That's a real bummer. When I went to home games as a kid (nearly every home game from 92-02) his opening "Hello Dawg Fans" always got me pumped up, and always set off the crowd. Its been a few years since I've been to a game (left the state for grad school), but I can still hear that in my head. He'll definitely be missed.

"Good-bye, Lou!"

Thanks for the years of service Lou! Can we win one for Lou? On a sarcastic note, Lou eye's are still good and watching the Huskies against USC might be more than he can take. Just kidding - go Dawgs.

Can't wait to hear the final, "Hello Dawg Fans" the crowd should be going crazy. Lets hope we can make one more lasting memory for Lou and pull off the miracle win.

that really sucks.

It just isn't right for him to leave like this; something smells fishy. He deserves a year-long send-off.

I have been listening to him for thirty plus years now and I still get goose bumps every time I hear "Hello Dawg Fans!" Classy choice to step down now, and I hope he gets free admission to the games for life. The UW owes it to him for his years of service and for being part of what makes Husky sports so special.

Man, I'm sad! That is a complete bummer. I cannot believe this. I hope Eric Radovich will carry on the tradition of "Hello Dawg Fans!" I've enjoyed Radovich's work at the arena. He is definitely a great replacement. My Father and I starting going to games 20 years ago, and the #1 quote we use to get fired up between April and August is, "Hello Dawg Fans."

I haven't been on here all week because I'm still trying to digest all of our issues we had this week against UCLA. I'm refusing to watch the tape until Friday late night, the last thing I will do before getting to the stadium at 9am on Saturday. I will have my Pac 10 Predictions later today.

GO DAWGS!!!

should've said "twenty plus" above as obviously I was not in the press box as a little kid.

The other thing I used to love about Lou was when he would announce the scores "backwards" (e.g., USC 23 ... (pause) Arizona, 28) usually to thunderous cheers at the announcement of some big upset.

Lou started as the PA announcer during my freshman year at the U-Dub - 1985. I started going to games in 1981, so I remember the transition from Wendell Broyles to Lou. So the torch is passed again - in what should be a memorable game if only for the 1960 retro uniforms the Dawgs will wear.

Wow, the end of an era!
I can't believe Saturday will be the last time I hear Lou's "Hello, Dog Fans". I guess I'll have to get there early, so I can stand and clap when I respond, "Hello Lou!".

Great announcers are hard to come by. There are some real duds in the Pac-10 (Oregon's, Stanford's, WSU's, to name some obvious ones). Lou, however, is simply awesome. We will miss him, for sure!

Wonder if he'll end with "Goodbye Dawg Fans". Here here... we'll miss ya Lou

Lou...thanks for the class act. Great job!

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I think he should have retired about 5 years ago. He was great 15 years ago, but in the past few years it's like he isn't even watching the same game.

I hope he's OK, and glad he's stepping down before things get even worse.

the words "jake locker keeping the ball" just wont sound right saturday.

This news actually really saddens me. Since I first followed the Huskies as a 12-year old in 1986, Lou's "Hello, Dawg Fans!" has always put a big smile on my face. You will be missed, Lou...you will be missed.

"So long DAWG FAN!" Lou, you will be greatly missed.

We have just recently re-purchased season tickets. Originally we had them from '89-'04 and I remember always hurrying from the Metro bus to the stadium if we were late in order to hear "Hello Dawg Fans" before the game started. It always gave me chills and signified the start of the game! (We only missed it once).

Anyway now that we are back in the fold, so to speak, hearing the greeting was still the highlight. We wish Lou well and hope that everything is ok beyond the hearing issue mentioned. I guess I can take my time getting from the bus to the stadium from now on.

Best always, Lou! Enjoy retirement! You'll be missed.
Malibu

how about recording his signature "Hello Dawg Fans" and play it before each kickoff!!!!!

Lets get creative here.......

Out here in DC when ever I see a husky I say to them "Hello Dawg Fans!" Lou's voice and that siren are engrained into my psyche and for the rest of my life I will be able to here that phrase the way he says it. We'll miss ya lou.

Many of you only know Lou as the voice of Husky Football, but his ties to the Purple and Gold go much deeper. In 1958 Lou was part of Husky Crew Varsity 8, winning races both here in the states and overseas including a race against the Russians in Moscow (www.huskycrew.com/1950). After more than 50 years of being a Husky I am pretty sure he bleeds purple and gold.

Lou, we wish you the best and you will be missed!

sammy, I love that idea.

I'm so glad I will be at the game this weekend to hear it one last time. You saying "Hello Dawg Fans" has been something I have looked forward to hearing every game since I heard for the first time at the age of 8 during the '93 season. You will be missed.

GOOD BYE LOU!

i agree with sammy, they should play Lou at the opening of every game.

I have been a husky fan all of my life, and all my life Lou has been announcing UW games.

I graduated last year and am now at law school, I flew back for Boise State and for Ohio State, but I can't believe I will miss the last time Lou says "hello dawg fans". I would give anything to be there.

Thanks for all the memories Lou - you will always be a big part of husky football to me.

"goodbye dawg fans"

Interesting on the GoHuskies website that two of Lou's fondest memories are beating the Trojans. Chris Chandler "the drive," and Todd Marijuanavich "All I saw was purple." I bet USC was favored in both of those games, if not by double digits. Go Dawgs.

That was actually a pretty bad USC team in 1985 (the Chandler game) going 6-6 and having already lost 37-3 to Notre Dame and 14-6 to Cal, so UW might have been favored in that one. USC was favored in 1990 but not by 21 points, I'm sure of that.

I am getting pumped for the game. Get to the game early so you don't miss "Hello Dawg Fans"

I only wish we weren't wearing our old ND look-alike jerseys for this game. This must have been planned waaaaaaay before the season, right? Seeing the Huskies in ND jerseys is going to make a few of us sick to our stomachs. When they put the "W" on the helmet in about '76, and added the striping, and the true purple colors, etc, that was an awesome improvement. I barely remember it, but I have a Sixkiller photo in the domer jersey, and it ain't pretty.

you know what's great about lou? he transcends reality.

lou could call every name on the field wrong and still...the fans know he's a dawg fan to the bone (pun intended). this is what fans actually like - the emotional investment we get in sports through conduits like lou gellerman.

he could call jake locker cary conklin for all i care - because i know lou loves what's happening on the field in purple and gold.

cheers lou and goodbye dawg fan.

The unis may not have been pretty in the Owens era but those teams knew how to hit and left a lasting memory on every opponent. I remember a Nebraska @ UW game in the early 1960's that the Cornhuskers won in the end but were so beat up that after the game they vowed they would never play the Huskies again. Eventually they did (ala 1991) even though the James Gang's generally lived up to the toughness of Owen's teams. Current Dawgs could learn a lot by emulating that philosophy.
Best regards to Lou and thank you from a long-time Dawg Fan. As a tribute to him the tradition of "Hello Dawg Fans" should continue, whether a recording by him or by the new PA announcer. What better way to honor him?

Hello and Goodbye Lou. Thank you for a great run and great memories. Now it's time to welcome a new era with Husky football. Hello Eric Radovich welcome to the game.