FREMONT – For the last 36 years, when Ross football fans turned on their radio, they’ve heard Jon Kerns’ voice.
Fremont City Schools superintendent Jon Detwiler hands a football to Jon Kerns, commemorating his 36 years as the radio voice of Little Giant football. RSR/Rich McGowan
Friday night, however, after Ross’ 28-23 win over Clay, Kerns signed off from his final Little Giant broadcast, ending a run if calling games since 1982.
“I did some calculating and, since I started, there have been 367 Ross games and I probably have done 95 percent of that,” Kerns said.
A graduate of Ross’ Class of 1976, Kerns returned to Fremont in 1982 after attending Ohio State and working a couple years down state. His tenure in the booth began as the broadcast’s color commentator/analyst before he took over play-by-play duties in 2003.
“I do enjoy doing play-by-play,” Kerns said. “I feel like I do better play-by-play, because I’m not the world’s biggest expert on football. I’ve learned a lot, but I’m not a coach. Matt, my current color guy, he’s a former coach. I like play-by-play more.”
Among the highlights of Kerns’ career was calling games his son, Aaron, playing in during his Ross career, before graduating in 2011. Jon Kerns will be attending Aaron’s wedding next weekend, taking him out of the booth a week before the end of the season.
Kerns, however, isn’t retiring until March. He’ll be calling Little Giant basketball games this winter before signing off for good.
After 36 years on the air, Kerns said it was just time to step away from the mic.
“I’ve done and seen just about everything. I just think it’s time to turn it over to somebody else. I’m getting a little bit older and it’s physically a little more demanding than it used to be. I wanted to go out while it’s still fun and I didn’t want to have be carried up the steps. I thought about this about a year ago. It’s just the right time.”