Broadcaster Enberg comes back to IU

When John Brogneux was a professor heading the student teaching program at IU in 1960, Dick Enberg was one of his subjects. Brogneux, now 27 years retired at the age of 94, recalls fond memories of Enberg and understands why he is a success in the broadcasting business. \n"He's a very gifted speaker," Brogneux said. "He's a credit to athletics and to the University."\nBrogneux and more than 200 other Enberg faithfuls gathered at the DeVault Alumni Center Saturday morning to celebrate and receive signed copies of the 13-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster's autobiography titled "Oh My!" Enberg was in Bloomington to call the IU-Michigan State game Sunday in Assembly Hall. \n"I wanted to tell the readers that my life hasn't been perfect either," Enberg said. "There have been some potholes." \nA native of Armada, Mich., Enberg began broadcasting as a student at Central Michigan University, where he was the 1957 student body president. He arrived at IU later that year where he earned his master's and doctoral degrees. It was at IU that Enberg met his first wife, Gerry, where they spent their first few years of marriage amongst 30 small green trailers on the side of Walnut Grove. \n"At the time I didn't lead a very rich life," Enberg said. "I didn't know I was poor and that trailer seemed like a castle to me and Gerry." \nWhile Enberg has been a sports broadcaster for more than 30 years, his strength in school was always mathematics. At the age of 26, Enberg was recommended by former IU professor Margery Philips to teach an advanced statistics class. \n"The youngest guy in the classroom was the man standing in front of these wise and old doctoral candidates teaching the toughest course," Enberg said of himself. "But I thought I did a pretty good job and the reviews were good." \nIf it wasn't Enberg's hairstyle, he might still be in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation teaching Health Education like he did more than 40 years ago at IU. \nBut a conversation with then-Dean Arthur S. Daniels changed all of that. Dressed in a khaki green suit -- the only one he owned -- and short-styled hair, 26-year-old Enberg met with Daniels assuming he would be offered a professor position at IU for his highly acclaimed work in the advanced statistics class. Instead, Enberg received an insult on his hairstyle and a pink slip.\n"I'm all ready to shake his hand and say 'Thank you' and IU forever," Enberg said. "Instead Daniels asked, 'Did you ever consider the fact that you look like a shaved prostitute?' and sent me on my way." \nEnberg relates that one moment to changing the direction of his life. What turned into a plan to stay at IU, growing old teaching and writing his memoirs soon turned into an opportunity elsewhere in the country. Enberg was offered an assistant coaching position at San Fernando Valley in California. "The rest was history," Enberg said.\nSporting a cream and crimson IU vest, Enberg holds no ill-will toward the University he once called home. He pointed out that an education at a university such as IU can take a student with no direction and put them on the right track to success.\n"The university process takes a lot of nobodies and allows them to be somebody, and I'm one of those," Enberg said. "My education is the greatest gift that Indiana gave to me."\nIU Alumni Association Senior Vice President John Hobson agreed that Enberg is a credit to the University. \n"He has a great love for the University," Hobson said. "He's very personable and humble. It is a special day for IU."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Andrew Shaffer at asshaffe@indiana.edu.