“Whaddaya got, Loran?” was a phrase made famous by former Georgia football play-by-play announcer Larry Munson, who would call down to Loran Smith on the sidelines, asking for an update beginning in the 1974 season.
Smith, who served as the sideline reporter for the Georgia Radio Network, gave injury news or updates from the coaching staff about what was happening on any given Saturday in Athens.
Now, if someone were to ask the 87-year-old reporter what he’s got, he’ll be able to respond “a hall of fame honor.”
Smith will be inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame Saturday evening. The legendary Georgia football sideline reporter will be honored with the four other inductees at the Sandy Spring Performing Arts Center beginning at 5 p.m.
Among his accomplishments as a journalist was originating the Georgia Radio Network’s pregame Tailgate Show back in 1984. Smith was the Bulldogs’ first sideline reporter for Georgia football and originated the first live football coaches’ locker room radio show after games.
Smith’s weekly radio show, "Sports Conversations", currently airs on around 50 radio stations across Georgia. His daily show, “Two Minute Drill,” runs on more than 30 stations statewide. His shows have featured appearances by sports greats like Arnold Palmer, Herschel Walker and Nick Saban, among others.
Smith has served as a columnist for the Athens Banner-Herald for decades and has authored or co-authored 17 books on Georgia football, fly fishing and tailgating food. He also wrote the first five Masters Annuals, which is the official publication of the Augusta National Golf Club.
The Wrightsville native graduated from the Grady College of Journalism in 1962. He served as captain of the Georgia track and field team in 1960 and was the program’s MVP his senior year.
The other members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 are:
- Dallas McCade from Atlanta’s New Country 101.FIVE
- Greg Street, whose show “6 O’Clock Jump Off” on Atlanta’s V-103 served as a launchpad for Southern artists including OutKast, T.I. and Ludacris
- Joel Williamson, the longtime morning show host on WDUN in Gainesville, Y-106 in Atlanta, and WCON throughout Northeast GA
- Marcy Williams, a trusted news voice for 95.5 WSB since the 1980s
