Sideline to Showtime; Plank Joins Sooner Sports

NORMAN, Okla. – Veteran broadcaster Chris Plank joined the Sooner Sports Radio Network and Sooner Sports TV teams on a full-time basis this week. He will continue as the sideline reporter on OU football radio broadcasts in addition to calling baseball and softball games, while taking on other new responsibilities.

“It's been really fun to grow together with Toby [Rowland] and our crew,” stated Plank. “To see the way that we've been able to grow and add guys like Teddy [Lehman] in to the mix and have Coach [Merv Johnson] with that old school perspective has been really fun to create something and continue to grow it, while finding new ways to serve the fans.”

Rowland added, “Chris' versatility, optimistic attitude and most of all his talent make him a perfect fit for our broadcast team. His spirit and broadcasting style are exactly right for OU.”

With his move from Tulsa to Norman, accompanied by his wife Sarah and kids Will (11), Emma (6) and Gwen (1), Plank will contribute on various Sooner Sports TV programs, including “Sooner Sports Spotlight” and “Sooner Playbook”, while producing an all new, weekly podcast for SoonerSports.com and the Sooner Sports Radio Network.

“Extending the pregame show to two hours — if it's doing more interviews, more features or keeping fans engaged through Twitter or whatever else it might be — has been so rewarding and it's the main reason I wanted to come to OU. To be able to be in Norman and work with everybody, not just Toby, but Sooner Vision and the athletics department is kind of a dream come true.”

Since graduating from the University of Tulsa in 1997, Plank has been a familiar voice on the airwaves in Oklahoma. He started at 1430 the Buzz shortly after graduation and was the co-host of the “The Big Show” for 16 years until he announced his departure from KTBZ earlier this summer. For the last year, Plank and Arnie Spanier have co-hosted “FOX Sports Overtime”; a spot he will continue in, which airs Sunday nights from 9 pm-1 am nationally on over 350 affiliates.

When Rowland took over play-by-play responsibilities in 2011, Plank was brought on board as the radio sideline reporter.

“The very first game we did was Oklahoma against Tulsa in 2011,” recalled Plank. “The first game I did was sidelines for OU against my alma mater.”

However, his first taste of calling Sooner games was on press row for a handful of men's and women's basketball games, including Oklahoma at Gonzaga on New Year's Eve 2009.

“That was the night when Tiny Gallon broke the backboard. We ended up ringing in the New Year during the second half of a basketball game because of the delay. We filled the whole time during the delay; Mike Houck and I did. From that point forward, it was like I was sold. I wanted to be around OU more.”

"Chris' versatility, optimistic attitude and most of all his talent make him a perfect fit for our broadcast team."
Toby Rowland

In just four short years, Plank has been on the call, up close and personal, to some great Sooner moments. His time on the sideline and in the dugout have allowed him to witness the triumph and jubilations experienced by Oklahoma football and baseball players in the moment like few else.

“When baseball won the Big 12 Tournament after the tornadoes in Moore; that was a pretty incredible moment. We went to the Super Regional at Baton Rouge; that atmosphere for college baseball was incredible. To be next to the dugout and have the opportunity to be a part of it was pretty special. You know, you've got Jon Gray against Aaron Nola, who are both in the big leagues right now.

Lehman, Plank and Dvoracek “All of the OU-Texas games have been great. The incredible finish of Bedlam two years ago with Blake Bell's touchdown pass to Jalen Saunders was amazing. You never forget the places you've gone when you've always wanted to do this; like going to Tallahassee or going to South Bend. All of those are pretty incredible and memorable moments that I've had by getting to cover this university.”

From Norman to Tallahassee, Plank can be spotted with his red headset and microphone patrolling the sidelines. He's often seen checking the conditions of the field for his pregame report and hovering over the officials during the coin toss. During the coldest of games, you can find him close to the benches and the heaters in an attempt to stave off the elements.

“I would say the elements of the 2013 Bedlam game were pretty harsh, but that same year against Kansas State, up in Manhattan, was pretty bad too. It was an early game and it was below zero when we were walking to the stadium and I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been. That was about as bad as it has been elements wise, but my first year in Stillwater was brutal. I can remember being camped out down there with Roy Williams near a heater because you couldn't even feel your mouth.”

Through his interactions with players and coaches, regardless of whether his recorder is out for a pregame interview or he's just shooting the breeze, Plank brings a genuine interest to every conversation that brings out the personalities of some of Oklahoma's biggest stars. Connecting the players and coaches on the field to the fans watching or listening at home is a big part of any broadcast and Plank makes it a priority.

"To be able to be in Norman and work with everybody, not just Toby, but Sooner Vision and the Athletic Department is kind of a dream come true."
Chris Plank

His proximity to the action has left him a memorable part of the moment for those involved. Running on the field for immediate reaction at the Sugar Bowl or waiting at home plate after a Jacob Evans walk-off home run, he's gained a perspective that few have access to. However, for Plank, it is the people at OU that have left a great impression; even greater than the moments.

“Because we're so focused on football and basketball, we sometimes forget the special kind of people we have working on softball, tennis and all the other sports. The access and opportunity that Pete Hughes has given me with baseball is unprecedented. Without a doubt, any time you get a chance to talk to Cale Gundy, when you get a chance to talk to Lincoln Riley, you see these types of personalities, that's great. But when you get a chance to sit down and talk life or baseball with Pete Hughes, you see just how incredible the people are that are running the programs.”

Plank's comfort level among coaches, student-athletes and fans is on par with that of a friend or neighbor being welcomed into your home. For the past four years, he has made each stop along the way a part of himself and blended into his environment. From the sideline, to the dugout, to the broadcast booth Chris Plank has always felt right at home and now he's arrived at the front door of his new permanent home. Behind it, the Sooner Nation and many more stories to be told.