Chris Stewart will temporarily replace long-time Alabama play-by-play voice Eli Gold, who the program announced recently would be sidelined early this season for health issues.

“I’m filling in, that’s what I’m doing, I’m not taking Eli’s place, I’m filling in for as long as it needs to be,” Stewart said on “McElroy and Cubelic In the morning” on WJOX out of Birmingham, Alabama. “If he’s able to join us, miraculously in Week 1, fantastic, I’ll slide over, there’s a chair there, I’ll bump Roger (Hoover) out of mine, and take my spot back. If it’s Week 2 or whenever, he’s able to return, it’s his chair.”

Stewart recalled that it would be similar to when he was out in 2019 for health reasons and missed the entire football season, and the first 2 months of basketball.

“It’s overwhelming that a guy that you’ve listened to for all of your adult life, and for a good bit of your entire life, is the one you’re having to step in for,” Stewart said. “But thankfully, I’ve got experience with that.”

Stewart recalled that he filled in for Gold 2 years ago when he contracted the coronavirus, and Stewart did the Arkansas game from the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box. Stewart also took over for Gold on basketball games 20 years ago.

“It’s not easy, he’s a tough act to follow to say the least,” Stewart said. “I’m sick that I’m having to, but I’m grateful that I’m the one they chose to do so.”