Paul James (sportscaster)
Encyclopedia
Paul James was a longtime play-by-play announcer on KSL 1160-AM radio broadcasts of football and basketball games involving the BYU Cougars
from 1965 to 2000.
. A childhood accident, in which he broke his two front teeth, made him introverted until high school. But James conquered his shyness to become the student body president during his senior year at Ogden High. James had a strong desire to compete in athletics, but his doctors prevented him from participating because of a heart murmur that developed after a serious illness. After high school, James attended the University of Utah
on a Rotary Club scholarship.
in the 1950s.
He eventually started working for KDYL-AM
as well and he did play-by-play on University of Utah football and basketball games. When KDYL lost the rights to broadcast the Utes' games in 1965 to KALL
, James took an offer from KSL to call BYU games instead. At the same time, he took over as sports director at KSL-TV
, a post he held until 1991. For his entire tenure at KSL-TV, he was teamed with anchorman Dick Nourse
and weatherman Bob Welti. The trio were the longest-running evening news team in the nation at the time James left channel 5 to focus solely on Cougar football and basketball.
James suffered a heart episode at Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium just prior to the BYU-Utah football game at end the 1996 season. He completed broadcasting the game after signing a release for the paramedics. After the game he drove himself to the hospital, where he was admitted and had a 6 bypass heart surgery performed . He only missed one game—the first ever WAC
championship game two weeks later - because of the heart surgery. James subsequently recovered and returned in six weeks, to call the 1997 Cotton Bowl Classic where BYU defeated Kansas State 19-15. He did miss occasional basketball games, when dates for football and basketball games conflicted, before switching to football only,
James ultimately chose to retire from being "the voice of the Cougars" after longtime BYU coach LaVell Edwards
announced his retirement just before the 2000 college football season. Greg Wrubell, who had been sideline reporter for football games since 1992 and the main basketball announcer since 1996, succeeded him as radio play-by-play announcer.
In 2005, James was inducted in the BYU sports hall of fame.
BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars is an American soccer team based in Provo, Utah, United States. The team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference....
from 1965 to 2000.
Early life
James was born and raised in Ogden, UtahOgden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. A childhood accident, in which he broke his two front teeth, made him introverted until high school. But James conquered his shyness to become the student body president during his senior year at Ogden High. James had a strong desire to compete in athletics, but his doctors prevented him from participating because of a heart murmur that developed after a serious illness. After high school, James attended the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
on a Rotary Club scholarship.
Broadcasting career
James got his start as a broadcaster, filling in on weekend sportcasts with KDYL-TV in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
in the 1950s.
He eventually started working for KDYL-AM
KDYL (AM)
thumb|left|The radio tower for KDYL is located near the [[Bingham Canyon Mine]].KDYL is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies format. Licensed to South Salt Lake, Utah, USA, it serves the Salt Lake City area...
as well and he did play-by-play on University of Utah football and basketball games. When KDYL lost the rights to broadcast the Utes' games in 1965 to KALL
KALL
KALL, "ESPN 700", is an all-sports radio station in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. The listed owner is Utah Radio Acquisitions, LLC.Program highlights include live play-by-play of University of Utah football and basketball and Real Salt Lake soccer, Mike and Mike in the Morning, The Herd with...
, James took an offer from KSL to call BYU games instead. At the same time, he took over as sports director at KSL-TV
KSL-TV
KSL-TV, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. KSL-TV is owned by Bonneville International Corporation, which is in turn owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, a post he held until 1991. For his entire tenure at KSL-TV, he was teamed with anchorman Dick Nourse
Dick Nourse
Dick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV 5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor...
and weatherman Bob Welti. The trio were the longest-running evening news team in the nation at the time James left channel 5 to focus solely on Cougar football and basketball.
James suffered a heart episode at Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium just prior to the BYU-Utah football game at end the 1996 season. He completed broadcasting the game after signing a release for the paramedics. After the game he drove himself to the hospital, where he was admitted and had a 6 bypass heart surgery performed . He only missed one game—the first ever WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
championship game two weeks later - because of the heart surgery. James subsequently recovered and returned in six weeks, to call the 1997 Cotton Bowl Classic where BYU defeated Kansas State 19-15. He did miss occasional basketball games, when dates for football and basketball games conflicted, before switching to football only,
James ultimately chose to retire from being "the voice of the Cougars" after longtime BYU coach LaVell Edwards
LaVell Edwards
R. LaVell Edwards is a former American football coach of Brigham Young University . With 257 career victories, he ranks as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time...
announced his retirement just before the 2000 college football season. Greg Wrubell, who had been sideline reporter for football games since 1992 and the main basketball announcer since 1996, succeeded him as radio play-by-play announcer.
In 2005, James was inducted in the BYU sports hall of fame.