Rod Smith goes back to the future to host TSN’s CFL panel

Rod Smith says he feels like he's going home.

The TSN announcer, who dreamed of playing in the CFL, is returning to a job he held in 1997. TSN announced Monday that the veteran with the booming voice will replace the departed Dave Randorf as host of the channel's flagship CFL on TSN panel.

``It feels right," Smith said Monday, pointing out that when he was growing up in Ottawa the CFL was the No. 1 sport in town. ``I dreamed of playing in the CFL," said the former Queen's University lineman. ``Russ Jackson, Tom Clements, those guys were my heroes growing up."

While Smith will return to his SportsCentre duties after the football season, this is not being looked at as a part-time job. With the NHL moving on to Rogers, the CFL will take on even more importance with TSN. Having a lively panel is a big part of that.

It's not hard to see why Smith feels so at home. His ties to the panel go back a long way. When Chris Schultz auditioned for a spot on the panel, Smith was the one who took him through the audition.

When Matt Dunigan first tried his hand at being a game analyst, his first gig was working with Glen Suitor and Smith. Then, when Dunigan did his first solo analyst's assignment, Smith was calling play-by-play.

Smith hasn't worked very much with Jock Climie, but recalls doing a report on the former CFL receiver when he was at Queen's. The only panelists he's not overly familiar with are Milt Stegall and Paul LaPolice, but as an avid follower of the CFL Smith knows all about them.

Smith says the odd thing about getting the job is that he never entertained the thought of reprising his old role, even when Randorf left to do hockey at Sportsnet. It never crossed his mind until TSN production head Mark Milliere suggested he try an audition.

“Rod is a football guy through-and-through," said Milliere. ``He brings both a wealth of CFL knowledge and a compelling new presence to the panel,”

As soon as he reunited with his old mates, he realized he wanted the job.

Smith admits he has big shoes to fill: ``Dave took that show to a whole new level and it's a tough act to follow," he said.

He plans to follow in Randorf's footsteps and keep the show not only informative but fun.

``Dave and I are different people with different personalities," he said. ``But I want to continue the energy, the fun and the camaraderie he developed.

``I want to be have more fun than I do on SportsCentre and I'm going to enjoy having someone to talk to on the desk."