CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ahmaad Crump is taking his talents from the hardwood to the gridiron, at least for another weekend in Columbus.
For nearly two decades, the Cavs’ in-game host has energized fans through championship parades and rebuilding seasons alike. But for the second time in as many weeks, Crump’s talents will take him to Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
A few weeks ahead of No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Indiana last week, Crump received an offer to serve as in-game host for his first Buckeyes football game.
Now, as archrival Michigan marches into Buckeye country, Crump will be one of the first faces more than 100,000 roaring fans will see on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon.
“Talk about chills,” Crump recalled from last week. “When they first put me on the screen and I started talking, instantly people connected me with the Cavs. It was almost like it was a connection with the Ohio State fan base.”
With how the Buckeyes’ faithful helped give Indiana its first loss last Saturday, partly because of Crump’s energy, Ohio State offered Crump the opportunity of a lifetime: To return to The Shoe for the biggest rivalry in college football. It’s “The Game.”
“I’m going WWE-style. I’m going to go hard,” Crump said.
With a win in this year’s edition of “The Game,” the Buckeyes would earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game and a rematch with No. 1 Oregon, which handed the Buckeyes their only loss.
With Crump in the mix, the scales could be tipped as he tries to take the raucous OSU crowd to another level.
“We didn’t handle the noise very well. We just didn’t,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said after the Crump-hosted contest. “They’re an excellent football team. I didn’t think we played our best game today. A big part of that was because of them.”
Crump has been the floor voice of the Cavs dating back to 2005, when owner Dan Gilbert first took over the team. Crump worked with the Cavs as part of the Scream Team before Gilbert wanted new roles throughout the organization, allowing Crump the opportunity to audition and land the gig he’s had since.
From witnessing LeBron James’ NBA debut to announcing Cleveland’s 2016 championship and hosting seven NBA All-Star games to impacting the community, Crump has seen his career flourished. Crump’s voice is synonymous with excitement at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Crump’s latest endeavor will hit close to home. His wife Trevina, an Ohio State alum, has never experienced the intensity of a Michigan-OSU game in person. That changes this weekend as she joins Crump on the sidelines, soaking in the rivalry from the best seat in the house.
Bringing his wife along makes this occasion unforgettable, but for Crump, the real magic lies in connecting with fans and families across Ohio.
Although the Central State University graduate has been around the sports entertainment game for years, it wasn’t until 2010 that he truly found his purpose and love for the job.
“I pictured the job as just as just hosting, and I was doing it for a check,” Crump admitted of his experience when first receiving the gig. “When we didn’t have the star power on older teams, there was a need to be in the community a whole lot more.”
Crump and the community relations team would organize programs, visiting schools, hospitals and recreation centers, aiming to shine a light on both those with resources and those without.
Whether he’s rallying a crowd or sparking joy with the mic in his hand, his goal is always to leave a lasting impression.
“My ‘why’ is not a lot of people can get a chance to come to these games,” Crump said, “so I want to make a positive impact while I can.”
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