For the first time since 2009, Eli Gold will be calling Alabama football games with a new color analyst by his side.

Gold, the voice of the Crimson Tide, joined me and Lee Shirvanian on "The Opening Kickoff" on WNSP-FM 105.5 to talk about the addition of John Parker Wilson to the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

"He was a great choice," Gold said. "There's no question he knows his X's and O's. That goes without saying. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Wilson, the Alabama quarterback from 2005-08, replaces Phil Savage, who announced in July he was leaving the post after recently taking the GM job for the Phoenix franchise of the new AAF professional league.

"We all love Phil," Gold explained. "Phil was spectacular.

"As much as he loves Bama and as much as he loves the college game, when he talked about pro football, there was a little extra sparkle in his eye. He just loved that. The opportunity to get back into the pro game with the new start-up league and to work with Rick Neuheisel - they've been dear friends for years - I was happy for him to get another opportunity to be a general manager."

Gold said it will be a "process" as he and Wilson find their way but said they plan on sitting together for the next two Alabama scrimmages and doing "make believe broadcasts".

"John Parker and I have been friends for years," Gold said. "He's a wonderful young man. It's going to take a little time for us to get our timing down. ...

"Hopefully, we'll be more comfortable with each other after the 10th game than we were with the first game and more comfortable after the 100th game than we were after the 30th game.

"There's a process of getting used to your broadcast partner."

Wilson, who has done weekly film breakdowns for on AL.com, was a three-year starter and played for both Mike Shula and Nick Saban. He threw for 7,924 yards in his four seasons with the Tide.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.