Broadcaster apologizes Sunday for disparaging comments made on air about QU before Saturday semifinal

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — A broadcaster with the Great Lakes Valley Conference Sports Network who made less-than-flattering remarks about Quincy University during the broadcast of a women’s basketball game in the GLVC Tournament on Saturday issued an apology before QU’s appearance in the GLVC title game on Sunday.

John Edwards, listed as the “Voice of the GLVC” on the league website, talked with broadcast partner Tyler Madsen on the GLVC Sports Network before Quincy played Drury on Saturday night in Hyland Arena. Edwards noted several “homegrown” players on the roster for Drury, located in Springfield, Mo.

“That’s what (Drury has) lived off for many years,” Edwards said. “Quincy, well, that’s a tough sell, just because it’s Quincy and it’s in the middle of nowhere, which is north of everything around here. It’s hard to recruit there. You’re looking at trying to get kids to come there, stay around, play sports and get their education. I want to see them succeed.”

Great Lakes Valley Conference Commissioner Jim Naumovich met with Madsen and Edwards at halftime of the game, which Quincy eventually won 86-74. Madsen handled the play-by-play responsibilities in the second half, while Edwards was the color commentator — but didn’t say much.

As Madsen and Edwards talked during Sunday’s pregame before the title game between Quincy and Maryville, Edwards said, “I want to make an apology to the fans of Quincy because I made a statement last night in talking about recruiting to Quincy. Under no circumstance did I want to insult the people of Drury, the administration, staff — Quincy, excuse me, Quincy — in doing so. So I want to apologize to the Quincy fans who were tuning in and heard my comments. I want to apologize for those.”

Madsen then handled the play-by-play call while Edwards provided color commentary in the game, won 64-60 by Quincy.

A video clip of Edwards’ comment was posted on X by Max Bennett, director of sports information at McKendree University, another GLVC member. Bennett is a QU graduate and previously worked in sports information at QU.

“This is a bad look for the @GLVCsports as they haven’t done their homework on the university,” Bennett posted.

Several people replied online. Responses ranged from “insulting and unprofessional,” “outright dumb,” “should get fired for that” and “Quincy is more than a middle of nowhere town.” Another commenter said, “As an alum, this is a terrible look for the GLVC.”

A bio on the GLVC website says Edwards has been serving as the “staple voice” of the GLVC Sports Network since the inception of the conference-wide digital streaming network in 2014. He has worked 76 GLVC championships during the last seven years.

Naumovich, a Quincy University graduate who also served as the school’s athletic director from 1992-2000, is in his 24^th year as the league commissioner. He said he and Edwards talked twice after Saturday night’s game.

“The opinions expressed by that gentleman are just that. It’s his opinion, but they don’t represent the views of the GLVC,” Naumovich said between Sunday’s men’s and women’s championship games. “There’s an apology forthcoming during the broadcast today. He will not do the play-by-play for the women’s game. In order to apologize, he’s got to have a forum.

“I know it was not his intent, but the message was poorly conveyed, and I think he admitted as much when he went back and listened to it. He was not intending to make a disparaging remark. During the pre-production meetings, they were talking about recruiting and Drury being able to recruit. I think they had four starters from the Springfield, Missouri area. That was the point he was trying to make, the differences in the recruiting bases. It just was poorly conveyed.”

Edwards’ bio says he is the digital media coordinator for St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis while also providing broadcasting services at Maryville University. He got his broadcasting start at his alma mater, University of Missouri-St. Louis. He also has worked at the Missouri State High School Activities Association championships and with the Western Athletic Conference.