New Topic: Broadcasters

[Bucky]

I can't remember the last time this topic was discussed in any length. I am surprised that it isn't brought up more, but to a degree, college football is still a regional sport with different broadcasters prominent in different locations. Here are my thoughts of certain teams:

Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson:
I love to listen to Lundquist. Whether it's football, basketball, or golf, he has a voice that just seems to help illustrate the beauty of the sport in it's simplest form. He is never cliché, yet always seems the same. And hey, he was the best in Happy Gilmore.
I enjoy listening to Danielson, but sometimes it seems like he doesn't do his homework. He is way to obvious and always says things that the average fan already knows. And isn't that the point of a "color" commentator? Also, he was a huge Big Ten homer when he worked for ABC. He was the only person who seemed to give Ohio State any credit back in 2002. Now that he works for CBS, he is a big time SEC homer. Last year, rightfully so, he campaigned for the Gators. Listening to him on Friday, I thought he might be crying when Arkansas defeated LSU. He wanted LSU in the BCS game in a bad way, and he was terribly biased during the broadcast.

Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit:
Most won’t agree, but my favorite play by play man is Brent Musberger. Now, I must clarify, I don’t think he is the best lead man, but I enjoy listening to him the most. What’s crazy about Musberger is how every fan base seems to think he is biased. Most Ohio State fans I know loathe the guy, and I don’t understand why. I have always thought he was a big time Buckeye homer (Michigan fans will unanimously agree). I think he tries too hard to please the Buckeye fan base that despises him. Regardless, I love his passion for the game, and disagree with most in saying that I don’t think he goes overboard.
Kirk Herbstreit is an Ohio State guy, so what’s not to like? Kidding….He does his homework and knows his stuff, but you will catch him every now and then making a fundamental mistake. As a studio guy, he can be a bit too homerish for whatever team he thinks is best(usually USC). He has distanced himself from the Buckeye fan base lately, so much so that it’s surprising how many Ohio State fans hate him. But I think he genuinely believes what he says, but can fall trap to what I like to call the “irrational fan” disease. I think he is the voice of college football for the next 30 years. It’s amazing what good looks and a good smile can do for a career.

Brad Nessler, Bryan Griese, and Paul Maguire
Good crew overall, but I think Nessler is stuck with a couple of clowns. One is intentionally a clown, and the other is just an ass clown. I like Nessler’s quick wit, and he doesn’t act like a know it all. Griese on the other hand acts like he invented the game, while at the same time not telling us anything new. Mcguire is just a showman, much like Corso. I don’t take him seriously; hence I enjoy listening to him.


Others:

Charles Davis: He is my favorite analyst, by far. I have never listened to a more insightful and knowledgeable commentator. Most people have only heard him a few times, but he is constantly talking about things that I have never heard others discuss. He also is extremely unbiased. He is a budding star.
Bob Davie: He is someone who I couldn’t stand at first, but he has grown on me. He is a combination of insightful and interesting. I have also grown to like his slight southern drawl.
Ron Franklin: It’s a shame that political correctness ruined his career. He has always been the most underrated broadcaster in all of sports.
Dan Fouts: He has the distinction of being both the worst play by play man and the worst color guy.
Todd Blackledge: I don’t want to see him eating ever again.
Mike Patrick: Take that back about Fouts. Patrick is easily the worst play by play man in football. Go back to the NFL where you belong!! You Tube him if you don’t agree.
Pam Ward: Am I the only person alive who thinks that she does a good job?
Jack Arute: It’s a shame that he basically got demoted about 4 jobs because he doesn’t have a nice rack.
Doug Flutie: How does he have a job?
Mark May: Biggest idiot in sports
Lou Holtz: He’s great, a true character. His “pep talks” are the highlight of my week.
Craig James: See Mark May
John Saunders: Should be doing hockey.

That’s a lot of crap. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on any, whether I mentioned them or not.

[Akahikea]

Could not agree more on Lundquist and Danielson.

I think Brent tries a little too hard sometimes, but at least he cares. I'd rather listen to someone who cares than someone who adds no emotion to their calls.

Nessler-is my 2nd favorite play by play guy. You're right on with him. I'm still waiting for Paul Maguire to say something intelligent...or funny. I am not amused by him at all. Agree on Griese. I feel bad that Nessler has to work with them.

I too didn't care for Davie at first. But he is better at explainin the X's and O's than anyone else, and I think that's lacking an awful lot. Ron Jaworski is too much, but some insight to the subtlties is welcome.

Pam Ward http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_X3lJOrwi0 That says it all.

Ron Franklin is my favorite play by play guy. I especially like how he says defense properly. De-fense, not Dee-fense. He's not overly animated like Brent can be, but he's not monotone. He doesn't waste words, yet gets the point across.

Mike Patrick-I especially cannot stand him during ACC basketball games. You think Vitale loves the ACC? They're on another planet when Patrick's there. I mute him every time.

Todd Blackledge-no real opinion on him

Flutie, I agree. Still waiting for him to say something meaningful.

James & May-I would have a party in their honor if they ever got fired.

Saunders is ok by me. Same for Tirico, no real strong opinions either way about them.

Barry Tompkins & Petros Papadakis-the FSN guys...I love Tompkins. Very knowledgeable. Petros is a total clown. He's never contributed anything the least bit worthwhile, but he has a very different personality on the radio when he fills in for Jim Rome. He can be very funny, not sure why he isn't during football games.

Steve Physioc-like Brent, a little too animated, but at least he cares. I just don't like his voice though...

Chris Fowler-has possibly the best sense of humor of anyone in sports. It's dry, and intelligent humor, and he's very eloquent. The only part of Gameday I can really take these days. Corso's gone off his rocker, but can be funny sometimes. 2 hours for that show is a little long.

Big fan of Gary Bender-does the Versus games, mostly MWC, but otherwise does Suns games here on FSN. Great play by play voice.

[AJBuckeye]

Pretty darn good assessment. Musburger without a doubt is my favorite. Herby sometimes goes out of his way to not promote OSU but you can certainly his take and he certainly does his homework. When you see guys like Trev Alberts who in my opinion is the biggest idiot in broadcasting history it makes you appreciate those who are to give true assessments without having stickers such as I hate the Big 10 sticking on their foreheads.

[ZOOMBAG]

Ron Franklin is a sports guy from Houston, which is why he does so many SEC West and Big 12 South games. Knows Texas high school football like the back of his hand. He got is start as the Sports guy on perhaps one of the greatest local TV news trio in TV history on Channel 2 in Houston back in the 1970's when he teamed up with Ron Stone (news) and Doug Johnson (weather and one of the first true meteorologists to do weather on TV).

[ZOOMBAG]

Herbstreit is definitely a perception guy. He's into the "name" and pretty sticks to promoting teams with a "name" over teams without one...

[Bucky]

A play by play man has such a fine line to walk. It's a two part job. One part emotion and one part competence. Some guys, like Franklin, are both, while others are lacking. Mike Tirico is a perfect example of lacking one part. He comes off as intelligent and insightful, but whenever he tries to inject emotion it seems forced and unnatural. To sum Tirico up in one word: boring.

[Bucky]

Herbstreit is definitely a perception guy. He's into the "name" and pretty sticks to promoting teams with a "name" over teams without one...

He is the epitome of the "irrational fan". One week USC is unbeatable, next week it's Oregon, next week it's Georgia, next week it's USC again.

[GatorGrad]

Of course I am biased, but I love the CBS duo of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson. I think Gary is the best in the business, and Verne's voice just IS Saturday afternoon college football to me. Nothing like Fall Saturdays at 3:30pm on CBS!

[HellYeahHokie]

I think he's the most unprepared and clueless of the major broadcasters. He can't pronounce players' names correctly. He says things about teams that are completely untrue or wildly off the mark. And I firmly believe, because he's so unprepared, that he just repeats stuff that a producer is saying in his ear, but he screws it up.

I can't listen to the guy. I think he's a disaster.

Oh, but he has a nice, velvety voice...so I guess that makes him OK.

[Bucs90]

I can only add that watching Jesse Palmer on ESPN makes my ears bleed. He is the worst talking head ever put on the tube. He answers every question the same way:

Oh, yeah, he/they are really good, I really like their chances.

Jesse, what do you think of Team A's chances?

"They got a great chance, they are really good."

Team B?

"They are really good, they got a great chance."

Team C?

"I really like their chances, they are playing great."

What do you think about QB A?

"He's really impressive, I really like how he is playing."

What about QB B?

"He's playing really great, I'm very impressed by him.

What about QB C?

"You know, he is playing so impressive, he's really good."


Get Palmer off sports TV. Put him back on the Bachelor. He is God awful.

[Coach 3]

,,cbs by far has hre best production team, w ith camera work, angles, fan shots...their camera even seem to have better claoirty...lundquist is loving what he is doing and you cna tell..danielson doesnt miss much x's ands o's but he does have his favorites ( as in lsu)...now, i want to ask you what you meant about "ron franklins career and political correctness'..in my book, play by play wise , ron franklin is simply superb...what has gotten in the way of his rise up?...nessler is boring, mcguire a tedious clown and bob griese is dementing and so verbally slow...he's the john madden ( undeniably, madden is the dumbest, most obnoxiously obvious color man in the hsitory of football - never anything interesting to say...)...now, i like bob davey and think he is underrated..also, agree on flutie...how did he graduate college???....craig james the same- this is not an intelligent human being...as far as lisstthping lou holtz, gawd is that sleazeweasel obnoxious...that lissstthp and all the coach ass kissing nonsense...the man is cqartoonishly embrassing when he puts on the team caps and does those utterly cornball motivational speeches...chris farley comes ot mind...... BUt musberger wins the ultra-obnoxious award..."gushberger", gets all excited about the "hot team"...and those dumb nicknames- michigans new qb mallet is now "big tex"..gawd, is that dumb..."big tex"???..and other dumb nicknames...i'd like to see more feature games with ron franklin on abc...i just dont know why he is underutilized???

["14-O" U.]

Pretty darn good assessment. Musburger without a doubt is my favorite. Herby sometimes goes out of his way to not promote OSU but you can certainly his take and he certainly does his homework. When you see guys like Trev Alberts who in my opinion is the biggest idiot in broadcasting history it makes you appreciate those who are to give true assessments without having stickers such as I hate the Big 10 sticking on their foreheads.

I used to think Trev Alberts was an idiot based on his opinions and superlatives. I think he was coached to act that way. No way he and Mark May are that stupid or biased. They were coached to be controversial and push the buttons of college football fans. I think Trev got tired of the game and that was probably why he left ESPN.

I aslo believe Herby goes out of his way to appear unbiased (and he will adjust based on the audience - remember seeing him cheer on the sideline of the OSU/MiamiFla game?). He's becoming more like Mussburger now when it comes to latching onto the frontrunner.

I used to hate Brent and think he was a Buckeye hater. Turns out it was just the Cooper years against Michigan and Brent was riding the frontrunner. Always wondered why others thought Brent was a Buckeye lover. Everyone notices it more when he's going with your opponent. If your team wins or pulls off an upset he'll jump on their bandwagon. And when your team is in a funk you get to yell "Shup up, Brent!" (isn't that Fouts' line from Waterboy?) at your TV screen.

[Blue Hen]

B90,

I agree with you about Pam Ward. She does a decent job. A couple of other guys you didn't mention ;

Bill Curry and Jim Donnan are two of my favorites. Donnan is more associated with studio and radio but when he gets in the broasdcast booth ( like the Del/DSU playoff game) he is most knowledgeable and insightful, although not animated and exciting.

...and in his prime, Mike Gottfried was very good. I guess he's history now and all that slurring and slow response in recent years indicated some kind of physical problem, to me.

I feel the same way about Bob Davie......he's getting better and better and has grown on me too.

[Blue Hen]

Have you all heard Trev Alberts on the FoxSports regional networks ? I think he has improved some......but I agree, in his ESPN days, he was the all time CF idiot.

[Doc]

be remembered for probably the greatest call in Ohio State history...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbAKvVGmmw

I think Lou Holtz is horrible and Mark May is simply payed to pi$$ off Buckeye fans. So was Trev Alberts.

Doug Flutie is also horrible. I do like the Gameday crew, they do a nice job. Herbstriet takes a lot of abuse from Ohio State fans but what do they want him to do, pimp the Buckeyes all the time? When he's on the air he has to separate his loyalty to Ohio State and be as objective as possible. Deep down I doubt there are many people who are as passionate about OSU as he is.

["14-O" U.]

be remembered for probably the greatest call in Ohio State history...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbAKvVGmmw

I think Lou Holtz is horrible and Mark May is simply payed to pi$$ off Buckeye fans. So was Trev Alberts.

Doug Flutie is also horrible. I do like the Gameday crew, they do a nice job. Herbstriet takes a lot of abuse from Ohio State fans but what do they want him to do, pimp the Buckeyes all the time? When he's on the air he has to separate his loyalty to Ohio State and be as objective as possible. Deep down I doubt there are many people who are as passionate about OSU as he is.

Even when Herbstriet isn't talking about the Buckeyes or things that affect the Buckeyes he's been making some ridiculous statements the last couple of years. This team is no doubt the best (next week, or even later in the same day, it's some other team). Same thing for individual players. He used to be more objective - maybe that wasn't interesting enough to his bosses. Maybe I'm just getting old. Just about all the announcers seem like clowns to me anymore. Bob Davie is one of the few that I don't recall thinking that about. He must be the best! ;)

[Blue Hen]

I think I would agree with you.


This Herbstreit guy is no more knowledgeable or insightful than most of the posters in this forum.


...and Bob Davie might be top of the line for non play by play guys.

[H.I.]

Tom Brennan is pretty good. I mean it doesn't get any better than closing last season with his call of the Boise/OU game and to open the season with his call of the App. St./UM game. That guy seems to always be around good games.

I absolutely hate Kirk Herbstriet. He used to be decent about 5 years ago, but I can not stand to listen to him. I quit watching College Game Day about 3 years ago because I couldn't take it anymore. Any if he's doing a college game I'll usually flip it back and forth so I don't have to listen to him or turn down the volume. I just despise the guy. Matter of fact on SportCenter this morning I heard him say that college football doesn't need a playoff because "college football is about more than crowning a national champion." Then the douche bag always rambles about who the 2 best teams are than should play for the BCS Title.

[TommyTrojan]

Barry Tompkins & Petros Papadakis-the FSN guys...I love Tompkins. Very knowledgeable. Petros is a total clown. He's never contributed anything the least bit worthwhile, but he has a very different personality on the radio when he fills in for Jim Rome. He can be very funny, not sure why he isn't during football games.

Clown doesn't even do Petros justice. I have no idea how he's lasted this long....oh wait , yes I do. It's FSN. To them, he looks like Keith Jackson

[H.I.]

Barry Tompkins & Petros Papadakis-the FSN guys...I love Tompkins. Very knowledgeable. Petros is a total clown. He's never contributed anything the least bit worthwhile, but he has a very different personality on the radio when he fills in for Jim Rome. He can be very funny, not sure why he isn't during football games.

Clown doesn't even do Petros justice. I have no idea how he's lasted this long....oh wait , yes I do. It's FSN. To them, he looks like Keith Jackson

I also love Barry Tompkins. Great smooth voice. Every time I hear his voice or see his face I think of Rocky IV. Heck, he basically looks the same 20 years later. One of the best.

[Doc]

Tom Brennan is pretty good. I mean it doesn't get any better than closing last season with his call of the Boise/OU game and to open the season with his call of the App. St./UM game. That guy seems to always be around good games.

I absolutely hate Kirk Herbstriet. He used to be decent about 5 years ago, but I can not stand to listen to him. I quit watching College Game Day about 3 years ago because I couldn't take it anymore. Any if he's doing a college game I'll usually flip it back and forth so I don't have to listen to him or turn down the volume. I just despise the guy. Matter of fact on SportCenter this morning I heard him say that college football doesn't need a playoff because "college football is about more than crowning a national champion." Then the douche bag always rambles about who the 2 best teams are than should play for the BCS Title.

His dad is legendary Reds announcer and Hall of Famer, Marty Brennaman. For my money, there is no one better in all of sports than Marty Brennaman.

[EvilVodka]

hmmm

[MasterBevo]

Ron Franklin is a sports guy from Houston, which is why he does so many SEC West and Big 12 South games. Knows Texas high school football like the back of his hand. He got is start as the Sports guy on perhaps one of the greatest local TV news trio in TV history on Channel 2 in Houston back in the 1970's when he teamed up with Ron Stone (news) and Doug Johnson (weather and one of the first true meteorologists to do weather on TV).

Zoom... we must have grown up in the same area. I wish, the rest of these guys could understand just how right you are in ALL of the above.

Some of the fondest memories I will have on my deathbed will be... remembering listening to Ron Franklin on the radio, calling Texas football games (in the SWC) while I was washing, waxing, or working on my car. His voice IS football to me.. and, I still think he's the BEST play by play man in the game.

[MasterBevo]

Great post, Bucky...

I will add more later... cause, time is short now.

Just wanted to say: I HATE Brent Musburger.

He hates the Longhorns....

When he is calling one of our game.. (which seems like ALL our national games)... I TURN OFF THE SOUND... and, listen to the Longhorn announcers on the internet radio.

Seriously... I do.

MUSBERGER SUCKS!!!

[MasterBevo]

One more thing..

Last year, I sat next to Herbstreit on a flight from Atlanta to Houston. It took me a few minutes to realize who he was. I KNEW I recognized him... but couldn't quite remember his name. Thankfully, I snapped in about 15 minutes.... and started talking to him about football.

I agree..... he's more "show" than substance. But, he's a pretty nice guy. Very 'down to earth'. And, since then... I pull for him to do well.

[MasterBevo]

Ok...just a few more comments:

I do like Verne and Gary. Vern's voice is distinct enough that he's approaching "Keith Jackson" status... not there yet. But getting close. When he calls a game, I don't notice him at all... which, is my judge of a good play-by-play man.

Danielson is interesting, usually... I guess I never noticed him being an SEC homer... just seems like he's always on their games. I'll try to pay more attention next time.

I also like Brad Nessler.... very professional. I love Paul Maquire. He cracks me up. I guess, that makes me a fan of ass-clowns?? Who would have guessed that? Griese? N'eah... I don't pay much attention to him. He's full of himself, but... I don't find his comments all that interesting.

One guy I can't stand... who was gone, but still seems to pop up now and again is Marv Albert. His voice just grates on me... But, I think he's history now.

Most of all though... I HATE Brent Musberger. Have I mentioned that? Everytime I hear that, "You are looking live.... ", I throw up a little. A few years ago, the morning guys on FOx Sports radio started playing that little sound bite over and over... I think I lost 10 pounds that week. :p

When Texas beat Michigan in the '04 Rose Bowl, Muffberger had NOTHING.. NOTHING good to say about Texas. Vince Young had been nothing short of Superman that year.. Seriously... if you ever have a moment, go look at the game summaries of Texas's last 5-6 games that year...... after Mack turned Vince loose to play like he wanted. We had one of the most remarkable strings of amazing, unbelievable comebacks that I've ever seen in any team. It rivals the NC State run of luck in the 1983 NCAA BB tourney.

That's when, the team learned to BELIEVE in Vince... when he became SUPERMAN in an orange cape. But, you'd never know it to listen to Brent Pukeberger... what a putz..

[GatorGrad]

I'm not a Musberger fan either.

Favorite play by play guys:
Verne (CBS)
Nessler (ESPN)

Favorite color guys:
Danielson (CBS)
Blackledge (ESPN)

Favorite sideline gals:
EA (ESPN)
Tracy (CBS)

Thankfully, the trio that does the SEC game of the week on CBS as well as the trio that does the ESPN night game (usually an SEC game) include individuals from the above list this year. SEC fans rarely have to listen to Brent as he's usually on ABC doing a Big 12, ACC, or Big Ten game.

[Rupturedduck]

a no brainer Mark May:::

[HellYeahHokie]

Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit:
Most won’t agree, but my favorite play by play man is Brent Musberger. Now, I must clarify, I don’t think he is the best lead man, but I enjoy listening to him the most. What’s crazy about Musberger is how every fan base seems to think he is biased. Most Ohio State fans I know loathe the guy, and I don’t understand why. I have always thought he was a big time Buckeye homer (Michigan fans will unanimously agree). I think he tries too hard to please the Buckeye fan base that despises him. Regardless, I love his passion for the game, and disagree with most in saying that I don’t think he goes overboard.
Kirk Herbstreit is an Ohio State guy, so what’s not to like? Kidding….He does his homework and knows his stuff, but you will catch him every now and then making a fundamental mistake. As a studio guy, he can be a bit too homerish for whatever team he thinks is best(usually USC). He has distanced himself from the Buckeye fan base lately, so much so that it’s surprising how many Ohio State fans hate him. But I think he genuinely believes what he says, but can fall trap to what I like to call the “irrational fan” disease. I think he is the voice of college football for the next 30 years. It’s amazing what good looks and a good smile can do for a career.
.

The reason you like Herbstreit is the reason I can't stand Mushberger. Mushberger is the least prepared, ill-informed play-by-play guy out there. Yes, he has a nice voice, and yes he has passion for the game, but what good is it if you don't know anything about what you are talking about?

And Mushberger isn't biased to any particular team, he's biased to whoever is the home team that week. I'm confident that Brent is just given a list of talking points from the home team SID, and reads them off. So, of course, everything he says sounds wonderful, because it's the crap fed to him by the SIDs.

Herbstreit is good, but I agree he's slipping. I think its from spending too much time with Mushberger. He does tend to lavish ebullient praise on his team-of-the-week too often. Still, I do believe he actually does research and studies teams, and has insight to strategy and schemes. Brent doesn't even come close to preparing.

[Blue Hen]

based on what ?

[Blue Hen]

Couldn't agree more, Bucky. I'm going to collect dumb statements from him this season so we can all have a good laugh at season's end. This guy is very personable but a fraud.