RUSTON – The news broke Tuesday morning. And with it, the hearts of Louisiana Tech fans everywhere.
Iconic broadcaster Dave Nitz — a 2019 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee and the legendary “Voice of the Bulldogs” for half a century — passed away at the age of 82.
“For 50 years Dave saw it all — the great plays, the wins, the championships, the dynasties. His iconic voice allowed Tech fans to experience the game no matter their distance from Ruston or wherever the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters were competing,” President Jim Henderson said. “The Voice of the Bulldogs has left an indelible mark on this university, and his influence remains in every broadcast. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Marlene, Jamie, Jeff, Jay, and the entire Bulldog fan base.”
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Nitz,” Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey said. “For 50 years, Dave was the conduit of Louisiana Tech athletics to our passionate fan base. He created sensational story-telling narratives for some of the greatest moments in Louisiana Tech athletics history. We are forever grateful for his service, energy and passion for Louisiana Tech. Dave and Louisiana Tech will be intertwined as a terrific broadcast and story-telling match. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dave’s family and all of those who loved and cared for Dave. Rest in peace, Dave, and know that Louisiana Tech athletics is better because of your work.”
A proud native of Milton, West Virginia, Dave’s journey to Ruston was paved with a passion for the microphone. From early broadcasting days at Arkansas Tech, William & Mary, and Georgia Southern, he was a storyteller long before he ever set foot on Louisiana Tech’s campus.
Dave could also be heard on the airwaves covering minor league baseball in the Baltimore Orioles farm system. Then came the spring of 1974 — the NCAA District Tournament at old Arlington Stadium — when he first called Tech baseball, the sport he loved above all others.
That marked the beginning of something special.
Later that fall, Dave officially joined the Louisiana Tech Football Network. And over the next half century, he became the voice of Bulldog athletics behind the mic for football, basketball, and baseball. His calls weren’t just descriptions of the action — they were memories etched in time.
By best estimates, Dave called more than 4,500 Louisiana Tech games. That’s thousands of moments, plays, and stories told by someone who truly loved telling them.
Whether it was his trademark phrase — “You Gotta Love It!” — or the legendary call of Sean Cangelosi’s touchdown grab against Alabama, repeated with pure Bulldog joy:
“Touchdown Bulldogs! Touchdown Bulldogs! Touchdown Bulldogs!”
Dave made moments last forever.
His postgame sign-off still rings softly in the minds of Tech fans everywhere:
“So long, everybody.”
Now, it echoes with heartfelt goodbye.
A beloved figure both behind the mic and in the community, Dave was inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. He was named the Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year in 2009 and was honored numerous times as the state’s top college broadcaster by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Beyond the press box, Dave was a husband, a father, and a friend. He is survived by his wife Marlene, of Barboursville, West Virginia, and their three children — Jamie, Jeff, and Jay.
A visitation will be held Saturday from noon-1:30 in Bossier City at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, zip 71111. The ensuing funeral service will be for family members only.
