PROVO, Utah — After a 30-year stretch as the voice of BYU baseball on ESPN 960, Brent Norton is saying farewell to the broadcast booth.
Norton called more than 1,000 BYU baseball games during his career. A graduate of BYU, raised in Provo, he felt like his broadcasting for the team was a way for him to give back to BYU.
“We are so thankful for Brent and all that he has done for this program,” said BYU deputy director of athletics Brian Santiago. “Brent has been, and will continue to remain an important part of the BYU baseball family.”
Norton will throw the ceremonial first pitch at BYU’s home opener on March 13 against Utah.
“My three decades of calling BYU baseball games at a school that I love has meant so much to me,” Norton said. “It has been a special experience for me and my family. Thanks to my supportive wife Robin, who was a bit of a baseball-season widow for the last three decades, and thanks to my five kids and 22 grandkids. I will be forever grateful to the BYU baseball family for the opportunity I have had to be involved with the school. I have loved my association with all the coaches and the players, seeing them grow as people and skilled athletes has been a real pleasure. I will always hold dear to my heart those associations and friendships.”
While Norton remembers highlights over his 30 years such as conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances, it’s the relationships he made along the way that he says will be the real high points. His work was under the tenure of three different coaches: Gary Pullins, Vance Law and Mike Littlewood. He was mentored by former BYU baseball coach and former BYU director of athletics Glenn Tuckett.
“Brent Norton became the Vin Scully of Cougar baseball,” said Pullins, who coached at BYU from 1977-2006. “He began broadcasting our games wherever we played, with devotion and love for the university and our athletic program. It was a privilege to work with him while I was coaching and that admiration was enhanced when I was no longer affiliated other than being a fan of Cougar baseball and his play-by-play expertise. His devotion to excellence in broadcasting and to BYU baseball specifically was inspirational. Including the games I might have been ejected, Brent Norton saw more BYU baseball than I did.”
Norton credits Pullins for being the one to initially get him involved with BYU baseball. He specifically remembers long road trips with the team, watching John Wayne movies on the bus. Norton’s travels with the team took him to college and Major League stadiums around the country.
“Brent put his heart and soul into the BYU baseball program for three decades,” Littlewood said. “I know Brent tried to sound unbiased on air, but in his heart he wanted us to win as much as anyone on the field or in the dugout. I will always consider Brent as an integral part of the BYU baseball family and a friend. He is truly a class act.”
This season, BYU baseball games can be heard on BYU Radio, which is the new broadcast home of BYU baseball.