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Well this isn’t exactly news you want to wake up to.
I have had the honor of being the Voice of the Commodores for 23 years. Recently I went on the air representing Vanderbilt at a time when I should not have. I was unacceptable to me and to the university. I write this to tell you two things.
— Joe Fisher (@joefishervu) December 3, 2020
First, as of this morning I am checking myself into a rehab facility to address an issue I've struggled with for a long time. As a result I will be off the grid and out of pocket for a while. Second, I have resigned my position at Vanderbilt effective immediately.
— Joe Fisher (@joefishervu) December 3, 2020
I had hoped for a different resolution but that was not to be. I have wonderful memories and experiences with great coaches, players, staff, broadcasters and fans. I will cherish them always. God bless, I love you, and anchor down. Joe
— Joe Fisher (@joefishervu) December 3, 2020
So: if you’ve been paying attention to anything at all, you probably know what this is referring to. Monday night’s edition of The Commodore Hour with Joe Fisher had lots of speculation about Joe’s condition, with the broadcaster slurring his speech and repeating the same questions to interim head coach. The show was cut off early and never uploaded in podcast form, which was super telling in a lot of ways. Fisher’s tweets this morning seem to confirm what listeners had suspected since Monday night.
At this time, it’s unknown who will take over radio play-by-play duties for Vanderbilt. Max Herz, who’s effectively been in the bullpen for a while as Fisher’s backup announcer, handling play-by-play for early season baseball games and also frequently serving as the play-by-play commentator on Vanderbilt’s SEC Network+ broadcasts, is one option, or Vanderbilt could look to bring in a more experienced broadcaster to take over. Either way, prayers for Joe Fisher and his recovery.