MidAmerica PA announcer Burch to retire after 30 years

What basically started as a favor for a friend turned into a three-decade journey for Ron Burch. But after serving as the voice of MidAmerica Nazarene football for 30 of the program’s 31 years as its public address announcer, Burch is down to his final game barring a home playoff contest for the Pioneers.

Burch was approached in 1980 about the job by Steve Peterson, a friend who was then the MidAmerica athletic director, and he’s missed precious few games through the years.

“Maybe three or four,” Burch said. “I don’t know that it’s been much more than that. I missed one last year when I was on vacation. I can think of two other times, but that’s it.”

He had no idea when he started so many years ago that it was a role he’d still be filling and relishing in 2009, but Burch has become an institution in the rickety Pioneer Stadium press box.

“Heavens no I had no idea that it would go on and on and on like this, but it has certainly been enjoyable,” Burch said.

It comes to an end today, when the 10th-ranked Pioneers, 7-1, play host to Central Methodist, 5-2, in the season’s final regular season home game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Burch, who announces each play and tackle as well as frequently serving as the referee’s translator, considered vacating the post after 25 seasons, but his wife Julie talked him into staying.

“She thought I would miss it too much, but it’s time for somebody else to have the experience,” he said.

Burch has seen nearly every significant moment in Pioneers lore. He was there through some 0-10 seasons, when Baker and William Jewell pounded MidAmerica year after year, but also experienced last year’s 10-0 regular season.

“In the first place, I love football and watching the turnaround that took place was pretty amazing,” Burch said.

The arrival of coach Mike Redwine signaled a turning point in Pioneers’ history, Burch said.

“To see the guys suddenly go 7-3, 8-2 and so on and start to have some success where they’d regularly beat teams like Baker and William Jewell was a lot of fun to watch,” Burch said.

Of course, he’s also etched his own moments into MidAmerica football lore. Perhaps none more memorable than a 2006 flub with Lindenwood in town.

“They just walked down the field (on the opening drive) as if we weren’t even there,” Burch said. “It was the first time that year we had had a mic with a switch, and I had leaned forward and without realizing it depressed the mic switch with my elbow.”

After watching the Lions score, he made a pronouncement in the press box “Boys, it’s going to be a long day” unaware that his voice was still being piped over the public address system.

“We laughed. What else can you do?” said Arlen Siegfried, who has served as Burch’s spotter since the mid-1980s. “We used to have an open mic and Ron would have to cover it with a towel, but there were several times I said editorial remarks after I thought he had it covered and instead it went out over the PA.”

Such witty press box banter is commonplace and it’s something Burch will miss. He also likes to point out that the Pioneers rallied for a 31-7 victory against the Lions that day.

“I don’t take credit for that win, but maybe I inspired the defense,” he joked.

Known for his professionalism (a few comical moments notwithstanding), Burch, who is an audiologist during the week, isn’t prone to hyperbole or obnoxious cheering for the home team.

“I’m just there to give the facts,” he said. “The game speaks for itself.”

Central Methodist (5-2) at No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene (7-1)

1 p.m. today at Pioneer Stadium on the MNU campus

Breakdown: Both teams still harbor playoff hopes, though Central Methodist needs a lot of help to reach the NAIA postseason. Of course, a win against the 10th-ranked Pioneers would go a long, long way.

Central Methodist boasts one of the top defenses in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Few teams are as explosive as MidAmerica, though.

Look for the Pioneers to run their regular-season home win streak to 18 games behind a stingy defensive performance and big afternoons from QB Tyler Herl and RB Ashford Johnson.