PERU – While entering his 45th year covering Southeast Nebraska sports, Randy Gottula received some big news.
From 1976-1992, he was the “Voice of the Bobcats,” calling every Peru State football contest for 17 seasons.
“Well, it was a very pleasant surprise to say the least. I’m good friends with a lot of the people that are in that hall of fame and to be mentioned even in the same paragraph with some of those names that are just icons in Peru State sports history, is quite an honor. So it’s an exciting thing for me.”
Gottula’s highlight season was when the Bobcats won the 1990 NAIA National Championship.
“They even stepped up and played some NCAA Division II schools like Northwest Missouri State. Came away with a tie in that one incidentally. That’s been a trivia question over the years.”
He attended school as a Bobcat in from 1969 until 1972 and helped create the Bobcat Football Network in 1986.
Over his 17 years calling Bobcat football, some memories that stuck out to Gottula included a game when the concession stand caught and fire, and when his wife, Lori, scheduled paratroopers to land on the field. They just landed two quarters into the game.
Gottula loved the small town college feel, stating that he really got to know just about everyone.
“Often times, you get to ride along in the players bus with the players for a road game. In some cases, you ride in the equipment van, sitting on top of the equipment. One of those rare occasions, you’re forced to ride along with the cheerleaders in the cheerleading van to go to the game.”
He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 23rd, as the Bobcats host MidAmerica Nazarene University.
It has been encouraged that if you come to support him, that you wear your school’s colors that he has impacted.
The game will air live on KNCY 1600 AM, 105.5 FM and ncn21.com.
Others being inducted into the hall of fame include:
Ray Ehlers (Lexington)
Kerry Brandt Evans (Burlington, KY)
Wendell Handley (native of Nemaha)
Scott Kohout (Cortland)
Brian Levin (Brentwood, TN)
Barry Reed (Bradford, IL)
