EAST LANSING, Mich. — His words go viral each October, in a clip that’s shared and shared again until it forces its way onto your social media timeline. There is a clear and distinct cadence in his voice — one that makes it easy for those on the winning side to repeat, treasure and rally behind. Others fight like hell to forget, only to be reminded that it did, in fact, happen.
No matter where you stand, Sean McDonough, ESPN broadcaster and the voice behind the “Trouble with the Snap” call, is aware his words have staying power. Even five years later.
“I’ve had people send me pictures of somebody wearing a T-shirt that has the call inscribed on it,” McDonough told The Athletic. “People have sent pictures of something written on the wall of a bar. I’ve run into a couple of Michigan State people who can basically repeat it verbatim. It’s, uh, different. That doesn’t happen all the time, obviously.”
Most remember the 2015 Michigan-Michigan State game as one of the wildest finishes we’ve ever seen in college football. McDonough was in the booth for that game, one that he’d called three or four times prior to that installment. But no other meeting would compare to what he would soon witness.
In terms of preparation and buzz leading up to the broadcast, it was a typical work week for McDonough and his crew. He remembers sitting down with then-Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio a few days before to discuss the matchup, trying to get him to discuss his distaste for Michigan with little success. He knows it was the first meeting between Dantonio and Jim Harbaugh, and that both teams — Michigan (5-1) and Michigan State (6-0) — were well-positioned in the Big Ten standings.
There’s always anticipation, always emotion for this matchup. But it wasn’t his first time calling this rivalry. Nothing was out of the ordinary, even as the first 59 minutes and 50 seconds of the game played out. That is, until those final 10 seconds.
“I remembered that it was a good game up until that point, but I don’t remember a lot about it,” McDonough admitted. “I don’t think that it would’ve been viewed as a classic game. I think it was interesting and competitive, but I think without the ending, it’s not a game that would’ve really been remembered.”
On the final possession of the game, Michigan State, down 23-21 with 10 seconds left, was set to get the ball back. Michigan punter Blake O’Neill took the field with the punt unit. Dantonio didn’t have anyone back to return the punt, instead opting to send the house at O’Neill.
McDonough noticed this. In one of the more underrated moments from the broadcast, McDonough cautioned those listening, just before the unthinkable happened. He noted the stellar night O’Neill had been having prior to that moment, but made sure to warn about the dangers of a miscue. He’s been calling games long enough to know that anything can happen. Even in a situation like that.
“You can never take for granted anything, even something as simple as just catching the snap,” McDonough said. “It could’ve been a bad snap, you know? They could’ve snapped it over his head. They could block it. You always need to be careful in our job not to assume that the likely ending is necessarily going to happen.”
McDonough didn’t assume anything, and it’s a good thing, too. As some fans headed for the exits, the ball was snapped. A clean punt in the moment all but guarantees a victory for Michigan, and a loss for Michigan State. It would have conference implications, and would give Harbaugh a win in his first rivalry game as Michigan’s head coach.
What came next, however, was an absolute stunner.
In a matter of seconds, Jalen Watts-Jackson, a backup defensive back who saw most of his action on special teams, went from unknown entity to a household name. His touchdown gave Michigan State a 27-23 victory, during a season in which the Spartans would go on to win the Big Ten title and advance to the College Football Playoff. If it weren’t for his efforts, everything accomplished during that season would’ve been off the table, making the game — and the moment — that much more important.
After Watts-Jackson scored, the broadcast crew went silent for more than 30 seconds. Cameras panned over to Chris Baldwin, a Michigan fan who was in the crowd with his jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Next was Harbaugh, hands on his hips, looking up at the scoreboard to get a glimpse of the replay. And finally, shots of the end zone and the dogpile of Michigan State jerseys forming nearby.
The ambient sound of the stadium was more than enough to capture the moment without McDonough needing to say anything else. Not that there was anything else to say. McDonough nailed the call in the moment, which is something you can only hope to do as a broadcaster.
When he thinks about the call, McDonough remains humble. He says it’s not about him. He credits his spotters for recognizing Watts-Jackson and relaying the name to him in real-time. He mentions how the camera crew perfectly captured the moments that followed, and how proud he was to see it all come together.
That’s the thing about being a broadcaster. It’s a team effort, much like the sports they cover. Unlike writers and other media covering the game, McDonough wasn’t able to simply hit backspace on a laptop. He didn’t have time to collect his thoughts during Watts-Jackson’s sprint to glory. He and his team had one shot to create a lasting image, and they did.
“The emotion of the call, the words, everything about it should reflect the moment,” McDonough said. “I’ve done a zillion games in all these different sports and that was still the most startling ending I’ve ever seen, a game like that. So, I’m proud of it. I don’t mind if my voice cracks. Some people like to have fun with it. Personally, I can’t control it, and if I could, I wouldn’t try to. I think that part of it kind of is part of the reason why people remember it. So you know, if we had to do over again, I wouldn’t. It’s one of the things I love most about the job — the spontaneity of it.”
Ultimately, McDonough knows what to expect each October. “Trouble with the snap” will go down as one of the most memorable calls of his career — if not the most memorable. It’s one of the moments where — whether you watched live in the stadium, at home or at a bar, whether you’re a Michigan State fan or just a fan of the sport — you remember where you were when you watched it.
McDonough’s had those own moments in his life. He recognizes it will continue to live on five, 10, 15, 25 years into the future and beyond.
And he’s just happy to have played a small part in it.
“I’m glad that people remember it because it was a great moment,” McDonough said. “I don’t think any of us do this so that you’ll be remembered. (It’s not like) ‘Oh, gosh, I hope there’s a good moment and people replay this and remember me.’ I just feel fortunate to have been there when it happened. That’s what I feel good about.”
No matter where you stand, Sean McDonough, ESPN broadcaster and the voice behind the “Trouble with the Snap” call, is aware his words have staying power. Even five years later.
“I’ve had people send me pictures of somebody wearing a T-shirt that has the call inscribed on it,” McDonough told The Athletic. “People have sent pictures of something written on the wall of a bar. I’ve run into a couple of Michigan State people who can basically repeat it verbatim. It’s, uh, different. That doesn’t happen all the time, obviously.”
Most remember the 2015 Michigan-Michigan State game as one of the wildest finishes we’ve ever seen in college football. McDonough was in the booth for that game, one that he’d called three or four times prior to that installment. But no other meeting would compare to what he would soon witness.
In terms of preparation and buzz leading up to the broadcast, it was a typical work week for McDonough and his crew. He remembers sitting down with then-Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio a few days before to discuss the matchup, trying to get him to discuss his distaste for Michigan with little success. He knows it was the first meeting between Dantonio and Jim Harbaugh, and that both teams — Michigan (5-1) and Michigan State (6-0) — were well-positioned in the Big Ten standings.
There’s always anticipation, always emotion for this matchup. But it wasn’t his first time calling this rivalry. Nothing was out of the ordinary, even as the first 59 minutes and 50 seconds of the game played out. That is, until those final 10 seconds.
“I remembered that it was a good game up until that point, but I don’t remember a lot about it,” McDonough admitted. “I don’t think that it would’ve been viewed as a classic game. I think it was interesting and competitive, but I think without the ending, it’s not a game that would’ve really been remembered.”
On the final possession of the game, Michigan State, down 23-21 with 10 seconds left, was set to get the ball back. Michigan punter Blake O’Neill took the field with the punt unit. Dantonio didn’t have anyone back to return the punt, instead opting to send the house at O’Neill.
McDonough noticed this. In one of the more underrated moments from the broadcast, McDonough cautioned those listening, just before the unthinkable happened. He noted the stellar night O’Neill had been having prior to that moment, but made sure to warn about the dangers of a miscue. He’s been calling games long enough to know that anything can happen. Even in a situation like that.
“You can never take for granted anything, even something as simple as just catching the snap,” McDonough said. “It could’ve been a bad snap, you know? They could’ve snapped it over his head. They could block it. You always need to be careful in our job not to assume that the likely ending is necessarily going to happen.”
McDonough didn’t assume anything, and it’s a good thing, too. As some fans headed for the exits, the ball was snapped. A clean punt in the moment all but guarantees a victory for Michigan, and a loss for Michigan State. It would have conference implications, and would give Harbaugh a win in his first rivalry game as Michigan’s head coach.
What came next, however, was an absolute stunner.
Thirty-two words. A couple of voice cracks along the way. And a lifelong memory created.
In a matter of seconds, Jalen Watts-Jackson, a backup defensive back who saw most of his action on special teams, went from unknown entity to a household name. His touchdown gave Michigan State a 27-23 victory, during a season in which the Spartans would go on to win the Big Ten title and advance to the College Football Playoff. If it weren’t for his efforts, everything accomplished during that season would’ve been off the table, making the game — and the moment — that much more important.
After Watts-Jackson scored, the broadcast crew went silent for more than 30 seconds. Cameras panned over to Chris Baldwin, a Michigan fan who was in the crowd with his jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Next was Harbaugh, hands on his hips, looking up at the scoreboard to get a glimpse of the replay. And finally, shots of the end zone and the dogpile of Michigan State jerseys forming nearby.
The ambient sound of the stadium was more than enough to capture the moment without McDonough needing to say anything else. Not that there was anything else to say. McDonough nailed the call in the moment, which is something you can only hope to do as a broadcaster.
When he thinks about the call, McDonough remains humble. He says it’s not about him. He credits his spotters for recognizing Watts-Jackson and relaying the name to him in real-time. He mentions how the camera crew perfectly captured the moments that followed, and how proud he was to see it all come together.
That’s the thing about being a broadcaster. It’s a team effort, much like the sports they cover. Unlike writers and other media covering the game, McDonough wasn’t able to simply hit backspace on a laptop. He didn’t have time to collect his thoughts during Watts-Jackson’s sprint to glory. He and his team had one shot to create a lasting image, and they did.
“The emotion of the call, the words, everything about it should reflect the moment,” McDonough said. “I’ve done a zillion games in all these different sports and that was still the most startling ending I’ve ever seen, a game like that. So, I’m proud of it. I don’t mind if my voice cracks. Some people like to have fun with it. Personally, I can’t control it, and if I could, I wouldn’t try to. I think that part of it kind of is part of the reason why people remember it. So you know, if we had to do over again, I wouldn’t. It’s one of the things I love most about the job — the spontaneity of it.”
Ultimately, McDonough knows what to expect each October. “Trouble with the snap” will go down as one of the most memorable calls of his career — if not the most memorable. It’s one of the moments where — whether you watched live in the stadium, at home or at a bar, whether you’re a Michigan State fan or just a fan of the sport — you remember where you were when you watched it.
McDonough’s had those own moments in his life. He recognizes it will continue to live on five, 10, 15, 25 years into the future and beyond.
And he’s just happy to have played a small part in it.
“I’m glad that people remember it because it was a great moment,” McDonough said. “I don’t think any of us do this so that you’ll be remembered. (It’s not like) ‘Oh, gosh, I hope there’s a good moment and people replay this and remember me.’ I just feel fortunate to have been there when it happened. That’s what I feel good about.”
