NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Just before the 2013 season, iconic Saints announcer, Jerry Romig, retired from calling games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. His son, Mark, followed in his dad’s footsteps and is carrying on a family tradition. Reporter Deepak Saini stepped into the booth to watch Mark, and found out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
You hear his voice at every home game but you never really get to see his face.
“I never thought I’d be the announcer for the Saints. Everyone in my family thought my Dad would be doing this for another 100 years,” says Mark Romig.
Generations have grown up hearing Jerry Romig call the games at the Superdome. After 44 years, he passed the torch to his son Mark.
“Its been in my family for so many years. My sister is here. My brother is here. My Dad has been here for as many Sundays as people have been alive,” says Romig.
The press box is a family affair. Brother Francis David does the scoreboard and sister Mary Beth Romig spots facts and yardage.
“We grew up on football. We lived and breathed football as kids. We’re lucky that as siblings we have a great relationship all our lives. All of us do,” says Mary Beth Romig.
Mark learned from the best, his father, but that doesn’t mean nerves don’t get a hold of you.
“My leg is moving a mile a minute. There’s nerves. There’s butterflies which is good because it keeps me on the edge of my seat.” says Romig.
Nerves aside, when he presses that red button, Mark’s voice is gold. A lot goes into announcing the games. The team gets in early and does their homework. Like his iconic father, Mark wants to do his city proud.
“It’s our team and we love the Saints. Being part of a tradition that’s so important to so many people, not only in New Orleans but also the Gulf south.”
Mark Romig is also the President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.