Last week, Bob Elliott sat down next to a muted broadcast of an Arizona Wildcats basketball game and tried out for his old job.
The month-old Arizona Wildcats Sports Network held auditions for its broadcasters. The former UA player, with more than a quarter-century of broadcast experience, was no exception. He even gave them a résumé.
"I knew they had 10 years of tapes on me" from Fox Sports Arizona, Elliott said. "I met with them again, and that was pretty much it."
Elliott was not retained as television color commentator; he was replaced by another former UA player, Corey Williams. Elliott said he was offered a different position on the AWSN, but declined. Wednesday, Elliott and general manager Brent Seebohm — who would resign Thursday, for reasons unrelated to the announcer hires — exchanged polite letters.
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"I look at it as, this is an athletic department decision," Elliott said.
Elliott said he "would think this would have been handled differently," and would have liked a phone call from the athletic department if the school knew it wanted to move in a different direction all along.
Since Wednesday's announcement, Elliott's friends have e-mailed and called him constantly.
"Why? That was the thought process," he said. "One person said, 'How dumb.' But it's their choice. They can do what they want to do. I'm able to do what I want to do right now."
That includes returning to "Fox 11 Sports Force," a half-hour Sunday show. He said he's had "communications with regional and national people" about other television jobs.
The Wildcats' second-leading career scorer played at the UA from 1973 to 1977 before launching a professional career.
Elliott has done broadcasting for about 27 years, including stints with CBS and the Phoenix Suns. He was also the color commentator voice of the video game "NBA Live," and had a role in the game "NBA Street."
Elliott said his friends know broadcasting "is not a high priority in my life."
The prominent accountant dabbles in music and has chaired numerous civic boards through the years.
"He won't be bored," friend and play-by-play announcer Dave Sitton said, "but I know he'll miss the broadcast."
Elliott said he and Sitton first met when the two were living as freshmen in the same dorm.
"I'll see Dave all the time; we talk nonstop," he said. "This will not change our friendship. We'll find other ways to get together."
Elliott said the two major play-by-play partners in his life — Sitton and the late Don Poier — provided a chemistry that extended off the court.
"It's like playing ball," he said. "When you have a relationship and friendship, that transcends more than just the professional side.
"You become more like family. That's not going to change."
