Tucker the new voice of Tiger radio

During his five seasons in the National Football League, offensive lineman Ross Tucker '01 crashed his helmet into opposing players and boomed them into the turf. Now, the recently retired Tiger is making noise in quite a different way — as a broadcaster on the radio.

Since suffering a career-ending neck injury, the six foot, four inch, 300-lb. right guard has returned to his alma mater to make his mark over the airwaves. Tucker is the new color commentator for WPRB radio, 103.3 FM. Accompanying play-byplay announcer Ed Benkin for every game of the 2007 season, Tucker made his radio debut on Sept. 15 when the Tigers lost to Lehigh.

Tucker retains fond memories of his seasons in a Tiger uniform. After four standout years at Princeton, Tucker earned the Dr. Harry Roemer McPhee Award, given to the member of the football team who best displays "durability and fortitude."

These two words seem to fit Tucker — and his incredible journey to the NFL — like a glove. Hailing from Wyomissing, Pa., Tucker played football and basketball in high school, racking up 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his senior season on the court. On the football field, Tucker earned All-League honors at defensive tackle as well as at offensive lineman.

After matriculating at Princeton, Tucker learned that he was needed on the defensive side of the football. He was a mainstay on the defensive line for his entire freshman season.

His flexibility and willingness to play wherever his team needed him is one reason why Tucker reached the pros. After graduation, Tucker went undrafted, but he made the most of an invitation to a Washington Redskins' training camp, earning a spot on the team's roster for the 2001-02 season.

Tucker was fully aware that his future lay in the hands of those watching his performance from the sidelines, and he credits Marty Schottenheimer, then the head coach of the Redskins, for giving him a chance.

"I was an undrafted rookie free agent, and Schottenheimer treated everybody on the team the same, no matter who you were," Tucker said. "To be able to play seven years in the NFL, I'm grateful to him."

Tucker recognized that coming from a Division I-AA school put him at a slight disadvantage. He was going up against sizable competition and was on the same field as players from top-tier football powerhouses.

"It's always an adjustment to play in the NFL for anyone," Tucker said. "The speed of play is tremendous, and you are going up against the nation's elite athletes."

Fortunately for Tucker, his performance at the Redskins' training camp sparked an impressive career with six different teams around the NFL. After a stint in Washington, Tucker played briefly with the Dallas Cowboys before migrating to the Buffalo Bills for the 2003-04 season.

It was with the Bills that Tucker really came into his own as a professional football player. At the time, Gregg Williams — father of Princeton senior defensive back Blake Williams — was the head coach in Buffalo. During the 2003-05 seasons, Tucker made 18 of his 24 career NFL starts. Blocking for talented running back Willis McGahee, Tucker came as close as he ever would to the playoffs in the 2004 season, when the Bills finished 9-7.

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After his tenure in Buffalo, Tucker also suited up for the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns, before landing back in Washington. But Tucker was cut from the Redskins roster after suffering a neck injury, bringing his career to a halt.

Though it was a devastating end to his NFL career, Tucker has returned to the place where he first developed his intense love for the game of football.

One of his defining moments as a Tiger was during his freshman season when, as a starter on the defensive line, he helped Princeton to an exciting 31-28 victory against a talented Colgate squad.

Before his sophomore season, Tucker was moved to his more familiar right guard spot. In the inaugural game at Princeton Stadium, Tucker and the Tigers defeated Cornell by a score of 6-0.

During his senior season, he played under current head coach Roger Hughes. Tucker described his final year as a tough one, with three quarterbacks sustaining injuries and Hughes still finding his way during his first year at the helm.

While enjoying his homecoming, Tucker now can give advice to all of the young Princeton athletes aspiring to make the professional ranks.

"Always be your personal best," Tucker said. "When I was playing, I never thought about pro football. My focus was on becoming the best player I could be in every aspect of the game."

Though he can no longer fill his ears with the sounds of the game on the gridiron, Tucker still has the opportunity to make some noise.