The 2023 football season at East Carolina was one that begged for improvement. Jim Szoke described the 2-10 struggle in his first year as radio voice of the Pirates.

Szoke is among those who are optimistic for 2024. Jeff Charles’ successor is a broadcast veteran, who made a quick entry into his profession decades ago.

“I got into broadcasting literally my first week in college,” Szoke said. “I went to Bowling Green State University up in Ohio and I came out of high school with an interest in doing sports broadcasting in particular. Back then, it wasn’t as prevalent as it is today, obviously for opportunities — and just even how to pursue a career in that, as an 18-year-old, and so, yeah, just went to the college.

“First, the TV station, the first day or two I was there and there wasn’t much opportunity for freshmen coming in at that point to do anything much other than observe and learn.

“We had two radio stations at Bowling Green. Went over there and popped in between classes on a weekday and the college sports director happened to be sitting there and I introduced myself and told him a little bit about myself. He said, ‘Well, here,’ back in the day of rip and read, ‘here’s some wire copy. Why don’t you sit down in front of a microphone and record this?’ I had never even sat in front of a microphone, let alone recorded anything.

“So sat down and just read as best I could, whatever… And he said, ‘What are you doing today at two o’clock.’ I went back in and started doing sports broadcasting and we did play-by-play of games and sports talk and updates, and eventually I became the sports director there. So as far as getting an introduction to sports and broadcasting, it came through going to college.”

Commute from Queen City

Szoke lives in Charlotte, where he has been sports director at WBT for 30 years. That involves some travel to ECU games and working through some logistics with his role as an analyst on Carolina Panthers radio.

“At this time last year, I didn’t even have the East Carolina job,” Szoke said. “It was the first week in August when I got it, so I was already in Panthers training camp when they called, and we had it mostly on the phone conversations and came up with me doing the play-by-play last year for football.

“Basically last year I had my Panther schedule, of course. I didn’t know the ECU schedule yet, pulled up the ECU schedule and on the phone went week by week and they said, ‘How many do you think you could do?’ And I said, ‘Well, looking at it, we don’t know all the college times. We know the days, but not the times.’ I said, ‘I think I could do nine or 10 of these.’ And then as the season went on, I just jumped through some hoops and was able to do all 12, which I’ll do all 12 again this year.”

More prep time

Szoke will have a year of experience as the voice of the Pirates.

“So this year I had more of an opportunity to obviously get in front of the schedule and look at both of them, and again, I’ll do all 12 of the ECU football games and just work around the Panthers. This will be my 30th year doing the Panthers, so they’re a little bit more accommodating as far as doing my job there, because there’s three of us to do two color positions.

“It’s myself, Jake Delhomme and Luke Kuechly, and so we all do about 13 games with two of us in the booth each game doing the color, and then every game I’m on the air in one way or another. At the very least, I’m doing the pre-game, halftime, post-game. Preseason, I’m doing the play-by-play on radio, and then in season the color. Now that I got in front of it this year, kind of logistically looked at things, what makes sense schedule-wise and all that.

“It really is just a matter of matching them up and when I can, I fly with the Pirates on their charter. If it doesn’t make sense for me to drive out there, I’ll fly from Charlotte. I did that for a couple of games and met them out there on the road. Home games, obviously I’m driving back and forth and some days I drive in, do the game, drive back. Sometimes I drive in the night before depending on the start, the kickoff time and stay overnight either that night or the night before the game, depending on if it’s a six o’clock or a one o’clock start or whatever the case may be. So each one’s a little bit different.”

Anish Shroff does the play-by-play for the Panthers during the seasom.

Thoughts on 2023

Szoke was asked about highlights during his first season with ECU.

“Well, the season obviously didn’t have a lot of highlights in itself, but to me it was just fun getting to do the games themselves with obviously really a hardcore fervent fan base that’s hungry,” Szoke said. “And so I enjoy the college atmosphere and the Pirates in particular because there’s such a great history there and the fans are obviously very loyal and it’s such a big part of really the whole community, the economy and just the social life, just every aspect, obviously.

“For folks that are in the Greenville area and ECU in particular, it’s just like it’s the central attraction. So I love just what can be a very big environment for doing the football aspect of things

“Mike Houston, I think, is a terrific coach. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him and the coaching staff and working with those guys. It’s a great facility as far as the stadium and the area up there is all terrific. I think all that is top-notch and first class, so it’s a real good experience and just the only thing lacking was having a good season on the field.

” So obviously when you don’t win, that kind of puts a damper on everything. I fully expect it’s going to be a complete turnaround this year, but I just enjoyed the opportunity and the aspect of getting to do it, I think. Look forward to the chance of now this year scoring a lot more points, winning a lot more games, and that’ll make everybody just enjoy the season a lot more… Obviously, the reason to come out is to win and have a great time.”

Early riser

Szoke rises early for the WBT morning program.

“It’s a news talk radio station, so I do the sports, but I sit in and banter obviously as far as being a co-host on the show,” Szoke said. ” … We do kind of a wide variety of sports and entertainment and just everyday stuff that people talk about that’s beyond the news and politics and things like that. So morning show co-host, so we’re on from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, and I’ve been at WBT for 30 years, so this’ll be my 30th year with the Panthers, and I’ve been at WBT for 30 years also.

Szoke is up before sunrise.

“4:15,” he said. “I get up and I try to write as much of it the night before for the sports parts that I’m doing, as far as what’s happened. And then when I wake up, like today was the The (British) Open Championship, so obviously you can’t do much in advance of that, so just kind of fill in the blanks once I wake up as far as getting ready for the day. So yeah, 4:15 and because I work in sports and I’ve got other stuff going on, I actually don’t even go to bed that early. 10:30, 11 o’clock is when I go to bed, so it’s a quick turnaround.”

On air personnel

Former ECU defensive back Kevin Monroe will be joining Szoke for color commentary on home games. Forner Pirate punter Andrew Bayes will provide color for away contests.

:”We did that last year and I think that’s the exact same plan for this year,” Szoke said “Maceo Donald doing the sidelines. So the same setup as we had last season.”

Short trip

Szoke will have a short trip to do ECU’s matchup at Charlotte on Oct. 5.

“That’s my favorite road game of the year is that I can stay in town and get there in about 25 minutes, so that’s a convenient one,” Szoke said. “Of course, we had Charlotte out in Greenville last year, so I thought it was funny that I was driving to Greenville to do a game against Charlotte. So this year with the return game, this will be a little bit easier

Approach with listeners

Szoke would like for listeners to feel like they are sitting with him at games.

“I always view it as, radio in particular, is different than TV, so there’s play-by-play and then there’s radio versus TV and of course TV. People can see it and you’re there to complement. I’ve done a lot of TV through the years, you’re just kind of complementing what they could clearly see what’s going on there.

“Whereas radio, obviously, you’ve got to be a lot more descriptive. So I always view my role as being that conduit between the fans that are listening and the action that’s happening in front of you and being very mindful that they can’t see it. So they’re relying on your description to be as accurate and descriptive and whatever fits the mood as far as the personality of what’s going on that day.

“Whether you’re winning or losing, really describe the whole picture, not just down and distance, but what’s going on around the game.

“Working with Kevin and Andrew and Maceo, really picking their brains as three guys that have played at ECU before as far as their insight goes. So having that conversation with those guys and including the listener in there. My style is, I’m not a big monologue guy, so I like it to be like the fans are sitting with us and that they could feel like they’re hanging out with us watching the game and we’re all in on it.

“I want the fans to feel like whether it’s ECU or any other game I’m doing, like they’re part of it and if the team’s not doing well, that we’re conveying that in a fair way and if they’re winning that we’re all happy and celebrating and enjoying it together as well. So I like it to be a little bit less of like, ‘I’m talking at you as opposed to talking with you,’ and we’re all in it together style wise.”

Expecting better days

Szoke enjoyed his first season at ECU but knows next season could be more fun.

“Just generally, just really enjoyed it,” he said. “Obviously it’s easy to know when you’re not playing well it’s not fun for anybody as far as the overall product of it goes, but I’m really optimistic having seen what they’ve done this offseason with the coaching staff, with the players that are coming in and just the guys that are coming back.

“It really projects. I saw where, I think, Phil Steele has it as the number one biggest jump program for this year as far as his calculations go of who’s going to improve. So I’m really excited about this season and looking forward to it and experiencing what I know is a big time football when ECU fills that place up and fans are excited about it. So I’m really looking forward to year two and just enjoying the kind of experience that they’ve had in some past years.”

More prep time

Szoke will have a year of experience as the voice of the Pirates.

“So this year I had more of an opportunity to obviously get in front of the schedule and look at both of them, and again, I’ll do all 12 of the ECU football games and just work around the Panthers. This will be my 30th year doing the Panthers, so they’re a little bit more accommodating as far as doing my job there, because there’s three of us to do two color positions.

“It’s myself, Jake Delhomme and Luke Kuechly, and so we all do about 13 games with two of us in the booth each game doing the color, and then every game I’m on the air in one way or another. At the very least, I’m doing the pre-game, halftime, post-game. Preseason, I’m doing the play-by-play on radio, and then in season the color. Now that I got in front of it this year, kind of logistically looked at things, what makes sense schedule-wise and all that.

“It really is just a matter of matching them up and when I can, I fly with the Pirates on their charter. If it doesn’t make sense for me to drive out there, I’ll fly from Charlotte. I did that for a couple of games and met them out there on the road. Home games, obviously I’m driving back and forth and some days I drive in, do the game, drive back. Sometimes I drive in the night before depending on the start, the kickoff time and stay overnight either that night or the night before the game, depending on if it’s a six o’clock or a one o’clock start or whatever the case may be. So each one’s a little bit different.”

Anish Shroff does the play-by-play for the Panthers during the seasom.

Thoughts on 2023

Szoke was asked about highlights during his first season with ECU.

“Well, the season obviously didn’t have a lot of highlights in itself, but to me it was just fun getting to do the games themselves with obviously really a hardcore fervent fan base that’s hungry,” Szoke said. “And so I enjoy the college atmosphere and the Pirates in particular because there’s such a great history there and the fans are obviously very loyal and it’s such a big part of really the whole community, the economy and just the social life, just every aspect, obviously.

“For folks that are in the Greenville area and ECU in particular, it’s just like it’s the central attraction. So I love just what can be a very big environment for doing the football aspect of things

“Mike Houston, I think, is a terrific coach. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him and the coaching staff and working with those guys. It’s a great facility as far as the stadium and the area up there is all terrific. I think all that is top-notch and first class, so it’s a real good experience and just the only thing lacking was having a good season on the field.

” So obviously when you don’t win, that kind of puts a damper on everything. I fully expect it’s going to be a complete turnaround this year, but I just enjoyed the opportunity and the aspect of getting to do it, I think. Look forward to the chance of now this year scoring a lot more points, winning a lot more games, and that’ll make everybody just enjoy the season a lot more… Obviously, the reason to come out is to win and have a great time.”

Early riser

Szoke rises early for the WBT morning program.

“It’s a news talk radio station, so I do the sports, but I sit in and banter obviously as far as being a co-host on the show,” Szoke said. ” … We do kind of a wide variety of sports and entertainment and just everyday stuff that people talk about that’s beyond the news and politics and things like that. So morning show co-host, so we’re on from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, and I’ve been at WBT for 30 years, so this’ll be my 30th year with the Panthers, and I’ve been at WBT for 30 years also.

Szoke is ip before sunrise.
“4:15,” he said. “I get up and I try to write as much of it the night before for the sports parts that I’m doing, as far as what’s happened. And then when I wake up, like today was the The (British) Open Championship, so obviously you can’t do much in advance of that, so just kind of fill in the blanks once I wake up as far as getting ready for the day. So yeah, 4:15 and because I work in sports and I’ve got other stuff going on, I actually don’t even go to bed that early. 10:30, 11 o’clock is when I go to bed, so it’s a quick turnaround.”

On air personnel

Former ECU defensive back Kevin Monroe will be joining Szoke for color commentary on home games. Forner Pirate punter Andrew Bayes will provide color for away contests.

:”We did that last year and I think that’s the exact same plan for this year,” Szoke said “Maceo Donald doing the sidelines. So the same setup as we had last season.”

Short trip

Szoke will have a short trip to do ECU’s matchup at Charlotte on Oct. 5.

“That’s my favorite road game of the year is that I can stay in town and get there in about 25 minutes, so that’s a convenient one,” Szoke said. “Of course, we had Charlotte out in Greenville last year, so I thought it was funny that I was driving to Greenville to do a game against Charlotte. So this year with the return game, this will be a little bit easier

Approach with listeners

Szoke would like for .listeners to feel like they are sitting with him at games.

“I always view it as, radio in particular, is different than TV, so there’s play-by-play and then there’s radio versus TV and of course TV. People can see it and you’re there to complement. I’ve done a lot of TV through the years, you’re just kind of complementing what they could clearly see what’s going on there.

“Whereas radio, obviously, you’ve got to be a lot more descriptive. So I always view my role as being that conduit between the fans that are listening and the action that’s happening in front of you and being very mindful that they can’t see it. So they’re relying on your description to be as accurate and descriptive and whatever fits the mood as far as the personality of what’s going on that day.

“Whether you’re winning or losing, really describe the whole picture, not just down and distance, but what’s going on around the game.

“Working with Kevin and Andrew and Maceo, really picking their brains as three guys that have played at ECU before as far as their insight goes. So having that conversation with those guys and including the listener in there. My style is, I’m not a big monologue guy, so I like it to be like the fans are sitting with us and that they could feel like they’re hanging out with us watching the game and we’re all in on it.

“I want the fans to feel like whether it’s ECU or any other game I’m doing, like they’re part of it and if the team’s not doing well, that we’re conveying that in a fair way and if they’re winning that we’re all happy and celebrating and enjoying it together as well. So I like it to be a little bit less of like, ‘I’m talking at you as opposed to talking with you,’ and we’re all in it together style wise.”

Expecting better days

Szoke enjoyed his first season at ECU but knows next season could be more fun.

“Just generally, just really enjoyed it,” he said. “Obviously it’s easy to know when you’re not playing well it’s not fun for anybody as far as the overall product of it goes, but I’m really optimistic having seen what they’ve done this offseason with the coaching staff, with the players that are coming in and just the guys that are coming back.

“It really projects. I saw where, I think, Phil Steele has it as the number one biggest jump program for this year as far as his calculations go of who’s going to improve. So I’m really excited about this season and looking forward to it and experiencing what I know is a big time football when ECU fills that place up and fans are excited about it. So I’m really looking forward to year two and just enjoying the kind of experience that they’ve had in some past years.”