LINCOLN, Neb. - 1,200 broadcasts, but countless memories, special moments, and iconic calls.

Nebraska Men’s Basketball broadcaster Kent Pavelka has long been a staple of the Husker basketball program and has a broadcasting career that spans over 50 years. Now, he’s realized another milestone, calling his 1200th broadcast.

“My first season was 50 years ago and I’ve thought about that a lot,” Pavelka said. “It’s just made me think about all the teams and all the coaches… And how 50 years has gone by I don’t know.”

Passion for the game and passion for the Huskers. That’s what makes Kent Pavelka, Kent Pavelka.

“He is the epitome of a true Husker fan,” color analyst Jake Muhleisen said.

“I really do consider him a friend, when you have someone who travels with you and puts that much into it as Kent does, it’s been an honor to work along his side,” Nebraska Head Coach Fred Hoiberg said.

Pavelka’s first job in radio was in Fremont, before transitioning to KFAB in Omaha and his first year with the Huskers in 1974. But those 50 years haven’t always been a smooth ride - due to changes in broadcasting rights, Pavelka stepped out of the booth for 10 years. That is, until opportunity came knocking once again in 2006.

“Steve Pederson called me, a lot of people don’t say good things about Steve, but he called me and said ‘Do you want to come back and do basketball’ and I did, so here I am!”

Pavelka’s witnessed the highs of Husker basketball as well as the lows and covered countless players throughout his career. One of his favorite parts of the job, is the relationships he’s built with those players.

“That’s been the most meaningful thing… That over time, these guys think of the time they were here and they can relate that I was broadcasting those games.”

Where there’s passion, there’s pride. Where there’s pride, there’s excitement. Something color analyst Jake Muhleisen sees first hand during every broadcast.

“Every time he says ‘Bangarang’ or ‘Got it’ or ‘Dagger’ or all of his terms, you can feel how much he cares,” Muhleisen said.

That’s all part of Pavelka’s mission - paint a mental picture of the action, but make the listener feel like they’re in the stands.

50 years in the industry, with 1200 games in between. Pavelka’s put everything and more into supporting the Huskers and providing listeners with the action on the radio night in and night out. A lifetime behind the microphone, that won’t ever be taken for granted.

“I hesitate to put it this way, but it’s been everything,” Pavelka said. “I have put a lot into it and I’ve gotten a lot out of it. It’s what I wanted to do and that’s probably why I’m still doing it.”