Broadcaster’s Contract Not Renewed by Fullerton

John Rebensdorf, the voice of Cal State Fullerton’s athletic teams for the past four years, will no longer broadcast Titan games as the school has decided not to renew the contract of J.R. Sports, Leanne Grotke, acting athletic director, said Wednesday.

“It was a difficult decision, but we believe that we have better options on the horizon,” Grotke said.

Rebensdorf, who has single-handedly filled the role of everything from executive producer to ad salesman to play-by-play announcer for J.R. Sports’ radio broadcasts of Titan football, basketball and baseball games, was stunned by the decision.

“I found out through the grapevine and then Leanne finally told me I was out,” said Rebensdorf, who has been accused of being the Titans’ No. 1 fan over the years.

Rebensdorf even managed to accentuate the positive in the lean years and was in his glory when the Titans’ went to the California Bowl and made an NIT appearance in 1983 and won the College World Series in ’84.

“She said it was a dollars and cents decision,” Rebensdorf said. “But I didn’t even get a chance to counterbid. I figured I’d only get a one-year contract so the new athletic director could make a decision next year.”

Rebensdorf will broadcast six more Fullerton baseball games this season.

Grotke said Fullerton was currently “exploring other options,” and the top candidate appears to be ROWW Enterprises, a company headed by UC Irvine sports information director Bob Olson and former broadcaster Wayne Wilk. ROWW Enterprises is currently negotiating with a number of other Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. schools over radio rights.

“We haven’t signed a contract with them yet,” Grotke said, “and I think I should reserve comment until after an agreement is reached.”

Olson and Wilk were unavailable for comment.