By Andrew Alexander
For decades, listening to the pleasant twang of the legendary Jim Hawthorne over the autumn airwaves was as integral to the tradition of LSU football as consuming bourbon before noon.
But many LSU fans don’t know that for the past few seasons, Hawthorne has gotten an assist from another “Voice of the Tigers”—but in another language.
Since 2011, Spanish-speaking listeners have been tuning into KDDK 105.5 FM in Baton Rouge and KGLA 1540 AM/105.7 FM in New Orleans every fall to hear broadcasters describe the sights and sounds of LSU football.
Mario Jerez, a broadcast journalism senior at LSU, is entering his fifth season as the Spanish Voice of the Tigers.
His parents immigrated from Guatemala and attended LSU, raising Mario originally as a Spanish-language speaker.
“Until I was three years old, I didn’t even know English, but then I learned English and (my family) started speaking exclusively in English,” Jerez says.
While Jerez was still in high school at Brother Martin in New Orleans, Ernesto Schweikert, CEO and general manager of KDDK and KGLA, brought Jerez, a lifelong sports fan, up to the New Orleans Saints press box during a game one weekend.
Jerez mingled with sports writers and was instantly hooked on pursuing broadcasting as a career.
Schweikert offered Jerez the chance to join his coverage of LSU football in 2012. At first, the rookie broadcaster was in training. But when the originally scheduled play-by-play announcer was unable to attend LSU’s home opener versus North Texas, Jerez began his career behind the microphone.
“I’ve never been so hyped up for something in my entire life,” Jerez says now. “It was an absolutely exhilarating feeling. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”
Play-by-play commentators, whether they speak English or Spanish, serve as encyclopedias of knowledge for listeners. From the rules of the sport, to the rosters of both teams, to background stories and details, the audience relies on the radio broadcast team to bring the game to life.
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 pre-game 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!”
Two LSU football memories from the past four seasons stand out for Jerez. The first occurred during his rookie season in 2012, when the Tigers topped South Carolina 23-21, thanks in large part to a late touchdown run by Jeremy Hill.
Jerez remembers shouting, “¡Se les fue!” or, “He’s gone!”
His second standout memory was LSU’s thrilling 10-7 victory over Ole Miss in 2014. “The crowd was really, really loud whenever LSU got the interception in the end,” Jerez says. “It was just crazy seeing the fans storm the field.”
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.”
