Don Essig is as much part of the tapestry at the University of Oregon as Nike, Steve Prefontaine, and their classic logo that incorporates their football (Autzen Stadium) and track (Hayward Field) facilities.

Essig just capped his 47th year behind the mic for the Ducks, and in that time has missed only two games, one of which was earlier this season.

Sports Illustrated: Campus Rush Legendary Oregon Public Address Announcer Don Essig Is Still Going Strong After 47 Years Behind the Mic

When Essig did not announce the Oregon-Cal game on Nov. 7 this year due to being ill, he received eight phone calls from friends wondering what was going on and several fans in attendance sent out tweets that read, “Where is Don Essig?”

In the piece posted above, Essig notes something that a lot of long-time P. A. announcers begin to realize at some point in their career when he says, “Everyone knows the voice, but I can get off the elevator after the game and all these people, hardly any of them know me.”

The Oregonian: Canzano: Podcast with the voice of the Oregon Ducks, Don Essig

Essig is know to many in the Pacific Northwest for the catch phrase before Oregon football games, “It never rains at Autzen Stadium.”  If you’ve ever lived in Oregon, you know it rains, and rains a lot.  So it would seem this phrase, born in the 80’s when school administration banned umbrellas in the stadium, would be more of a “ha-ha” moment, than the truth.  After the banishment, a streak of 11 years began without rain.  By that point, the saying became as much part of Autzen Stadium as the lights, pressbox, seats and field.

Essig has stated that he plans to remain the voice of the Ducks until “it’s not fun anymore”.  And since he spent seven years prior to the 47 at Oregon announcing high school basketball, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.