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The following was penned by Bro. Jet ...

If Pat Sullivan was the arm of the modern era of Auburn football, if Terry Beasley supplied the hands, if Bo Jackson provided the legs, and if Ralph Jordan and Pat Dye were its coaches, then Jim Fyffe was surely its voice.

For 22 years, from the first day of Pat Dye through the first half of the Tuberville era, Jim painted pictures with his voice like none other. He would tell you he was the most surprised that he would have that opportunity. Those who had the opportunity to know Jim personally would testify to his humility and to the generosity of his heart. Simply, he was always willing to spend time with those who were interested in his craft. It was his way to acknowledged he had been blessed.

A Kentucky native who ended up in Birmingham after a hitch in the military, Jim moved to Montgomery to be the sports director at WCOV-TV, a minor player in the Montgomery television market. Truth be told, in the 1970s, people in Montgomery watched rival WSFA, which first had Carl Stephens, and then Phil Snow as their sports directors.

In Montgomery, Jim was known as the guy who did the public address announcing for Montgomery Rebels games at Paterson Field, and the dude stuck with announcing YMCA Pee Wee football games and wrestling on television. But Jim was always working. He did some football play-by-play for local high schools and basketball work for small colleges for a radio station the television station owned. It led to a big break – the one that defined his career.

Colonial Broadcasting, then the communications arm of the now-defunct bank, won the bid over WAPI in Birmingham to hold the broadcasting rights for Auburn football. The old crew of Paul Ellen, Mike Kolen, and Phil Snow were out. Jim and Pat Sullivan were in.

Ultimately, Jim was best known for his signature call “Touchdown Auburn!” It was something evolved over time. Once he figured out that it irritated Alabama fans as much as it elated Auburn fans, well, that was just fine with him.

Ask any Auburn football fan: they will have their favorite Fyffe football calls. Here are just a few of his notables:

• Nix to Sanders, 1993, vs. Alabama
  
• Nix to Sanders, 1994, vs. Florida
  
• Burger to Tillman, 1987, vs. Georgia Tech
  
• Slack to Wasden, 1989, vs. Florida
  
• Bye Bye Bo!, 1985, vs. Georgia Tech
  
• I’m Headin’ to Toomers, 2002, vs. Alabama

Sadly, the Voice left us too soon. Jim died in May 2003. He had accompanied Tommy Tuberville to a banquet at Prattville. Shortly after arriving at his home in Montgomery, he collapsed due to a brain aneurysm. Jim, a long-time diabetic, never regained consciousness. He passed away the following morning. He was 57.

In his memory, Auburn University created the Jim Fyffe Diabetes Research Fund.