Rowe fired as Oly's PA announcer

Gail Wood | The Olympian • Published September 17, 2009

Comments (0)

Passion is part of sports.

Especially in football.

And Eric Rowe found out that fans want to see that passion on the football field, not in the press box.

Rowe, who played football at Olympia High and has “Blue Bear” on his license plate, was fired as the school’s PA announcer for his passionate comments in the annual Olympia-Capital football game at Ingersoll Stadium.

After Olympia’s dramatic 35-27 comeback win against Capital on Friday, Olympia School District superintendent Bill Lehmann asked Rowe to step down as the PA announcer for the Bears home football games.

“It’s not so much that I said anything wrong about Capital,” Rowe said. “It’s that the perception was that I was over top for Olympia or way too much in favor of Olympia. But that was a great home game. You’ve got to get excited.”

Rowe replaced Jim McNamara, who resigned at the end of last season after 32 years.

“The concern was that some of the comments mounted to rooting in the press box,” said Peter Rex, communications director for the district. “It’s best to leave that role with our cheerleaders, the fans and the students.”

It wasn’t that Rowe criticized Capital. It was Rowe’s support of Olympia that frustrated Capital fans. His passion annoyed them. And in a game that Capital led 14-0 only to lose its fifth straight to Olympia, Rowe’s comments dug even deeper.

Olympia plays at Wilson Friday. Its next home game is Sept. 25 against South Kitsap. No replacement has been named.

Rowe wants a second chance. He’s waiting to hear if he’ll get one.