The Voice of UCF Athletics: Golden Knights' Play-By-Play Man Marc Daniels Is In Twelfth Season

This past weekend I was able to sit down with "The Voice of UCF athletics" Marc Daniels at Rice University prior to UCF's men's basketball game with the Owls. Marc and I discussed what his job as the play-by-play man entails. We also had the opportunity to take a look at his life beyond the microphone. Since "March Madness" is just around the corner, we focused primarily on his play-by-play duties for the UCF basketball team.

Marc Daniels was born in New York, but grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Daniels attended Sunrise Piper High School where he was a member of the baseball and basketball teams. During high school Marc was also able to obtain his first job in broadcasting, as he worked as a DJ for a radio station in Fort Lauderdale at the age of 15.

Marc went on to attend the University of Florida where he would obtain his undergraduate degree. While in Gainesville, he was able to work with the University of Florida athletics department.

The 2006-2007 basketball season is Marc's 12th season calling the play-by-play for the Golden Knights. Daniels is also the play-by-play announcer for UCF football and baseball teams. In addition to his work for UCF, he is also the play-by-play announcer for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.

Daniels has never had a color commentator in his twelve years with the UCF basketball team. There have been talks of a color commentator, but it has never become a reality and Daniels said that doesn't mind being a one-man show for now. In football, Daniels works with a full cast, which includes sideline reporter Jerry O'Neil and a color commentator.

On The Road Again
A normal road trip for Daniels normally consists of traveling with the Golden Knights' basketball team to road games. UCF generally leaves the day before a road game like they did this week to travel to Tulane on Tuesday for Wednesday night's game in New Orleans. Daniels then left for Houston for the Knights game at Rice before leaving Houston the day after the game on Sunday. In order to prepare for upcoming games, Daniels usually attends UCF's practices, interviews coaches and players, while also studying upcoming teams and their tendencies.

Daniels stated that away from UCF Arena, one of his favorite road venues that he has been to recently is Kentucky's Rupp Arena. UCF lost to UK after a shot by the Wildcats' Rajon Rondo with 1.5 seconds left allowed Tubby Smith's team to survive the Golden Knights' upset attempt. UTEP and Memphis also were some of Marc's favorites with the great atmosphere at the Don Haskins Center and the amazing facilities at Memphis' brand new FedEx Forum.

The Memories
Daniels' fondest moments of commentating UCF men's basketball have been doing the play-by- play for the three NCAA tournaments that the Knights have gone to in his twelve years at UCF. Outside of the March Madness, some other great moments were a big road win over former Atlantic Sun rival Troy on February 4, 2005.

Daniels has had his fair share of bumps along the way. During Daniels' broadcasts over the years, he has had a variety of obstacles come his way. He has had his power pulled in the middle of a game by unknowing fans walking over power cords. There have also been times where the phone lines dropped. On three separate occasions, he has had players jump on his equipment whiling scrambling out of bounds for a loose ball.

Daniels also discussed his favorite parts of being "The Voice of UCF Athletics," saying that he loved being involved in the program and being around the players and coaches. He stated that there is a "certain beauty" in that the players will come and go, but the fans will always remain.

You can tune into Marc Daniels' play-by-play of every UCF men's basketball game on your local UCF ISP radio network or online at www.ucfathletics.com.