Donny Marshall

[StllH8L8ner]

My Donny story…

I spent a cup of coffee at UHa and his girlfriend at the time (who was incredibly attractive) played for the women’s’ basketball team. I played a sport there also (before it went DIII, humble brag) so I spent a lot of time going in and out of the campus sports center. One day I was walking out after practice and he was standing there waiting for her to be done with her practice by himself and I said “Hey, good luck in the tourney”. I think it was right after selection Sunday. We were the only two in the area, he looked straight at me, didn’t say anything and went back to staring at the wall (pre-cell phones). Maybe he was in a bad mood, didn’t want to talk to a lowly mid-major athlete or was anxious to get his gf back to her room, but it always struck me as strange considering how charismatic everyone said he was.

 

[Greedo]

He kept saying Devin Carter was fouling on his drives when Oduro got called.

I couldn't figure what he was talking about, how was Carter fouling anyone on his drives to the hoop?

He was saying UConn was fouling Carter, so the Oduro foul should have never been called because a UConn player should have been called for the foul on Carter before the rebound foul ever happened.

 

[QDOG5]

He was saying UConn was fouling Carter, so the Oduro foul should have never been called because a UConn player should have been called for the foul on Carter before the rebound foul ever happened.

On that play Carter drove across the lane and stuck his leg out to try and draw a foul while he was shooting. The refs did the correct thing and made a no call on the Carter contact and then Oduro went over the back for a foul.

 

[Jasper Husky]

And nobody wants to hear announcers complaining about how long the game is (It was)

 

[nashusky109]

Before the second half began when the studio brought it back to Gampel, Donny and Brando kept talking about how Oduro was in foul trouble which is why UConn got back in the game. Never even mentioned that Clingan played 4 minutes all half as well.

I always think Donny is bad but its not unlistenable but last night both Brando and Donny were flat out awful. 3 techs, 40+ fouls but beautifully officiated game... what a joke

 

[3rdbass]

He's always said good things a out Hurley in print, so I don't think it was a swipe.

Donny talking about Dan in a 2021 NY Post interview:

" I love how he’s no nonsense. He doesn’t candy-coat anything. I think you have to respect how genuine he is when it comes to how he talks to his players, how he talks to the media. That’s the kinda guy that I could play for, because you know where he stands. If you’re dogging it, you’re not gonna play, and he’s gonna tell you. I think he holds every player accountable. When you have a coach like that, your AD, those guys, they gotta get out of the way."

It wasn't a swipe at his coaching but his playing ability. Either way It is is obvious that Donny is the opposite as a homer when it comes to UConn basketball on tv at least. He is dreadful to hear on air.

 

[ninety-nine]

Next time he calls a UConn game, someone should walk up to him with our opponent's jersey in #33 (Donny's former number at UConn) and say, "Hey, I've been listening to your color commentary, and I thought you might like to wear this for the game."

 

[Fan1978]

He kept saying Devin Carter was fouling on his drives when Oduro got called.

I couldn't figure what he was talking about, how was Carter fouling anyone on his drives to the hoop?

He was saying carter was fouled on his drive by UConn and therefore oduro foul on rebound would not be a foul because play was over.

 

[Fan1978]

It wasn't a swipe at his coaching but his playing ability. Either way It is is obvious that Donny is the opposite as a homer when it comes to UConn basketball on tv at least. He is dreadful to hear on air.

How many times did he say providence was playing without oduro due to foul trouble and clingan catching splinters not mentioned

 

[3rdbass]

He was saying carter was fouled on his drive by UConn and therefore oduro foul on rebound would not be a foul because play was over.

Yeah he said that happened twice. Once on the first half and then end of 2nd half. They guy is unbelievable at times. I could see maybe trying to say it once but he did it again. Ugh!

 

[microfich]

Donny is so polarizing for UConn fans. He clearly has to watch out for homerizing, that's just professional.
I do agree he's more suited to a studio role but understand why UConn fans expect more from him during games.

I have never met the man but I do sit directly behind the announcers at GP. Pregame and halftime he is constantly approached by VIPs of all levels and ages and he couldn't appear more appreciative of his position or place in UConn history. I have never seen the 'smile while talking' turn into a 'what a d**k' face afterwards from him. There is no way he bears any grudge or is jealous of those who have rings.

 

[Captbluefin]

He is “ The other Marshall” always was. Always will be.

 

[CL82]

He should go to Kara Wolters school. Her on line commentary was like a clinic on how to do reporting
imo. It made watching the game so enjoyable. Was she covering Uconn for SNY?

She's in studio for SNY for the women's team and great job. What commentary are you talking about? Was she doing something for the men's game last night too?

 

[Stinger92860]

Donny is so polarizing for UConn fans. He clearly has to watch out for homerizing, that's just professional.
I do agree he's more suited to a studio role but understand why UConn fans expect more from him during games.

I have never met the man but I do sit directly behind the announcers at GP. Pregame and halftime he is constantly approached by VIPs of all levels and ages and he couldn't appear more appreciative of his position or place in UConn history. I have never seen the 'smile while talking' turn into a 'what a d**k' face afterwards from him. There is no way he bears any grudge or is jealous of those who have rings.

Where you the guy sitting directly between the 2 announcers? Whomever it was, was wearing a hoodie with a company name on it. He was sitting, while the folks to the left/right were standing, so you could the company name clearly on the hoodie. I thought at the time, thats a brilliant way to make some extra cash. Hoodie chest area for sale!

 

[slepers]

The amount of comments on here about Donny shows jealousy on all your parts. It’s like you take notes during the game so you can post about it the next day! I have met him a few times and he is a good guy very personable

 

[Hunt for 7]

It should be considered that the game was as hard to call as it was to watch. With all the dead ball time related to all the fouls. Then the refs going to the monitor as much as they did. It takes a special type of play by play and color commentator team to call a game that ugly and keep it entertaining.

 

[nomar]

He says nothing inciteful. Ever

That's good. We don't want anybody burning down Gampel.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

People need to lay off Donny. There is no announcer, living or dead, that could save that train wreck of a game last night. Donny is fine most of the time.

My Donny story is that about 20-22 years ago, my father-in-law and I were at the sports bar in Middletown/Cromwell line (can't remember its name). My father-in-law saw Donny having lunch with some friends, and despite my best efforts to stop it, interrupted Donny's meal. Donny was incredibly gracious, and spent about 5 minutes talking with my father-in-law, who was thrilled. My father-in-law talked about that day all the time right up until he passed.

 

[freescooter]

I kind of tuned out the announcers tonight.

A friend of mine who likes watching UConn but isn't really a fan of the team texted me in the first half, "Hate the announcers." I texted back that one of them played at UConn. He texted me back, "Would never know it."

I think Donny is terrible awful bad horrible. On top of that I think when he does UConn games he thinks being pro-the opponent is the way to avoid being criticized because he played at UConn. Makes him especially awful.

 

[Greedo]

On that play Carter drove across the lane and stuck his leg out to try and draw a foul while he was shooting. The refs did the correct thing and made a no call on the Carter contact and then Oduro went over the back for a foul.

I agree, I was just explaining what Donny was trying to say.

 

[coachn]

Mute the TV and listen to the radio.
Joe D and Wayne Norman together will never be replaced.
Mike Chrispo does adequate job but JD the best ever.

 

[AllHusky]

He says nothing inciteful. Ever

insightful
I guess inciteful might mean he says things that piss people off, which he does!!

 

[05Alum]

The announcing was so bad last night that my wife was actually getting mad at me for how bad it was. That me, just through association as an alumnus, somehow allowed this commentary team to exist and call this game. So I am obligated to agree, since she is never wrong.

 

[Skiblets]

Last night was brutal

1. A foul fest
2. Horrid ft shooting
3. Brando lost his fastball a decaide ago
Donny and he were trying to do the best friends routine including stealing the schtick that everyone has used with Raftery about bar bills and closing time
4. The game was as long as an nba game
5. They continued the announcer doing a ‘riff on Stephon’s last name’ thing. . News flash. That’s neither original, nor funny. Completely corny. Pls stop!
6. They constantly praised the reffing. Even if they felt that way, say it once or twice not five or six.

For me, by far, that was the worst tv watching experience this year but Donny was a small part of it

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

For example, "Everything is the same here in the building as when I played here, except the floor..." whether that's true or not, it could have led to a conversation about that old floor and how it had some dead spots that the home team could take advantage of. That would have been insightful, not insipid.

When the refs were issuing technical fouls and brief lectures to calm rising tensions, I was hoping for Donny to recall his getting a T called when he exaggeratedly clapped in response to a ref's call that he found wanting.

 

[Palatine]

I like any announcer that doesn't talk about Duke every other sentence.

Donnie is NOT anti-UConn. He is very complimentary of the team and players. Just his presence in the booth is a net plus for the program.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

He should go to Kara Wolters school. Her on line commentary was like a clinic on how to do reporting
imo. It made watching the game so enjoyable. Was she covering Uconn for SNY?

Where'd you see that?

She's quite good on the WBB games on SNY - competent, fair-minded, and appropriately tilted toward the home team, as though modeling herself on a local network's MLB team of announcers. I get that FS1 & Fox can't operate that way, but as much as I resisted the critical voices when they first rise up here, I completely agree that Donny's stance and proportioning need some coaching. I'd like him to do well.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

insightful
I guess inciteful might mean he says things that piss people off, which he does!!

Ok, now that someone is playing it straight, I will add with helpful intent that my comment on the same point referred to "homophones," which are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

Some simple examples would be "bare" and "bear, or " dear" and "deer," or " carrot" and " "karat."

"Insightful" and "inciteful" worked so well because their meanings are so different, but could apply in the sentence offered.

 

[microfich]

Where you the guy sitting directly between the 2 announcers? Whomever it was, was wearing a hoodie with a company name on it. He was sitting, while the folks to the left/right were standing, so you could the company name clearly on the hoodie. I thought at the time, thats a brilliant way to make some extra cash. Hoodie chest area for sale!

I'm just behind those guys (FineFettle gear). It is a great spot to promote your business and I know they pay for the privilege, lol.
I get on tv sometimes depending on the camera angle.

 

[husky8273]

Where you the guy sitting directly between the 2 announcers? Whomever it was, was wearing a hoodie with a company name on it. He was sitting, while the folks to the left/right were standing, so you could the company name clearly on the hoodie. I thought at the time, thats a brilliant way to make some extra cash. Hoodie chest area for sale!

Fine Fettle