Roderick Jon Bramblett Jr. (November 5, 1965 – May 25, 2019) was an American sportscaster who served as radio play-by-play announcer for Auburn Tigers football, basketball, and baseball.
He received national media attention during the 2013 football season for his calls of the game-winning plays against the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
"I still have the manila folder at home, and it's a couple of inches think of emails from fans... 'Hey, Rod, here's what I think you should do.'
"In the end, Jim's great legacy was 'Touchdown Auburn' and, after two or three years of me sometimes saying it and sometimes not saying it, it just kind of dawned on me that's what needs to be said.
"[2] Former Auburn quarterback Stan White served as Bramblett's color commentator throughout his tenure.
Bramblett also served as the Auburn Network's Director of Broadcast Services, the host of the network's call-in show, Tiger Talk, and the host of the weekly Auburn Football Review TV show.
[3][4] Bramblett was honored as Sports Illustrated's Play-by-Play Announcer of the Year in 2013, primarily based on his calls of the winning plays in Auburn's final, regular season games against Georgia and Alabama.
The 2003 season had been disappointing for Auburn and the game was played under speculation that head coach Tommy Tuberville would be fired regardless of the outcome.
Auburn was in the midst of an improbable turnaround under first-year head coach Gus Malzahn after going 3-9 in 2012 (0-8 in SEC play).
The Tigers dominated the first half, leading 27-10 at halftime, and 37-17 with 12:39 to play in the fourth quarter.
After managing one first down, Georgia's Jordan Jenkins sacked quarterback Nick Marshall, setting up a 4th-and-18 play for the Tigers, from their own 27 yard line.
Gonna throw down field just a home run ball and, uh, it is tipped up...AND LOUIS CAUGHT IT ON THE DEFLECTION!!!
"[7] Ricardo Louis's catch gave the Tigers a 43-38 advantage (a two-point conversion failed), but Georgia would get one final possession as Aaron Murray led the Bulldogs into Auburn territory.
The Ricardo Louis touchdown was named the play of the game by CBS Sports and Rod Bramblett's call was used for the video replay.
During the week of the Iron Bowl, ESPN's Tom Rinaldi interviewed Rod Bramblett and others for a feature, titled "Prayer at Jordan-Hare", to be used for ESPN College GameDay, which would be in Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
"[8] Two weeks after the miracle win against Georgia, the Tigers faced in-state rival and No.
The Tigers tied the game in the third quarter with a Nick Marshall touchdown pass to C. J. Uzomah.
The two teams traded defensive stops late in the fourth quarter and Auburn had the ball with 2:32 to play at their own 35.
Marshall kept the ball running left, then found receiver Sammie Coates wide open for the game-tying touchdown.
But after an official review, it was determined that 0:01 remained in regulation and Alabama sent freshman kicker Adam Griffith in to attempt a 56-yard field goal.
On the Auburn IMG Sports Network, Rod Bramblett and Stan White called the play that would become known as the Kick Six: Rod Bramblett: Chris Davis is gonna drop back into the endzone in single safety...Well I guess if this thing comes up short he can field it, and run it out.
And as hard as they're gonna try, they're not keeping this bunch of Auburn fans off this field tonight!
[9]Chris Davis's return was the CBS play of the game which, once again, allowed the TV audience to hear Bramblett's call.
[10] On the Monday following the game, Bramblett was interviewed on Fox & Friends[11] and the Tim Brando Show.
[12] Richard Sandomir of the New York Times wrote, "Auburn Announcer Has the Call of a Lifetime, Twice in One Month" in a feature story on Bramblett.
[14] Just days after the game, a video of a 25-year-old woman from North Carolina with no previous connection to Auburn lip synching to Bramblett's call went viral on YouTube.
On May 25, 2019, Bramblett and his wife Paula were involved in a car accident in Auburn, Alabama; their Toyota Highlander was struck by a Jeep on Shug Jordan Parkway.
His wife was pronounced dead in the emergency room at East Alabama Medical Center from multiple internal injuries.
The 16-year-old driver of the Jeep was under the influence of marijuana and was going 89 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone, and was charged with manslaughter.