November 19, 2005. Auburn, Alabama. “Final score of the Iron Bowl: Auburn 28 Alabama 18.” With those words booming over the public address system of venerable Jordan-Hare Stadium, the curtain came down on the legendary career of an Auburn sports icon. Fans of the Tigers had been listening to the baritone voice of Carl Stevens for 27 years on football Saturdays. That voice was as much a part of the Auburn game day experience as Tiger Walk and Toomer’s Corner.
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Auburn would turn to Ric Smith to carry that torch and bring the action on Pat Dye Field to life for the fans inside the historic stadium. This fall, Smith will begin his 3rd decade as Auburn’s public address announcer, describing the action and keeping the fans informed about everything happening on the field, on campus, and in the community, regarding Auburn University. He describes his time behind the microphone as his dream job.
Smith recently sat down with Auburn Undercover and described his journey, a journey he would not have thought possible as an Auburn student. “Anyone who is involved in announcing in any way, especially if they enjoy sports, and especially if they enjoy Auburn sports and Auburn football, that’s a dream. “In a sense of it being this dream maybe. A sense of it being a possibility, certainly not as a student.”
Smith graduated from Auburn University in 1985. While in school, he worked at Auburn’s student-run radio station, WEGL. During that time, Smith covered football games and was able to work with Stephens. Smith then began public address announcing Opelika High School football games after college. In 2000, he took over the public address announcing duties at Plainsman Park for Auburn baseball. His work there did not go unnoticed.
“There is a phrase I use frequently that every day is an audition. You never know who is watching you. You never know who is listening to the work you do,” Smith said. “One day I got a call from Jeremy (Roberts) saying that Carl Stephens, after 27 years, was going to retire as stadium announcer. Would I be interested in talking to him about taking on that job?”
Smith officially took over the microphone from Stevens at the beginning of the 2006 football season. His first game was a 40-14 victory over Washington State. He told Auburn Undercover that each game offers its own uniqueness, adding that every game he does matters and every game inside Jordan-Hare Stadium is important.
“I’ll always remember the first game. The first Alabama game I called in 2007. Everything that happened in 2010 and everything that happened in 2013.” Smith said. “You never know who is there and you never know how special that particular game is to those that are there.” Smith added.
In addition to his duties as a Senior Lecturer and Internship Director at Auburn University’s School of Communications and Journalism, Smith prepares eight to nine hours a week for a home football game. He said that time is spent rehearsing how he is going to read each stadium announcement. Smith also uses his time researching the biggest names on Auburn’s opponent’s roster. He says he tries to arrive at the stadium three hours before game time, giving him ample time to make any last-minute adjustments.
“The reality is I am just one small part of a very strong team. That involves marketing, communication, sports media relation staff. It involves operations and everything that’s going there.” He added, “I’m just part of that very big and talented team of people. I’m just glad I get to be a part of it.” For Auburn people, he is a very big part of it.
On September 12, 2026, 88,043 and more Auburn alumni and fans will once again come together on South Donahue Drive, walk into the 87-year-old stadium that is home to Auburn football, and christen another home football season. It will be the first season for Head Coach Alex Golesh. It will be the 21st for stadium announcer Ric Smith. And when those fans hear him say, “the correct Jordan-Hare Stadium time is…” they will all know that they are back home.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
