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The  University of Alabama parted ways with longtime football play by play announcer Eli Gold on Feb. 21.

Gold is best known in Dallas County for his several appearances at the Selma Quarterback Club. He spoke at the Selma Quarterback Club in September.  Gold said he always enjoyed visiting Selma. Stewart has also spoken at the Selma QB Club.

Gold had called Alabama football games since 1988 and was replaced by Chris Stewart. 

“Eli has been an invaluable member of our broadcast team,” said Jim Carabin, Vice President and General Manager of the Crimson Tide Sports Network. “We are grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in this next chapter.’’

Gold said the decision to walk away was not his decision.

“They wanted me to say I’m retiring, that I’m stepping down…I’m not stepping down, this wasn’t my decision, strictly their decision,”  Gold said in a statement.

Ronnie Leet, who runs the Dallas-Wilcox Bama Club, said he would have preferred a cleaner situation with Gold’s departure. 

“I don’t know what the closed door conversations were about between Eli and University officials but I wish it had been handled better,” Leet said. “I have always enjoyed listening to Eli and still do but I understand, after 36 years, and the coaching changes at U of A, that this is something the University felt needed to take place. On the surface, I personally feel that the situation should have been handled differently considering the wonderful relationship that Eli has had with the University over the last 36 years. I personally think Eli should have been given another year to wind down his retirement so the perception would have appeared amicable for both sides. It’s hard to understand why this was handled so badly.”