His voice booms through Franklin Field as he calls the yards, touchdowns, and field goal conversions at Penn football games. He has been the man behind the microphone since 2010. His name: John C.T. Alexander, a 1987 College graduate, and the voice of the Red and Blue.
Alexander says he “grew up on campus.” As a third-generation Penn alumnus, following in the footsteps of his grandfather 1924 Wharton graduate Curtis G. Tripner and his father 1956 Wharton graduate C.T. Alexander, he was around Locust Walk from an early age. He recounts attending his grandfather’s 50-year reunion in the quad in 1974 when he was just ten years old.
His first memories at Franklin Field started before his time as its in-stadium announcer. Alexander's father was the “Voice of Franklin Field” before him, starting the job in 1960 after graduating from Penn when his friend referred him to the position.
“Little did he think he’d be doing it for fifty years,” Alexander said.
Alexander described growing up around the Penn football program, “going to the game before [he could] remember,” at about three years old. He would sit in the stands with his older sisters, supervised by the stadium security, as they sat in the top stands right below their dad in the press box. When he was 12 years old, Alexander began going into the box and spotting for his dad, providing an extra set of eyes to catch every detail on the field.
"I couldn’t wait to be allowed to go up in the press box," Alexander said.
Alexander wasn't just a Penn football fan though. He also grew up watching Penn basketball games, recognizing these moments as pivotal in shaping him to become a sports fan. He said that the Palestra and Franklin Field are "two of the best places to watch both basketball and football in the country.”
These early interactions with Penn led Alexander a simple conclusion.
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"There was only one place I wanted to go to school," he said.
When he came to Penn in 1983, he worked in the sports information office during his freshman year, and later became a student athletic trainer, traveling with Penn’s lacrosse and football teams. After his father decided to no longer continue with his role, Alexander tried out and began announcing the Quakers' football games.
Reflecting on the position, Alexander noted the challenges posed by the home crowd: the pressure to not make a mistake or mispronounce a player's name.
Many other elements of the game have changed for Alexander from his early days at Franklin Field to his work today. He cited mic-ing up the referees as a pivotal change in the game as they now share the call with the whole stadium, helping him catch all calls. He supplements their statements, adding additional information to their calls to ensure that fans are fully informed.
He also addressed the additional monetary investments in sports, including the NIL and transfer portal, as having large impacts to today’s game. There have also been structural changes to the game such the inclusion of freshman athletes in the game and the creation of spring football. Further, the creation of social media has allowed him to develop deep relationships with players, showing them support.
Through the years, Alexander has greatly enjoyed watching exciting players on the field, from 1975 College graduate and running back Adolph ‘Beep Beep’ Bellizeare in the 1970s, 1988 graduate and running back Chris Flynn in the 1980s, and 2013 Wharton graduate and linebacker Brandon Copeland. He is also appreciative to Rich Kahn who has “been a mentor to him” and has helped provide advice on the game.
Alexander’s favorite play he has witnessed as the public address announcer was watching sophomore running back Malachi Hosley rip off his longest play from scrimmage with a 96 yard run, beating out 1983 Wharton graduate and quarterback Gary Vura.
This year is particularly significant for Alexander as it will mark his 15th anniversary as the Quakers' announcer. Add in his father's 50-year tenure, and John Alexander's family have been calling games at Franklin Field for 65 years, half the historic venue's 130-year history.
Beyond his involvement with Penn football, Alexander sits on the graduate board of the Friars senior society and is a part of the James Brister Society. But at his core, Alexander is the consummate Quaker fan.
“Franklin Field is my home away from home," Alexander said. He has a miniature Franklin Field statue on his desk alongside a coach Dan Staffieri bobblehead. When asked if he had a message for the Penn community, Alexander's answer was predictable.
“Support your football team.”
