Gophers announcer Tanner Hoops overcame multiple hurdles to achieve his dreams
How Gophers announcer Tanner Hoops overcame the odds
Gophers Radio play-by-play broadcaster Tanner Hoops always dreamed of becoming a sports journalist but would have to do so with a disability. Despite undergoing open-heart surgery during his junior year of college and being told his dreams would be just that, Hoops defied the odds and landed a job at the University of Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Behind every radio microphone is some artist whose job it is to paint a picture so vivid in detail, that those not in attendance can see it clearly. For Tanner Hoops, it’s something he’s excelled at since first getting an opportunity.
‘He’s got the presence'
What they're saying:
"He’s got the voice, he’s got the presence, he’s got the pipes, the bass, whatever you want to call it," said radio broadcaster Justin Gaard. "Just listening to him, he sounds like, to me, national quality, I think he’s incredible."
Working alongside mentors like Gaard, Hoops says he is forever grateful to the University of Minnesota not only for helping advance his dream, but for saving his life.
"I’m here because of the U of M. Because of the doctors here, because of the job that they’ve done giving me quality of life, quite literally saving my life," Hoops said. "It just makes it even more special to come back here and have the privilege to narrate the athlete’s stories and trying to give back to a school that has quite literally given me everything."
Has his doctor ever seen anyone with Marfan Syndrome go on to do journalism? No.
The backstory:
Dr. Jamie Lohr is a congenital disease cardiologist with M Health Fairview.
"When he was in high school, and he said he wanted to do journalism, and he loved sports, and he wanted this, okay, sure, that sounds like a great dream," Dr. Lohr said when Hoops was in high school.
To the surprise of many, Tanner would make his dream come true.
"To see Tanner really work so hard and fulfill that dream and especially when it got interrupted by open-heart surgery in the middle of it, but he never gave it up," said Dr. Lohr.
Overcoming another obstacle
Big picture view:
After landing a job with the Gopher Radio network, Hoops would work through his challenges for several years before noticing something different in his eyesight.
After a doctor’s visit in which he thought he’d leave with a different contact prescription, Hoops was getting set up for two more surgeries, this time on his eyes. The surgery would not only correct his vision impairment, it would allow him to see things with a corrective lens and give him a new perspective on life.
"Marfan syndrome doesn’t define you," Hoops said. "It’s something that is going to be an obstacle, it’s going to be a challenge, mentally draining, not just on you but on your loved ones, but it’s something you can absolutely overcome. It’s something that we’re going to continue to fight and battle as a community until we find a cure."