When listeners tuned in to 90.5 (WSNC-FM) on Oct. 20, they may have noticed something missing from the Rams’ sports broadcast.
Maurice “Big Mo” Stanfield, Winston-Salem State’s play-by-play announcer since the 2006 season, was recently dismissed.
Sources speculate that Stanfield’s firing stemmed from on-air comments made during the broadcast of the Oct. 6 Circle City Classic. During the broadcast, Stanfield said he felt “unappreciated,” and that he was uncertain of his future at the station.
“This might be my last game,” Stanfield said on-air during the game.
Elvin Jenkins, WSNC station manager, confirmed today that Stanfield has been let go. He said Stanfield’s comments played a role in his dismissal, but they were not the sole reason he was let go.”
That did come into play, but there were some other things that came into play, as well,” Jenkins said. He declined to elaborate, simply saying, “We’ve decided to go in another direction.”
Ben Donnelly, WSNC station operations manager, joined Ted Fichialos in the broadcast booth for the game against Bethune Cookman. The station is in the process of searching for a permanent replacement, Jenkins said.
Fichialos, who had done color commentary for the previous six games, has been doing play-by-play commentary since Stanfield’s departure. Donnelly will temporarily serve as color commentator.
“We feel real good with Ted and Ben,” Jenkins said.
Stanfield began working at WSSU in 2006,working with L.A. Batchelor last season and Fichialos this year.
Stanfield, who said he has sought legal counsel in the matter, said he is limited in what he can say about the situation. He did tell The News Argus, however, that he is disappointed about how his tenure ended at the station.
“The one thing I enjoyed was the rapport I had with the athletic department,” Stanfield said. “I just wish I had that same rapport at the radio station.”