'" he said.
"I'm thankful God's amazing grace has allowed my longtime dream of becoming the voice of an SEC program to become a reality. The fact that this opportunity happens to be at Mississippi State is an added blessing. I'm committed to using the skills and talents I've been given to produce a product the Mississippi State family will be proud of and one that will honor the high broadcasting standards set by legends Jack Cristil and Jim Ellis," said Price.
"I'd like to thank John Cohen, Scott Wetherbee, Ann Brett Strickland and Tom Boman for their professionalism during the hiring process. This is an exciting time to join the Mississippi State family. I look forward to being reunited with some old friends and building new relationships with Bulldogs fans, coaches and the MSU campus and Starkville community in the near future," he said.
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. In addition to Mississippi State, the company manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for nearly 125 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors' Cup.
Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital platform expertise; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.
For additional information about Mississippi State athletics, please visit HailState.com.
