The sights and the sounds of college football come in many forms.
They come from the crowd, the cheerleaders, or the cannon that fires after every touchdown.
And Saturday, those sights and sounds finally returned to Missouri State for the Bears home opener.
“We always have a good crowd the first home game and then you add the family weekend and we’ve had a really good crowd,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “It’s packed on this side and it really makes a difference. Our guys love it when they see a lot of people up there.”
Amidst those sounds of a thriving stadium, a familiar voice rang through.
For the first time since MSU’s near-upset of Arkansas football on September 17, 2022, the voice of the Bears was back.
“It was a big deal for me to sign on after a little bit over a year’s absence from the airwaves and be in that booth again,” said longtime Bears broadcaster Art Hains.
Hains’ long battle with West Nile virus often made his return to the booth seem impossible.
“There were times when I wasn’t sure I was going to live,” Hains said.
But Art never lost hope — telling himself he’d not only live but return to the job he loves.
“I kind of was able to kick back the naysayers and figure I’m going to beat this thing,” he added.
True to his word, with his family by his side, Art has bounced back, sounding as good as ever.
In fact, his daughter Kathleen joined him in the booth on Saturday to help him throughout the broadcast.
“It was just an incredible moment to witness that and see him up there in the press box and look down on the field and do his thing,” Kathleen said.
Art’s return replaces something that’s been missing from the fabric of Missouri State athletics.
“It just seems more authentic,” Moats said. “That’s not to discount anybody else. We appreciate everybody that’s helped and continues to help out, but he’s the guy right? And we want the guy if we can have the guy.”
Of course, Art’s always been THE guy.
But now, he’s more popular than ever before.
“To see all of the people come up and say ‘hey you sounded great, thank you for being back on the air’ was a joy,” Kathleen said.
It’s a joy for all of us who listen, and a joy for Art himself.
“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do this but I want to do it a little while longer because I just love being part of the game,” Art said.
Then again, what’s a Bears game without that familiar voice painting the picture in our minds?
“He loves being able to bring color and illustrate the games to people listening on the radio so that is just his life,” Kathleen said.
The plan for MSU is to have Art broadcast all of the Bears home football and basketball games.
And Art says maybe there’s a chance for some road games in the future.
