NC State play-by-play announcer Gary Hahn is suspended indefinitely for ‘illegal aliens’ comment

A North Carolina State University football play-by-play announcer has been suspended indefinitely for an on-air comment during the Mayo Bowl. 

Longtime commentator Gary Hahn has been taken off the airwaves by Learfield Communications – NC State’s broadcast rightsholder – after referencing an abundance of ‘illegal aliens down in El Paso.’ 

‘Amongst all the illegal aliens down in El Paso, it’s UCLA 14 and Pittsburgh 6…’ 

Longtime North Carolina State University commentator Gary Hahn was suspended on Friday

Hahn was making the comment in relation to the plethora of migrants pouring through the into US via El Paso, TX.

‘Learfield has suspended Wolfpack Sports Network play-by-play announcer Gary Hahn from his agreement indefinitely following comments made during today’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl radio broadcast,’ Wolfpack Sports Properties general manager Kyle Winchester said in a statement obtained by The News & Observer.

Known as the ‘Voice of the Wolfpack’, Hahn has been the radio commentator for NC State football and basketball games since 1990-91. 

The Wolfpack were defeated by Maryland at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, NC. Saturday

He was the North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year in 2011 and 2020. 

Social media seemed to largely disapprove of the suspension, questioning why Hahn had been removed for a ‘factually correct’ comment.

Hahn has previously worked on various sports radio networks covering the University of Louisville, Ohio State University, and the University of Alabama. 

Prior to his arrival in Raleigh he also worked as a sports reporter/anchor for NBC Radio Network in New York City and WLWI-TV in Indianapolis.  

Twitter mostly stood in support of Hahn despite Learfield Communications suspending him

The 2022 season ended with a whimper for NC State (8-5) with a brutal 16-12 loss to the Terps