WNZF, a News/Talk radio station in Flagler Country, Florida, just north of Daytona Beach announced they’ve added Trent Ferguson as their morning sports anchor and high school football color analyst. What makes this hire unique? The 20-year old Ferguson is and always has been blind.
Ferguson draws inspiration from another blind announcer in Florida, Tampa Bay Rays color analyst for their Spanish broadcasts, Enrique Oliu. In preparation, Ferguson takes notes, bringing a wide variety of player stats and facts to add to the broadcast while listening intently to his play-by-play partner to follow the action.
Ferguson has been a contributor to WNZF in recent years, co-hosting a podcast, Outta Sight Sports with station Sports Director, Rich Carroll. The title offers a pun for Ferguson’s blindness, showing the broadcaster doesn’t try to hide the fact that he can’t see with his eyes. Ferguson notes, “anybody listening to sports live on the radio can see the game in their mind just like I do.” The podcast is also sponsored by a West Palm Coast optical business that even offers free eye exams to the referees called out by Ferguson during his “bad call of the day” segment.
“I love that,” Ferguson told Fox 35 in Orlando. “I embrace stuff like that, and some people say that, ‘well I don’t want to say that, I don’t wanna mention the word blind cause I don’t want to offend you.’ Like I said, it doesn’t offend me.”
In his new role as sports anchor and football color analyst, Ferguson takes over for the retiring Dave West who said in the station announcement, “I can’t think of a better person to carry on the WNZF sports legacy.”
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.