Remembering Morry: Reflections on the “Voice of the Cardinals”
March 06, 2020 | General
The passing of longtime "Voice of the Cardinals" Morry Mannies is being felt by sports fans throughout the Ball State, Muncie and Delaware County communities, even throughout the state of Indiana and beyond. Mannies passed away this week at age 81.
The quality of his 56 years behind the microphone and his impact on anyone whose path he crossed will leave a lasting legacy. Some of the people who knew him best, who worked with him and whom he covered offered reflections of Morry. Below are their memories of him and thoughts on what he meant to Ball State and the entire area.
Read reflections from each of the following …
Jeff Weller | David Eha | Dick Falls | Mark O'Connell | Tim Buckley | Brady Hoke | Bill Lynch | Ray McCallum | Chandler Thompson | Jo Ann Gora | John Worthen | Andrea Seger | Joe Hernandez | Steve Lindell | Doug Zaleski
Gallery: (3/5/2020) Morry Mannies, 1938-2020
Jeff Weller
Ball State Radio Network (since 1981)
"I've lost a friend and a mentor. It's ironic that he would pass during the month of March as we approach tournament time. A lot of us are thinking about this being the 30th anniversary of the 1990 Sweet 16 team. I think Morry would tell you the pinnacle of his career was broadcasting those NCAA victories and the game against UNLV because it was so meaningful and special. It was certainly the pinnacle of our time working together.
"Morry was always talking about how much fun Ball State football or basketball was. He was selling it in the community even when he wasn't on the air. It meant a lot to him. Most of the 56 years he was the voice of the Cardinals, the MAC was a radio conference. We didn't have the TV deals. Morry was the voice of all the action to Ball State fans.
"I don't think Morry ever could really express how appreciative he was of the university putting in a display case honoring him and hanging a banner for him in Worthen Arena. That meant a lot to him. Any time I broadcast a game in the arena, I always visit that case. I look at it and smile because those were great years, and Morry is worthy of it on so many levels when you think about how much he loved Ball State.
"Morry and I were connected on and off the air. All those years, you couldn't have really been any closer than we were. We truly enjoyed each other's company, and I always thought that showed in our broadcasts."
David Eha
Ball State Radio Network basketball analyst (since 2003)
"We truly lost a legend. Morry Mannies was Ball State and Muncie through and though. I was proud to know Morry as a mentor, colleague and most importantly, a friend. His career and longevity is something I don't think will ever be matched. It's hard to put into context the generations of Ball State and Muncie sports fans for whom Morry's voice was that one constant that was weaved into their day-to-day lives.
"I don't know of any individual who has connected more people to Ball State than Morry did. No matter where we did games, you could always count on some alumni, clad in BSU gear, approaching Morry just to say "hi" and share a memory of their time at Ball State. And always, always, Morry gave them his time and connected on a personal level. To think he was able to do that with over five generations of people is an amazing legacy. He will be missed, but rest assured he will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and Jeff and the rest of the Mannies family."
Dick Falls
Ball State Athletics Administrator (1982-2003) former basketball radio analyst
"Never again will a play-by-play broadcaster have his passion and voice linked to Delaware County and Ball State sports as Morry Mannies did for over 56 years. I was very fortunate to have known Morry since he called my high school basketball games in the sixties (at Burris), then as a high school Athletic Director (Burris), as University Athletic Director and through the many car rides to away BSU basketball games as his partner.
"He was one of a kind. No doubt about it. He was the only person that could get away with those trademark sweaters! I have seen every one of them. Everybody knew him and respected him, and he had an incredible ability to make every listener feel like he was taking directly to them. His passion, sincerity and dedication gave the listener an appreciation and imaginative glimpse of the game he was calling. When all is said and done, Morry has left his everlasting "voice" on Ball State Athletics and the Muncie community."
Mark O'Connell
Ball State football player (1975-78) and football radio analyst (2000-14)
"A lot of times you can tell the quality of a person by the kind of people who are drawn to them. Every press box we went to, Morry had three or four people from that university around him. He was eally well thought of and well respected, a real ambassador for Ball State. He was a true professional. He was a great broadcaster, but it would probably be hard to find a better fan of Ball State than Morry. He was something else. It was infectious.
"One of the things I remember the most is even when he wasn't in the spotlight, he was one of the nicest and most caring people I've met. He was very unselfish with his time and very thoughtful of other people's time. We shared lots of long car rides, and we had hours and hours of conversations. He wasn't "on," he was just being him. It was refreshing. It was really nice to know him that way. He and I have stayed in contact ever since I left the broadcast booth. We've always had great conversations, and I'll miss those. I'm going to miss him, and I think Ball State probably lost one of its finest fans ever."
Tim Buckley
Ball State head basketball coach (2000-06), assistant coach (1994-99)
"The Buckley family is deeply saddened by the passing of Morry Mannies. He was a dear friend and legendary broadcaster who was such a big part of our lives in the 11 years we lived in Muncie. He will be greatly missed."
Brady Hoke
Ball State football player (1977-80) and head coach (2003-08)
"Morry was one of the great radio voices who truly loved what he did. He was a great friend of Muncie and Ball State, and he loved talking about the Cardinal student-athletes. He will be missed by all."
Bill Lynch
Ball State head football coach (1995-2002)
"Morry Mannies was the voice of Ball State and Delaware County athletics to generations of sports fans throughout his career. His enthusiasm and passion for the athletes, coaches and fans were truly remarkable. He was a great friend to all of us that had the opportunity to get to know and work with him through the years."
Ray McCallum
Ball State basketball player (1980-83) and head coach (1993-2000)
"I grew up as a young sports fan listening to Morry for the Muncie Central Bearcats games and through his time at Ball State. He's a Hall of Famer and one the most knowledgeable sports minds that I knew in the state of Indiana. He's a legend who was liked and respected by everyone. It's a sad day for my family and me but also the Ball State and Muncie communities. He will be missed but always remembered."
Chandler Thompson
Ball State basketball player (1988-92)
"He was our Dick Vitale. He made it feel like you were in the stands watching. That radio voice was just on at all times. Whenever he did an interview with me as a player, I looked forward to it because I got a chance to speak to a legend. I viewed he and Jeff (Weller) as legends, and especially Morry because he was there for such a long period of time.
"He was Mr. Radio, himself. That's the way as a kid I was able to listen to games on the road. You wanted to follow the (Muncie Central) Bearcats and hear the road games. I listened to all the games I could sitting in front of the radio. And Southside and Northside games, as well.
"I'll always remember the sweaters. I remember when I bought my first Coogi sweater, I showed him and told him I was in the exclusive club. I have a closet full of them now."
Jo Ann Gora
Ball State University President (2004-14)
"I remember Morry so well. He was so exuberant about Ball State Athletics. You felt as though he knew every student whose athletic activities he reported on, and he identified with and cared about them. He had a wonderful voice and was great at giving you a play-by-play, but what stands out in my memory was his love for the students who played the games so hard and so well.
"He was also known for his sartorial splendor. He wore incredibly interesting sweaters that frequently caused comment from his audience, and he loved that. He loved that he was a celebrity on campus and someone people looked to for a smile, a joke or a good anecdote about a student-athlete. He really loved Ball State, and it showed. He was an iconic figure in the athletic world, and he will be sorely missed."
John Worthen
Ball State University President (1984-2000)
"Sports fans are very saddened that Morry Mannies has passed away. For over 50 years, Morry was sports radio for Ball State and high school athletics. His love for the games and his enthusiasm made it very exciting for his listeners. He was sometimes kidded about getting so involved he would forget to mention the score. He loved to travel with the team and especially liked interviewing the coach and president when we won. His interviewing was always spot on. He is truly a legend."
Andrea Seger
Ball State Athletic Director (1995-2002), Athletic Director for Women (1983-95)
"One of things that really stands out is Morry's unfailing loyalty to Ball State. He was always so supportive of the university and the athletic department. We became good friends over the years, and he always treated my fairly. People liked Morry. I never really heard a bad word about him. He got along with everyone, and he stayed committed over all those years. Morry was very well respected, not only at the institution but within the community."
Joe Hernandez
Ball State Sports Information Director, Athletics Administrator (1986-2019)
"Ball State lost a legend with the passing of Morry Mannies. He was the utmost professional in his broadcasting and one of the best storytellers in the business. Nobody, and I mean nobody, had more of a love for Ball State Athletics than Morry Mannies. The miles and miles he traveled to get the word out on Ball State Athletics will never be duplicated. He was a fan, a broadcaster, a donor, a friend, an alum and a mentor for 56 years as Ball State's "Voice of the Cardinals." Lots of great memories listening to and working with Morry. A true professional who had a great run with the Cardinals. "Good Night and Good Sports."
Steve Lindell
WLBC, Woof Boom Radio (since 1994)
"The voice. The smile. The sweater. These and many more positive memories will remain in my mind. One that only I will recall? My first night in Muncie, 26 years ago. It was high school sectional week when I was flown in from Little Rock, Arkansas. I met Morry at the North Walnut Street Fieldhouse – he was doing high school basketball games on WLBC with Jeff Weller. After the game, we all went to Pizza King for my first of many Muncie meals to come. Ironic that he passed away on almost the same day that I was here to interview for the job."
Doug Zaleski
Muncie Evening Press, The Star Press (1988-2014)
"I liken Morry Mannies' impact on the sports scene at the high school level in Muncie and Delaware County and with Ball State, as well as the entire state of Indiana, as being similar to that of two former longtime baseball radio play by play men: Vin Scully of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ernie Harwell of the Detroit Tigers. Scully and Harwell, through their longevity with their teams, were instantly recognizable as being part of the culture of the teams for which they brought games on the radio from the field into fans' cars and homes.
"Morry's impact on athletics in Muncie and Delaware County, most notably the Muncie Central Bearcats and Ball State's football and men's basketball teams, went a long way toward shaping the perceptions of those teams. On Friday nights, local sports fans knew they could turn on their radios and Morry would be right there with them, cheering on the local teams. And on fall Saturday afternoons with Ball State football and throughout the winter with Cardinals basketball, Morry was the trusted voice that fans loved to hear."
"In Morry's last 20 years of broadcasting games, he became known for his trademark Coogi sweaters, which featured a gaudy splash of rainbow colors and swirling designs. The tradition began in 1995 when we were in Memphis, Tennessee, to cover Ball State's participation in the NCAA basketball tournament. Morry, his wife Nancy, Jeff Weller and I were walking through the Peabody Hotel and Nancy noticed the flashy sweaters in a hotel shop. She suggested he purchase a couple of them, so he did at $300 a pop. As we came to find out, fans commented a lot on the sweaters and Morry reveled in the style. He purchased many more over the years and from 1995 on, was always in his broadcast position wearing one of the sweaters."
From all those and more, thanks for the memories, Morry. Good Night and Good Sports.
The quality of his 56 years behind the microphone and his impact on anyone whose path he crossed will leave a lasting legacy. Some of the people who knew him best, who worked with him and whom he covered offered reflections of Morry. Below are their memories of him and thoughts on what he meant to Ball State and the entire area.
Read reflections from each of the following …
Jeff Weller | David Eha | Dick Falls | Mark O'Connell | Tim Buckley | Brady Hoke | Bill Lynch | Ray McCallum | Chandler Thompson | Jo Ann Gora | John Worthen | Andrea Seger | Joe Hernandez | Steve Lindell | Doug Zaleski
Jeff Weller
Ball State Radio Network (since 1981)
"I've lost a friend and a mentor. It's ironic that he would pass during the month of March as we approach tournament time. A lot of us are thinking about this being the 30th anniversary of the 1990 Sweet 16 team. I think Morry would tell you the pinnacle of his career was broadcasting those NCAA victories and the game against UNLV because it was so meaningful and special. It was certainly the pinnacle of our time working together.
"Morry was always talking about how much fun Ball State football or basketball was. He was selling it in the community even when he wasn't on the air. It meant a lot to him. Most of the 56 years he was the voice of the Cardinals, the MAC was a radio conference. We didn't have the TV deals. Morry was the voice of all the action to Ball State fans.
"I don't think Morry ever could really express how appreciative he was of the university putting in a display case honoring him and hanging a banner for him in Worthen Arena. That meant a lot to him. Any time I broadcast a game in the arena, I always visit that case. I look at it and smile because those were great years, and Morry is worthy of it on so many levels when you think about how much he loved Ball State.
"Morry and I were connected on and off the air. All those years, you couldn't have really been any closer than we were. We truly enjoyed each other's company, and I always thought that showed in our broadcasts."
David Eha
Ball State Radio Network basketball analyst (since 2003)
"We truly lost a legend. Morry Mannies was Ball State and Muncie through and though. I was proud to know Morry as a mentor, colleague and most importantly, a friend. His career and longevity is something I don't think will ever be matched. It's hard to put into context the generations of Ball State and Muncie sports fans for whom Morry's voice was that one constant that was weaved into their day-to-day lives.
"I don't know of any individual who has connected more people to Ball State than Morry did. No matter where we did games, you could always count on some alumni, clad in BSU gear, approaching Morry just to say "hi" and share a memory of their time at Ball State. And always, always, Morry gave them his time and connected on a personal level. To think he was able to do that with over five generations of people is an amazing legacy. He will be missed, but rest assured he will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and Jeff and the rest of the Mannies family."
Dick Falls
Ball State Athletics Administrator (1982-2003) former basketball radio analyst
"Never again will a play-by-play broadcaster have his passion and voice linked to Delaware County and Ball State sports as Morry Mannies did for over 56 years. I was very fortunate to have known Morry since he called my high school basketball games in the sixties (at Burris), then as a high school Athletic Director (Burris), as University Athletic Director and through the many car rides to away BSU basketball games as his partner.
"He was one of a kind. No doubt about it. He was the only person that could get away with those trademark sweaters! I have seen every one of them. Everybody knew him and respected him, and he had an incredible ability to make every listener feel like he was taking directly to them. His passion, sincerity and dedication gave the listener an appreciation and imaginative glimpse of the game he was calling. When all is said and done, Morry has left his everlasting "voice" on Ball State Athletics and the Muncie community."
Mark O'Connell
Ball State football player (1975-78) and football radio analyst (2000-14)
"A lot of times you can tell the quality of a person by the kind of people who are drawn to them. Every press box we went to, Morry had three or four people from that university around him. He was eally well thought of and well respected, a real ambassador for Ball State. He was a true professional. He was a great broadcaster, but it would probably be hard to find a better fan of Ball State than Morry. He was something else. It was infectious.
"One of the things I remember the most is even when he wasn't in the spotlight, he was one of the nicest and most caring people I've met. He was very unselfish with his time and very thoughtful of other people's time. We shared lots of long car rides, and we had hours and hours of conversations. He wasn't "on," he was just being him. It was refreshing. It was really nice to know him that way. He and I have stayed in contact ever since I left the broadcast booth. We've always had great conversations, and I'll miss those. I'm going to miss him, and I think Ball State probably lost one of its finest fans ever."
Tim Buckley
Ball State head basketball coach (2000-06), assistant coach (1994-99)
"The Buckley family is deeply saddened by the passing of Morry Mannies. He was a dear friend and legendary broadcaster who was such a big part of our lives in the 11 years we lived in Muncie. He will be greatly missed."
Brady Hoke
Ball State football player (1977-80) and head coach (2003-08)
"Morry was one of the great radio voices who truly loved what he did. He was a great friend of Muncie and Ball State, and he loved talking about the Cardinal student-athletes. He will be missed by all."
Bill Lynch
Ball State head football coach (1995-2002)
"Morry Mannies was the voice of Ball State and Delaware County athletics to generations of sports fans throughout his career. His enthusiasm and passion for the athletes, coaches and fans were truly remarkable. He was a great friend to all of us that had the opportunity to get to know and work with him through the years."
Ray McCallum
Ball State basketball player (1980-83) and head coach (1993-2000)
"I grew up as a young sports fan listening to Morry for the Muncie Central Bearcats games and through his time at Ball State. He's a Hall of Famer and one the most knowledgeable sports minds that I knew in the state of Indiana. He's a legend who was liked and respected by everyone. It's a sad day for my family and me but also the Ball State and Muncie communities. He will be missed but always remembered."
Chandler Thompson
Ball State basketball player (1988-92)
"He was our Dick Vitale. He made it feel like you were in the stands watching. That radio voice was just on at all times. Whenever he did an interview with me as a player, I looked forward to it because I got a chance to speak to a legend. I viewed he and Jeff (Weller) as legends, and especially Morry because he was there for such a long period of time.
"He was Mr. Radio, himself. That's the way as a kid I was able to listen to games on the road. You wanted to follow the (Muncie Central) Bearcats and hear the road games. I listened to all the games I could sitting in front of the radio. And Southside and Northside games, as well.
"I'll always remember the sweaters. I remember when I bought my first Coogi sweater, I showed him and told him I was in the exclusive club. I have a closet full of them now."
Jo Ann Gora
Ball State University President (2004-14)
"I remember Morry so well. He was so exuberant about Ball State Athletics. You felt as though he knew every student whose athletic activities he reported on, and he identified with and cared about them. He had a wonderful voice and was great at giving you a play-by-play, but what stands out in my memory was his love for the students who played the games so hard and so well.
"He was also known for his sartorial splendor. He wore incredibly interesting sweaters that frequently caused comment from his audience, and he loved that. He loved that he was a celebrity on campus and someone people looked to for a smile, a joke or a good anecdote about a student-athlete. He really loved Ball State, and it showed. He was an iconic figure in the athletic world, and he will be sorely missed."
John Worthen
Ball State University President (1984-2000)
"Sports fans are very saddened that Morry Mannies has passed away. For over 50 years, Morry was sports radio for Ball State and high school athletics. His love for the games and his enthusiasm made it very exciting for his listeners. He was sometimes kidded about getting so involved he would forget to mention the score. He loved to travel with the team and especially liked interviewing the coach and president when we won. His interviewing was always spot on. He is truly a legend."
Andrea Seger
Ball State Athletic Director (1995-2002), Athletic Director for Women (1983-95)
"One of things that really stands out is Morry's unfailing loyalty to Ball State. He was always so supportive of the university and the athletic department. We became good friends over the years, and he always treated my fairly. People liked Morry. I never really heard a bad word about him. He got along with everyone, and he stayed committed over all those years. Morry was very well respected, not only at the institution but within the community."
Joe Hernandez
Ball State Sports Information Director, Athletics Administrator (1986-2019)
"Ball State lost a legend with the passing of Morry Mannies. He was the utmost professional in his broadcasting and one of the best storytellers in the business. Nobody, and I mean nobody, had more of a love for Ball State Athletics than Morry Mannies. The miles and miles he traveled to get the word out on Ball State Athletics will never be duplicated. He was a fan, a broadcaster, a donor, a friend, an alum and a mentor for 56 years as Ball State's "Voice of the Cardinals." Lots of great memories listening to and working with Morry. A true professional who had a great run with the Cardinals. "Good Night and Good Sports."
Steve Lindell
WLBC, Woof Boom Radio (since 1994)
"The voice. The smile. The sweater. These and many more positive memories will remain in my mind. One that only I will recall? My first night in Muncie, 26 years ago. It was high school sectional week when I was flown in from Little Rock, Arkansas. I met Morry at the North Walnut Street Fieldhouse – he was doing high school basketball games on WLBC with Jeff Weller. After the game, we all went to Pizza King for my first of many Muncie meals to come. Ironic that he passed away on almost the same day that I was here to interview for the job."
Doug Zaleski
Muncie Evening Press, The Star Press (1988-2014)
"I liken Morry Mannies' impact on the sports scene at the high school level in Muncie and Delaware County and with Ball State, as well as the entire state of Indiana, as being similar to that of two former longtime baseball radio play by play men: Vin Scully of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ernie Harwell of the Detroit Tigers. Scully and Harwell, through their longevity with their teams, were instantly recognizable as being part of the culture of the teams for which they brought games on the radio from the field into fans' cars and homes.
"Morry's impact on athletics in Muncie and Delaware County, most notably the Muncie Central Bearcats and Ball State's football and men's basketball teams, went a long way toward shaping the perceptions of those teams. On Friday nights, local sports fans knew they could turn on their radios and Morry would be right there with them, cheering on the local teams. And on fall Saturday afternoons with Ball State football and throughout the winter with Cardinals basketball, Morry was the trusted voice that fans loved to hear."
"In Morry's last 20 years of broadcasting games, he became known for his trademark Coogi sweaters, which featured a gaudy splash of rainbow colors and swirling designs. The tradition began in 1995 when we were in Memphis, Tennessee, to cover Ball State's participation in the NCAA basketball tournament. Morry, his wife Nancy, Jeff Weller and I were walking through the Peabody Hotel and Nancy noticed the flashy sweaters in a hotel shop. She suggested he purchase a couple of them, so he did at $300 a pop. As we came to find out, fans commented a lot on the sweaters and Morry reveled in the style. He purchased many more over the years and from 1995 on, was always in his broadcast position wearing one of the sweaters."
From all those and more, thanks for the memories, Morry. Good Night and Good Sports.
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