Former University of Wisconsin radio announcer Mike Lucas shared on a podcast his frustration with UW after he was asked to leave his gig as radio color commentator for football and men's basketball games prior to the 2023 season.
Lucas had served alongside play-by-play announcer Matt Lepay since 1994 and also wrote for UWBadgers.com and Varsity Magazine during his time at the university. He took a full-time job at UW in 2010 after working at The Capital Times for 39 years.
Now back with the Cap Times, he and longtime Wisconsin State Journal sports writer Tom Oates launched the weekly podcast, "Lucas and Oates." On the first episode, Lucas said he was "blindsided" by the university's wish to move on.
"I'm really envious of you and the respect that you got to call your own shot, you made your decision to walk away," Lucas said to Oates, who retired in 2020. "I didn't get that opportunity at Wisconsin. I got kicked to the curb by (UW athletic director) Chris McIntosh, my radio assignment, and along with my writing for the UWBadgers.com.
"It's their prerogative to pick who they want in the booth, and they wanted jocks in the booth. Which is fine. I'm fine by that. But handle it with dignity, handle it with class, handle it with a little professionalism. Don't be callous. Don't be cowardly."
