I was saddened to hear this week that Matt Shepard will be replaced as the UM play-by-by announcer with last year's temporary fill-in, Brian Boesch, for the upcoming season. After Shepard took the job as the Detroit Tiger's TV announcer last year, his availability was understandably diminished.

To me, Shepard was synonymous with the 'Beilein era'. It was apparent upon listening that Shepard was a genuine fan of the school and had endless respect for John Beilein as a coach and human being. This bedrock of positive vibes was hugely valuable for when college basketball randomly, inexplicably doesn't go your way, and you would like to blame anything in your local vicinity. Shepard was a rock. There was always the 2nd half, or the in-bounds after the next commercial break. And, if he knew Beilein and staff, their guys would be ready with an answer. When they didn't, it was time to applaud the opposing squad and look to the rest of the schedule. In an age of hot takes, #narratives, and Dan Dakich calling out 20 year-old amateurs, I found TV productions insufferable compared to the wholesome respite that was the team of "Shep" and "T-Mills".

I am sure some of you know Shepard mainly from this year's Tigers TV broadcast. Let me state the nature of baseball doesn't play to Shepard's strengths as an announcer. His is a style more attuned to fast paced sports like basketball or hockey. I struggled to listen to him as the Tigers guy because it often felt like he didn't know when to speed up or slow down. He was like a Ferrari in a 4th of July parade.

And, this brings us to the core of my Matt Shepard fandom. His play-by-play was simply phenomenal. Basketball is a hard sport to convey over the radio. You could never describe everything happening on the court that is influencing the outcome. It is impossible. So, an announcer plays the herculean role of withstanding this rushing torrent of 'ball', in the hopes he can convey enough for the listener to get an idea of what the hell is going on. 'Peak Shepard', with his lightning-quick, yet crisp diction, would enter a seeming 'flow-state' where you were in the midst of the action as a listener. Thrilling. Rhapsodic. His intensity was made all the more profound in the stunning silence made by the arc of a three pointer...."RING IT UP!" he would roar like a silver-headed lion. 

Maybe it's fitting Shepard left along with Beilein. Maybe it was Beilein's style of methodical, rhythmic offense punctuated with exultant three pointers that lent itself to this perfect marriage. For me, I'll always have the memories. I'll share one: I watched Beilein's second national championship game at a bar. A big screen hanging over the liquor bottles. The announcing a murmured din above the crowd half-paying attention. Knowing the outcome, and annoyed with my friends' lack of despair, I went to my car. I turned on the radio. By now, they were in post-game and it was Matt and Terry talking about how great of a season it was. It cheered me up. It was an amazing season. And, it felt like we had gone through it together. And, I was glad I was on their side. 

Hopefully, the Howard era will be filled with many great wins and even some nets cut down. At this point, we can't know. But we can be thankful for all the greatness we were lucky to witness. To John Beilein and Matt Shepard: Thank you! and...

GO BLUE!