Jonathan Bragwell, voice of the Hartselle Tigers

Lauren Estes-Velez

Hartselle Enquirer

A 22-year teaching veteran, Jonathan Bragwell looks forward to school starting back each year not just for his 5th grade social studies classes, but for Bragwell-fall means football.

Although he’s known as a fun and interactive teacher, his voice is recognized far from just the classroom. Bragwell has been the voice of the Hartselle Tigers for 15 years going into his 16th season announcing football games, and has been the basketball announcer since 2007. Bragwell said the way he came to be the public address announcer was interesting to say the least.

“In the fall of 2001, my friend Russell Moore had recently graduated from Hartselle High School and was a student at Wallace State with aspirations of attending Auburn University to pursue a journalism degree,” Bragwell said. “Russell asked me to help him with Hartselle High basketball radio broadcasting. He handled the play by play and I did color commentary. One basketball game in January of 2002, I noticed Superintendent Dr. Lee Hartsell and Principal Jerry Reeves sitting in the bleachers at the Pettey Center having a conversation while looking at me up in the balcony. This was disconcerting to say the least. After the game, my suspicions that I was the topic of their conversation were confirmed. Dr. Hartsell informed me that Coach John Cochran was giving up the microphone at JP Cain Stadium after 14 seasons. They were looking for a replacement and he wanted to know if I was interested. I told him that I was ‘possibly interested’ and he told me ‘you’re hired’!”

Since that time, Bragwell held the title of being the Voice of the Tigers but the road of memories only continues to grow, starting with the first night behind the microphone.

“My first game to announce was a region game against my dad’s alma mater, the Russellville Golden Tigers,” Bragwell said. “It was a big crowd, a big game. A big region game.  Was I nervous? You bet! After the coin toss, I announced who had won the toss, who was kicking, and who was receiving. In my nervous state, I didn’t quite know what to say next. Then the following words came out of my mouth, “LET’S PLAY SOME FOOTBALL!” This totally went against the professionalism that Coach Cochran advised, but the crowd loved it. I have announced this phrase after every coin toss since then.”

Bragwell said he previously had gained some knowledge and suggestions from Coach Cochran previously to the first night of announcing. He said some of the advice he gave him he still implements to this day.

“Sportsmanship, remaining objective, having a ‘just the facts’ mentality, understanding the rules of the game, understanding official signals, professionalism, and recognizing the kids are just a few of the topics he discussed with me,” Bragwell said. “He also told me about several pet peeves he had developed from listening to other PA announcers at other schools. I have developed many of those same pet peeves.”

After unintentionally coining his coined phrase to start the game off, he also managed to start another routine in which he continued for several seasons.

“At the time of my first season announcing, the speakers for the PA system for were behind the goal post of the north endzone (those speakers are still there today, but were disconnected when the new speakers were installed atop the press box),” Bragwell said. “Coach Cochran had warned me that there would be about a one second delay between the time I spoke and the time the sound of my voice would come out of those speakers in the distance. He assured me that I would ‘get used to it.’ The one second delay confused me greatly that first game. Judge Glenn Thompson (who works in the press box filming games) very bluntly told me at halftime of that first game, ‘You sound like you are drunk!’ Not exactly the encouraging compliment that I was needing for my efforts in my very first game. He then asked me if the delay was distracting me and I honestly told him it was. Judge Thompson made the suggestion that saved my ‘career’. He suggested I get some earmuffs like the kind that are worn at shooting ranges. The next morning, I made that purchase and those ear muffs enabled me to speak on the PA system for the next few seasons and not sound like Otis from the Andy Griffith Show.  One of my happiest moments was when the new speakers were installed on the press box and that allowed me to begin announcing games without the delay and without the earmuffs.”

Although the need for the earmuffs was fixed, his memory making journey of being in the press box stayed. Bragwell said every season has something that has happened that stands distinctive, but there were three separate instances that will always stick out to him.

“My most heart wrenching moment came on Fri., Nov. 17, 2006. Hartselle was hosting the Athens Golden Eagles in the Quarter-Finals of the 5A State Playoffs. The play still plays over and over again in my mind,” Bragwell said. “The game was a very close game, but Hartselle seemed to be in control. The Tigers were containing Athens’ very talented offense through the majority of the four quarters. The game was winding down, then it happened. The Hartselle defender deflects an out-pattern pass attempt straight into the air as an Athens receiver runs under the ball and takes it down the Hartselle sideline for what proved to be the winning score. After that moment, I had the most difficult time emotionally to finish announcing the game. I had to remind myself to remain professional and I had a job to do. What made this more difficult was that Hartselle had beaten Athens in the regular season. Athens went on to defeat J.O. Johnson (another team Hartselle had beaten in the regular season) in the Semi-Finals and Eufala in the State Championship.”

“My favorite announcement came on Fri., Nov. 25, 2011. Hartselle was hosting the Briarwood Christian Lions in the 5A State Semi-Finals for the second year in a row,” Bragwell said. “In 2010, Hartselle lost to Briarwood in overtime. Remembering the previous year when I announced Briarwood would be moving on the State Championship game, I had lots of joy in my voice this night as I announced “Hartselle Tiger Fans, We are Going to the ‘Ship!”  On Thur., Dec. 1, 2011, Hartselle went on to defeat the Vigor Wolves at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the school’s first football State Championship.”

“Last, on Sept. 4, 2009, the Press Box at JP Cain Stadium was dedicated and named the Bill Evans Press Box,” Bragwell said. “Mr. Bill Evans has been filming Morgan County/Hartselle High School Football for over 50 years. After the dedication, I was trying to figure out an appropriate way to incorporate the “Bill Evans Press Box” into the pregame announcements as I welcomed fans to JP Cain Stadium. I really couldn’t welcome fans to JP Cain Stadium and Bill Evans Press Box because not everyone was entering the Press Box. Finally, I thought of a way. I now start pre game announcements with ‘Good Evening, Ladies & Gentlemen, The Official Bill Evans Press Box Time is….’ Shortly after I started the ‘Bill Evans Press Box Time’ announcement, Mr. Evans pulled me aside and told me ‘I know most folks don’t care when you say something about the ‘Bill Evans Press Box’, but it means the world to me’. At that moment, I knew I had chosen the correct way to implement ‘Bill Evans Press Box’ into the pre game announcements. I love announcing the football games at JP Cain Stadium. I want to continue announcing as long as Hartselle City Schools and the Lord will allow me. I am also excited  that my son whom my wife was expecting during my first season in 2002 will be marching and playing trombone in the Hartselle High Band as a freshman this season.”

Although many people locally know him for his voice, at home, he’s known as “dad.”

My wife, Sarah, is the Library Media Specialist at F.E. Burleson Elementary School,” Bragwell said. “I am very impressed her ability and work ethic as a wonderful teacher. She is so creative and has always been so supportive of me in everything that I do. We have been married for 20 years and I love her dearly.Our son, Ty, is 14 years old and is a freshman at Hartselle High School. Ty plays trombone in the HHS Marching Band and is a manager for the Hartselle High Basketball team. Our daughter, Terra, is 12 years old and is a 7th grader at Hartselle Junior High. Terra loves acting in community theater, is a very talented artist and is starting Beginning Band at HJHS. We also have a 14 month old dog (Maltipoo) named Ryelee.”

Twenty of Bragwell’s 22 years of teacher have been for Hartselle City Schools, but his first two years as a teacher started in Decatur.

“I served two years as fifth grade teacher at Leon Sheffield Elementary in Decatur, 12 years as fourth grade teacher at F.E. Burleson Elementary and the next year moved up to a fifth grade teacher,” Bragwell said. “I’m currently starting my fifth year as fifth grade Social Studies teacher at Hartselle Intermediate School. This school year, I am also teaching one class of 6th Grade Social Studies, in addition to all my 5th Grade Social Studies Classes.”

Before the new F.E. Burleson school was built, Bragwell holds onto to many funny, loud memories.

“I remember teaching fourth grade in a portable classroom my first two years at the old F.E. Burleson Elementary,” Bragwell said. “The portable was parked on the same side of the school as the railroad tracks. I would have to stop teaching for a couple of moments every time a train would come through Hartselle. Which happens a lot, as everyone in Hartselle knows.”

Bragwell says every year he sets the same goals for himself, they’re pretty simple but also very impactful if followed.

“I want to show love, compassion, and empathy for my students,” he said. “I also want to create experiences that engage every student and teach the importance of work ethic and perseverance. I also want to foster a love of history and civic-mindedness in every student. Last, I want to make learning fun. My career goal is to serve as a principal of an elementary or middle school.”

Although Bragwell has committed to teaching displayed through his 22 years serving Morgan County, he didn’t go to college initially to be a teacher.

“After I graduated from Fultondale High School in 1992, I enrolled at UAB as a pre-business major not really knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up,” he said. “As I taught Bible classes at church and summer camps, I had so many people tell me I would be a good teacher. My sister, Vicki, who worked as a substitute teacher at the time, strongly encouraged me to become a teacher.  I decided to change my major to education. Since I still had a business mindset at the time, I looked for the most marketable field in education. I found out that high school math teachers were in high demand. I walked in the Education office at UAB, determined to seek counsel in becoming a high school math teacher. Dr. Stephen Underwood, who soon became my advisor, steered me to Elementary Education as a major. Dr. Underwood informed me that Elementary Education for men was just as marketable. He told me that elementary schools across the state were looking for more men to become elementary school teachers to help serve as “father figures” to younger children who don’t have a father figure at home. It turns out that Dr. Underwood was correct! My principal at Leon Sheffield told me that she was looking for a man to fill the 5th grade teaching vacancy. I have found myself to be a good ‘father figure’ for many children over the last 21 years.”

Bragwell also serves as a deacon and elementary curriculum Bible Class director at Westview church of Christ in Hartselle.

“My wife and I also work as camp counselors at Rustic Youth Camp in Belgreen, Ala.,” he said. “All these activities, along with school, keep us very busy. My wife and I have been a part of the Hartselle Community since 1998. We absolutely love it here! Go Tigers!”