LSU's next radio announcer has experience stepping in for a legend

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The scope is larger now, but Chris Blair already has experience with what he will attempt in replacing Jim Hawthorne as LSU's radio play-by-play announcer.

In 2006, Blair took over at Georgia Southern from Nate Hirsch -- the man who had called every Eagles football, baseball and men's basketball game in the previous three decades -- so he understands that it is not easy to replace a legend. The announcer must build that relationship over time, just as Hawthorne did in 30-plus seasons calling LSU sports.

"It's a scary and intimidating prospect to follow in somebody's shoes, but you just have to be yourself," Blair said. "I've always felt like if you're yourself and you're…