The final installment of our interview with the legendary voice of Washington’s franchise, Frank Herzog. Frank discusses coming back for Sonny’s jersey retirement and how good everyone in the organization was to him.
Frank Herzog was in this 26th season broadcasting all of the WMAL Washington Redskins football games from 1979-2004.
But all good things must come to an end.
This is the fifth and final installment in our Commanders Wire feature on Washington broadcast legend Frank Herzog.
Part one. Part two. Part Three Part Four
December 2004, Frank Herzog remembers a broadcast producer expressed, “Hey, our Christmas party is this weekend, and I think you should go.”
“Ok, I can go, I guess,” replied Frank. “No, I think you ought to be there. You need to show your face.”
Herzog initially found that odd but went and was introduced to a man from the CBS parent offices in Philadelphia. Then the man showed up in the broadcast booth that Sunday. “Sure enough, following the season, there was a meeting at a coffee shop in Montgomery Mall, and I was informed they were not bringing me back the next (2005) season.”
“I was puzzled, of course, but I had to learn to accept it. What else can you do? Those are the facts of life.”
18 years later, the Friday before the season finale, Herzog found Julie Donaldson and Bram Weinstein reaching out to him on the phone, apologizing Herzog had not been officially invited to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement on Jan. 8.
Donaldson and Weinstein wanted Herzog at FedEx Field. Even more, they wanted him in the booth during some of the broadcast as well. The Commanders made all the travel arrangements. Sunday, Frank was on a flight from Wilmington (NC), arriving at noon.
“They had a chauffeur (Pierre) in a big black SUV meet me and drive me to FedEx. They escorted me to my suite, then to the broadcast booth for the pre-game segment with Julie Donaldson. Employees and fans were so nice to me, greeting me and welcoming me. I was treated as first class.”
Donaldson had asked Herzog during the pregame show to do his legendary call (“Touchdown, Washington Redskins”), but he kindly declined, stating he had only done the call during actual game broadcasts (1979-2004) and would prefer to keep it that way.
That is Herzog, the professional, the man who was skilled in his craft. He doesn’t want the call to ever become corny or silly. He wants it to be remembered as it actually was, in the heat of NFL competition.
Donaldson was also professional, apologizing to Herzog during the on-air segment for his not having been officially invited. She even stated she was partly responsible and expressed her love and respect for the work Herzog had accomplished. She demonstrated class and humility.
Invited back for the third quarter Herzog sat and interacted with Weinstein, Donaldson and London Fletcher on the broadcast.
Weinstein (49) grew up listening to Herzog and was the sideline reporter during the 2006-2008 seasons.
Upon landing the job, Weinstein had even reached out to Herzog for professional advice. “I am certainly aware I am only the third play-by-play announcer for this team since 1979 (Herzog, then Larry Michael (2005-2019). I respect the legacy of this team, and Frank is a big part of it.”
“When the third quarter began, I was so happy Frank was there with us,” Weinstein expressed with gratitude.
While the Commanders were driving down the field on the Cowboys in the third quarter, Weinstein mentioned to Herzog that Washington might score a touchdown.
A few plays later, Washington had the ball at the Dallas 9-yard line. Here was the call from Bram Weinstein: “Howell, play-action, Howell keeps. Runs back to the center of the field. At the 5, into the end zone! (pause).
When Howell crossed the goal line, Weinstein had laid out (paused), and looked to Herzog, who instantly finished the call with, “Touchdown, Washington Commanders!”
“Frank was right on cue with his famous call, ‘Touchdown Washington Commanders!‘ “said Weinstein. “For me, it is an incredibly cool moment. To have that moment with him is something I will never forget.”
When I spoke with Herzog two days later, Frank said it was such a moving moment for him as well. He was grateful to both Donaldson and Weinstein. Their thoughtfulness had given him a very special day, something he, too, will never forget.
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