The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, C.S.C., Award - 2020: Don Criqui ’62

2020: Don Criqui ’62

In recognition of his outstanding career as one of the longest-tenured sports broadcasters in American history, including a half-century of announcing college and NFL games, Don Criqui ’62 was presented with this award.

Criqui’s career in broadcasting began as a student at Notre Dame. As a Communication Arts major, Criqui learned under Professors Thomas Stritch and Edward Fisher. Tapes of his Notre Dame basketball broadcasts and an audition led Criqui to join WSBT in South Bend as Sports Director less than a year after graduating. Two years later, Frank Gifford brought Criqui to New York’s WCBS-TV, and a tape of a Notre Dame vs. Bradley basketball game landed him the job as the radio and TV voice of the New York Knicks.

In 1967, CBS Sports named Criqui an NFL play-by-play broadcaster. He would spend 47 consecutive seasons broadcasting the NFL for CBS and NBC. He is the longest-tenured NFL broadcaster on network television and was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003, as the winner of the Pete Rozelle Award.

Criqui was the radio voice of Notre Dame football for 15 seasons. He also teamed with John Gambling on WOR radio in New York. For 20 straight years, “Rambling with Gambling” had the most listeners of any radio station in America.

Criqui, and his wife, Molly, are the parents of four sons and one daughter and have 15 grandchildren. Three are continuing the family tradition as students at Notre Dame, with hopefully more to follow.

'Notre Dame’s Communication Arts program has been the pathway to my career in broadcasting. You’re prepared to win when you come from Notre Dame. Thank you so very much for this honor."