Regardless of what happens with this incident, both Pitt and the Steelers are going to have to begin to contemplate their succession plan. Honestly, that was true before this incident, and it’s definitely true now.
Personally, I highly doubt that one person will again have all three of those jobs. That is incredibly rare and speaks to both Hillgrove’s talent and his power, quite frankly.
I think it’s much more likely that three different people will fill those roles. However, I could see a scenario in which one man calls Pitt football and basketball games and the other one does Steelers games.
It would seem that Larry Richert is the betting favorite to do the Pitt football games and maybe the basketball games too. That’s not totally crazy because Richert has an amazing voice and a close connection to the market and university. He also has an exemplary reputation as being a very kind man — kinda like Hillgrove.
I have listened to a few games that Richert has called and frankly, it’s a big step down from Hillgrove, even at this stage in their respective careers. Larry just lacks the natural feel for the game that an experienced pro like Hillgrove still has. Also, you never doubt Hillgrove’s knowledge of the game or the situation, whereas with Richert, I’m not so sure. However, maybe with more practice, all of those things would improve?
One other local broadcaster that never gets mentioned for the Steelers gig that I think should is Greg Brown. After Hillgrove, Brown has the best voice of any of our local broadcasters. Both of those dudes have some pipes!
Brown also used to call Buffalo Bills games before joining the Pirates organization, so he definitely has some experience at that level, which is a real plus.
Now, would he even want that job? Who knows? If he did take it, he would probably have to give up his Pirates gig, which I’m sure he would be loathe to do. I have always gotten the sense that the Pirates play by play job is truly Greg Brown‘s dream job.
Then again, who knows? Maybe the organizations could work out an arrangement where Brown is with the Steelers during football season but with the Pirates on weekdays in the fall and all week long during the summer months. Maybe in that limited window you promote Dan Zangrilli to the no. 2 spot behind Joe Block?
Also, as a Pirates fan too, I wouldn’t want to lose Brown in his current role as I think he does a nice job. Also, there is a massive drop off between the excitable Brown and the banal and pedantic Block.
However, speaking strictly from the Steelers’ perspective, if Hillgrove does hang them up, my first phone call would be to Greg Brown to gauge his interest in the gig. If he’s not interested, I would probably be inclined to go outside the market to look for my permanent voice of the organization.
if I had to wager how this will play out, I would guess that Hillgrove will survive this situation but will retire in another year or two. I think Brown will stick with the Pirates and Hillgrove will be replaced on the Steelers games by someone we do not currently know and who is not currently in the market. Further, I would assume that Richert will begin calling Pitt’s football and basketball games on a full-time basis starting in 2021 or 2022.
