IMHO... All parties involved in making this decision -- Byrne, CTSN, and Eli himself -- handled it poorly. We don't know what went on behind the scenes. With the change in HC it is an opportune/appropriate time to change the play-by-play announcer.
Eli had slipped a few notches as a play-by-play guy. Too bad he didn't realize that. He could have been more classy in his exit comments. The Univ supported him when he was sick yet he barely mentioned that.
CTSN could have maybe tried harder to create some lesser role for Eli apart from the game coverage, that would have been a transition to retirement. Don't know if Eli would have gone for that.
Oh well....
From what I have read Eli is the one who made a mess of this. CTSN and the school stood by and supported him when he was sick and missed a full year in 22 and all road games in 23. Eli's contract was up for renewal this year. The CTSN decided it would be best not to renew the contact with the old terms. They wanted him to continue but in a lesser role and move Chris Stewart to the play-by-play announcer role. Eli said no. CTSN then wanted to make a joint announcement that Eli would be retiring, and Eli went nuts saying he would not agree to the announcement. That left the CTSN no choice but to make the announcement they were parting ways with Eli and thanked him for all he had done.
It was Eli's choice to make it ugly. IMO, he burned a bridge with a university that had been very good to him. I think he thought the fans would rebel and demand he keep his job. He underestimated the fact that all games are on TV, and no one listens to him on the radio anymore.
The CTSN and the school will be better off with Chris Stewart. Eli will regret he acted like a little bit@#.
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