Since 1993, Patrick Smith has been the Network Director for the state's most
listened to sports-program... The Paul Finebaum Radio Network. Arriving at
WERC in 1993 as an intern, Smith quickly switched from his college
television background to learn and excel in producing a highly successful
radio talk show. As the Network's Director of Broadcasting, he is in charge of
programming which translates into the booking of national and local guests
like Steve Spurrier, Dick Vitale, Dan Marino, Jesse Jackson, Tommy Tuberville
and Nick Saban. Pat is also in charge of Network affiliates and oversees the daily
syndication of the South's number one sports-talk program.
His creative writing and production on the program has drawn national
acclaim, being featured on ESPN, Fox, CNN-SI and CBS. In March 1997, CBS'
popular NCAA basketball theme "One Shining Moment" was re-written and
produced by Smith to feature the four teams playing in the Southeast
Regionals. The song was played prior to the introduction of the starting
line ups at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena. During the Mark
McGwire chase of Roger Maris' record in 1998, his montage of McGwire homers
to Brian Setzer's Jump, Jive and Wail was not only heard in Dixie, but aired
throughout St. Louis and featured on Fox Sports. His parodies and montages
are a regular fixture during the college football season, highlighting the
trials and tribulations of Alabama and Auburn football.
Smith's work on the program has earned him five
consecutive Alabama Associated Press Awards for Best General Sports and in
2000 was named one of the "Top 40 under 40" by the Birmingham Business
Journal. Also in 2000, Smith teamed with Lee Davis to write and produce the
book/CD "Crimson Classics: 25 Greatest Plays in Alabama Football History".
In November of 2004, Pat's work, along with Paul's, was recognized by Sports Illustrated as
the magazine named the show 'One of America's Top 12 Sports Shows'.
Pat frequently fills in for Paul and was host of the 'WERC Sports Saturday Show' for eleven years, teaming with Lindy Magazine's Ben Cook.
A Birmingham transplant from Missouri for over 18 years, Smith attended and
graduated with a double major in Broadcasting and History from the
University of Alabama at Birmingham (1994). He has been married for the past
eleven years to his wife Leigh Ann, who is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Pat and Leigh Ann have two sons, Connor and Dillon.
Check out the feature story on Pat Smith in Cahaba Talk Magazine.
