Rather appropriate that the Georgia Bulldogs will wear black this week against Alabama, considering that longtime UGA radio football voice Larry Munson made his retirement from the booth official this week.

Munson, 86, stopped doing roadies last season. And now, two games into the season, comes word from Chip Towers of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION that Munson has voluntarily stepped down as the voice of the Bulldogs for good.

But based on the circumstances, you wonder if the octogenerian was gently nudged out by the Georgia Athletic Administration?

Georgia AD Damon Evans tries to make it clear to Towers that the decision was Munson’s, and Munson’s alone: “I’ve followed this situation closely and I always just wanted to be respectful of Larry’s wishes. Everybody should know it was his decision and I’m thankful he could go out the way he wanted to. Larry and Georgia football are synonymous and he’s part of our tradition.”

I matriculated at Georgia and worked in the broadcast biz for many years myself. I’m not so sure that those around Munson didn’t encourage him to step down, though I don’t know that for a fact. Either way, it was the right call for him to step down with dignity. He was a lovable curmudgeon and during the many lean years endured by UGA fans, one of the few reasons to tune into the games. How many announcers can you say that about these days?

One last thing: with the Bulldogs apparently on the cusp of finally becoming a perennial Top Five program, it’s a shame Munson can’t directly share in it. He’ll be missed.