WHEATLAND — In the afternoon of August 20 at the Agriplex within the Platte County Fairgrounds, a meet and greet was hosted for Mr. Dave Walsh. Mr. Walsh is the recently retired play-by-play personality primarily for the University of Wyoming Cowboys football and basketball. His long time in the spot—38 years—earned him the moniker, “Voice of the Cowboys.”
Walsh’s journey to Laradise, the home of future Cowboys and Cowgirls, started in Southern California around the San Diego area. Graduating from Sand Diego State in 1975, he quickly launched himself into the world of radio.
“I took my first radio job in a small town east of San Diego–Brawley, California. Was there a couple years. Did high school football and was on the air as a country music DJ. And then we went to Utah. I got a job in Salt Lake City, Utah. Was there for a very short time, ended up in Ogden, Utah doing the Weber State Wildcat games–football and basketball,” said Walsh.
After his time in Utah, in 1982, Walsh moved to broadcasting with a Continental Basketball Association team called the Wyoming Wildcatters. Two years, Curt Gowdy would offer Walsh the position which he is best know for. Walsh’s skills were not limited to only Basketball and football.
“I was lucky enough I did one year of Billings Mustangs baseball. Went up and called their 1997 season. Did a little Cowboy baseball back in the day. We went to Hawaii and did some Western Athletic Conference championship games. So I have done a little baseball,” said Walsh.
During his long tenure as the play-by-play commentator, Walsh has had a front row seat to the high points and low points of Cowboy football and basketball. There are some periods and people which he remembers well, like football head coach Paul Roach’s back to back conference championships and basketball stars Fennis Dembo, Eric Leckner, and Turk Boyd.
“I’ve loved every moment of 38 years doing Cowboy games and so many different experiences. I think I was really fortunate when I first started doing Cowboy games basketball was going through a great period, so was football,” said Walsh.
“Then you kind of go in stages. There are some skinny times–some times when the Cowboys weren’t winning so much. But I think in this business you attack every game, every broadcast the same, whether it’s with a 9-0 team or a team that’s 0-9.”
Traveling was part of the job as the Voice of the Cowboys. Going across the country with the teams allowed Walsh to discuss with the players and coaches and get to know them better then doing home games in Wyoming.
“We travel with the teams, stay in the same hotels and on the same flights. So we would engage in a lot of conversations then. But after games, generally on the road when we see each other getting on the bus and getting on a charter plane we’d have a chance to visit more. More so then playing at home,” said Walsh.
Four decades is a long time and many things can change. According to Walsh, even with changes happening to the sports, there are some things which have remained untouched when it comes to broadcasting sports.
“I think just deep down the basics of what we do in sportscasting is the same. I don’t that’s changed very much. But the games themselves have changed. I think the speed of the games, the athletes have gotten bigger and stronger and faster over the years incrementally, ” said Walsh.
Now that he is in retirement, Walsh will continue to enjoy Cowboys and Cowgirls games, but more as a fan. Through thick and thin, the consistency and the change, one aspect has remained a cornerstone for Walsh during his time as Voice of the Cowboys. It is advice which he passes on to those soon to graduate and recently graduated.
Prepare. I think preparation is huge. You gotta be into that, be willing to put in the time. So I think just like anything else be ready and willing to work hard and do what it takes and do the preparation.
“Voice of the Cowboys” Dave Walsh, August 20, 2022
James Meyer 