A New Voice for the Deafening Roar: Dixon McMakin Named Public Address Announcer for LSU’s Tiger Stadium
BATON ROUGE, La. — The voice that will guide over 102,000 fans through the sacred rituals of Saturday nights in Death Valley has been found. Louisiana State University and Athletics Director Scott Woodward announced today that Dixon McMakin has been named the new public address announcer for Tiger Stadium, concluding a extensive and highly competitive nationwide search. McMakin succeeds the legendary Dan Borne, whose iconic baritone and poetic flair defined the stadium’s atmosphere for nearly four decades.
The decision, finalized after a series of auditions that included mock game scripts and pressure tests in the empty stadium, places McMakin in one of the most coveted and scrutinized roles in all of college sports. He will be the narrator for the pageantry, passion, and pandemonium that defines LSU football, tasked with being informative, authoritative, and a seamless part of the game day experience.
“This isn’t just a job; it’s a stewardship,” said McMakin, a lifelong Baton Rouge resident and LSU alumnus. “Tiger Stadium isn’t a concrete structure; it’s a living, breathing entity. The voice from the press box isn’t just making announcements; it’s helping to conduct the symphony of sound that makes this place magical. To be chosen for that is the honor of a lifetime, and I approach it with immense respect for the tradition and an incredible amount of excitement for the future.”
McMakin, 38, is not a stranger to the LSU community. A graduate of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, he has spent the last 15 years working in Baton Rouge in media and communications, most recently as the director of public relations for a major local nonprofit. His voice, a clear, resonant, and warm tenor that carries a natural authority without sounding overbearing, is familiar to many from his years as a part-time radio host and his frequent work narrating local documentaries and commercials.
“We were looking for more than just a great voice. We were looking for a great LSU voice,” said Athletics Director Scott Woodward. “Dixon embodies that. He understands the nuance, the history, and the emotion of this program. In his audition, he demonstrated a perfect blend of professionalism and passion. He can calmly deliver a crucial safety announcement and then, moments later, channel the energy of the crowd to amplify a pivotal third-down stop. He is the right person to honor the legacy of those who came before him and to build his own.”
That legacy is a long and storied one. The role of the Tiger Stadium PA announcer has been held by only a handful of men since the 1950s. But it was Dan Borne, who held the post from 1984 to 2021, who elevated it to an art form. Borne’s pre-game recitation of “Hill 1, Hill 2…” and his famous sign-off, “Have a good night… from Death Valley,” became as integral to the experience as the Golden Band from Tigerland or the smell of jambalaya drifting from the tailgates. His retirement left enormous shoes to fill.
The university conducted a deliberate search process, receiving over 1,200 applications. The field was narrowed to a dozen finalists who were brought in for live auditions inside the hallowed grounds of Tiger Stadium.
“It was surreal,” McMakin recalled of his audition. “Standing in that box, looking out at 102,000 empty seats, and knowing you have to somehow summon the energy that usually fills them. I closed my eyes for a second and just listened to the echoes—the ghosts of games past. Then I took a breath and spoke. It was the most intimidating and thrilling moment of my professional life.”
His audition tape, obtained by the university’s press department, reveals a performer with masterful control. He delivers standard PA fare—penalty announcements, sponsor acknowledgements—with crisp clarity. But it’s in the moments of celebration where a distinct, excited vibrancy enters his tone, a quality that clearly separated him from other contenders.
The responsibilities of the role extend far beyond football Saturdays. McMakin will also serve as the primary announcer for LSU baseball games at Alex Box Stadium and for LSU gymnastics meets at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, making him the unifying vocal thread across the entire athletics department.
For fans, the PA announcer is a subliminal guide. A good one is unnoticed, seamlessly integrating into the background. A great one, however, becomes part of the emotional fabric of the event, elevating big moments without ever making the announcement about themselves.
Longtime season ticket holder Marie Fontenot, who has held seats in Section 309 for 45 years, believes the choice is crucial. “You notice when it’s wrong—if the voice is tinny, or too slow, or gets too hype for a five-yard gain,” she said. “But when it’s right, it’s perfect. It’s the voice of your family, your home. From everything I’ve heard, this young man sounds like he has the right tone. He sounds like one of us.”
McMakin’s first official test will be the annual National L Club Spring Game on April 20th, a controlled environment that will allow him to work out any kinks in the system and with his new team in the press box. His regular-season debut will come on September 7th, when the Tigers take on Nicholls State University under the lights.
He admits to feeling the pressure but is focusing on preparation. He has been studying tapes of past games, not just from Borne’s era but from announcers across the sports world, noting how the best in the business pace themselves and pick their spots to add emphasis.
“My philosophy is simple: serve the game,” McMakin stated. “The stars are the young men on the field, the band on the sidelines, and the fans in the stands. My job is to be a conduit for them, to ensure everything runs smoothly and that the energy in that stadium is harnessed and amplified at the right moments. I want my voice to be a familiar, comforting, and exciting part of the greatest show on earth.”
He paused, a smile evident in his voice even over the phone. “And I’ve already been practicing the most important line: ‘That is another… LSU… FIRST DOWN!’ I think I’ve got the cadence down.”
Come September, a new chapter in the long, loud history of Death Valley will begin. The roar will be the same, but the voice guiding it will be a new one, ready to etch its own signature into the soundtrack of LSU football.
