NC State radio color analyst Tony Haynes prepares for final home game

The annual season finale between NC State and UNC is always full of memorable moments, but for NC State radio color analyst Tony Haynes, Saturday's match-up will stand out for a different reason. It will be his final game working at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"(This) kind of reminds me of Derek Jeter's last home game at Yankee Stadium. I saw a sign in the stands and it read, 'Don't be sad that it's over. Be happy that it ever happened at all.' And I'm just happy that it happened because I've been extremely blessed and 40 plus years of of my career in the broadcasting business," said Haynes.

The NC State alum got his big broadcasting break down the road with a fellow ACC school.

"In 1987, I was offered a job with the Duke Football Network, so that's how I got my foot in the door in the ACC. It was a great time to begin at Duke in 1987 because their first year coach that year was Steve Spurrier, which was a lot of fun. Then I joined the basketball crew for the (1992-93) season. I worked alongside a guy named Jay Bilas, and that's how his career started on the Duke Radio Network," said Haynes, referring to the current ESPN star.

In 1998, he was offered an opportunity to return to Raleigh.

"It wasn't an easy decision because I really enjoyed my time at Duke and they treated me like a member of the family there. But ultimately, it was a good career move for me to come to NC State. I guess you could say I entered the portal in 1998 before anybody knew what the portal was," Haynes joked.

He's covered NC State games ever since, working football, basketball, and baseball. Haynes, who was a student during the Wolfpack's 1983 National Championship, called the team's Final Four run two seasons ago as his most memorable moment.

"I don't think anybody thought you'd ever see something like that. My greatest memory from that is I remember turning around and looking up in the stands and seeing grown men cry because there are generations of NC State fans who wondered if they'd ever see an ACC championship again," Haynes shared.

That stretch was also the final run for Haynes' long-time broadcasting partner Gary Hahn, who retired after the Final Four.

"He's very happy in retirement. And he texted me the other day (and) said, 'I hope you're as happy in retirement as I am,'" said Haynes.

He cited his age and burden of travel, exacerbated by longer trips from conference expansion, as reasons behind his decision to retire. Through the highs of victory and agonies of defeat, Haynes is appreciative of the relationships he's built with generations of coaches and players.

"The big thing for me is that I get a chance to see how much of themselves, the coaches and the players, how much of themselves they invest into winning. I root for them because I get a chance to see how hard they work. It's not about how I feel about the outcome of any given game, but I'm happy when they're happy, and when I get a chance to see them have success, that's what makes me feel good," said Haynes.

Since announcing his retirement this summer, he's received an outpouring of support from Wolfpack fans.

"I have been so touched by the people that have reached out to me and made so many wonderful, kind comments that it almost leaves you speechless, which is not good in my business. You don't want to be speechless, but when you're broadcasting a game, you never really stop to think who's listening? How many people are listening? You wonder, am I making a difference? Since my retirement announcement and all the people that have reached out by email or text or I see them in the grocery store or see them at the stadium, there have been so many kind comments. And that's the part of it that is gratifying because now I realize after all these years, I have made a difference," said Haynes.

Haynes, who will call NC State's bowl game, has described the season as a "sentimental journey," as he approaches Saturday's game.

"It's going to be quite an emotional night for me here at Carter Finley for the final time."