Fresno State and Fresno Christian students participate in Paul Leoffler’s interview with Ted Leitner, Dec. 4.

Ted Leitner was the voice of the San Diego Padres  for 40 years and is the current voice of the San Diego State Aztecs. With the Padres, he commentated on only baseball whereas now, with the Aztecs, he covers both basketball and football.

The “Voice of the Bulldogs,” Paul Leoffler knew Leitner through the sports commentating world and found himself announceing side by side with the legend. Loeffler has been announcing for Fresno State football since 2009, basketball since 2008 and baseball since 2001. Believing in the impact of mentoriship Loeffler aims to inspire students who want to be play by play announcers. 

 “Hearing someone share candidly about their own journey helps open student’s eyes to their own possibilities,” Loeffler said. “It fuels imagination and drive.”

Ted Leitner is from Bronx, NY and moved to Yonkers, NY when he was eight, staying there until he graduated high school until he moved south for collage. He attended Oklahoma State, with plans to be a walk on football star. At the time, the football announcer for Oklahoma State, Bob Carpenter, was a seinor. Carpenter was in serch of an apprentice, whom he could mentor and prepare to take on his responsibility once he graduated. Leitner found his nitch and soon filled that position.

“This was the greatest thing to ever happen to me,” Leitner said.

Leitner talked about how to overcome public speaking by being yourself and the rest will follow. He encouraged aspiring reporters to take every opportunity that they are given. Lietner was given chances and took each one and highly recomends doing that too. To wrap up the interwiew he emphisized the importance of being a good story teller, simple explination of the games play-by-plays, as well as good pronunciation in order to flourish as a sports journalist.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Selah Neal

Paul Leoffler interviews Ted Leitner on his experiences as a play-by-play announcer

To see more from the feather check out Alumni Spotlight: Family of firefighters serve alongside one another

 and San Joaquin Valley Town Hall features Nate Mook.

To see more photos, visit the media page.