Okay folks….here it is….your 2007-2008 College Football Media Review! Per usual these are just opinions of one man and you are entitled to your own. If you have something to add or don’t agree with one of the submissions then say so in the comments.
Let’s get into it. This year’s awards are brought to you by YOUR LSU National Champion Golden Girls…..
Regular Season
CBS- At the beginning of the year I stated that enjoyed both Lundquist and Danielson as a team and they have a distinctive advantage calling the same conference all year long. Boy was I wrong. Danielson not only tripped over himself and his partner on his way to the first ever Regular Season Pammy Award, I’m actually convinced that the ex- Quarterback doesn’t even know the rules of the game of Football. I don’t know how many down by contact and one foot down rules he couldn’t get right but at a minimum it was 15.
Lundquist isn’t necessarily THAT bad. Sure he messes up a bit here and there, but you can actually tell he enjoys the games he covers and has a passion for SEC Football. He still seems to know more about the players in NCAA Basketball, but he’s not what’s giving his team this grade….
Overall: C-
P.S.- I really enjoyed Craig Bollerjack when he filled in. Not that CBS would make any changes, but he’s definitely a great lead.
ESPN/ABC- College Football is far and away the best thing the WWL has going. ESPN College Gameday is still the best Pregame Show on television and the wealth of their talent is put to use during the NCAA Football season. The only problem is that there’s not one team that sticks out more than another. Either the lead was horrible or the analyst was stinking up the telecast. If ESPN mixed up the teams a bit they could really make some amazing pairings for next year. Just put the dreadful people with the other dreadful people, so I can finally get my dream team of Pam Ward and Andre Ware. The Wardes!
Overall: C+/B-
Best Announcing Team- N/A
I’m sorry but there wasn’t one team that stood out as great this season. Either lead or the analyst did a horrible job, and in a lot of cases it was both.
Just missed: Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham
Worst Announcing Team- Pam Ward and Ray Bentley
I don’t even know where to start with this team. They were factually wrong multiple times, didn’t know rules, messed up player’s names, and did about a quarter of a game near the end of the season with no sound. Obviously that last one isn’t necessarily their fault but it culminated the end of a dreadful season.
Best Individual Lead- Ron Franklin
I can’t even express how much I love Ron Franklin on any sport. He speaks well, is accurate, and works perfectly with whomever his partner is. The guy is a class act and was solid all year long.
Honorable Mention: Brad Nessler, Sean McDonough
Worst Individual Lead- Pam Ward
I’m sorry, but someone who doesn’t know the difference between a punt and a kickoff would not be a lead for me if I was running things. She is much better for College Basketball and should really stay there full time.
Honorable Mention: Mike Patrick, Thom Brennamen, Gary Thorne
Best Individual Analyst- Todd Blackledge
Having to deal with Mike Patrick’s insane comments should qualify him on it’s own, but Blackledge was light years better than any other analyst throughout the year. ESPN loved him so much that they started to go to him during SportsCenter pieces and even added him to Gameday for the BCS Championship. Good move…..he should replace Desmond Howard full time.
Worst Individual Analyst- Andre Ware
These are the ones that are hard to give out. There’s a difference between guys like Ware and Spielman and Paul Maguire. I can tell that Ware and Spielman actually care about the Sport they are covering, but they just don’t belong on the call of any game. They really just can’t keep up with their own minds and furthermore their leads. I am convinced that Andre Ware just starts making stuff up when he runs out of stuff to say.
Honorable Mention: (Obviously) Paul Maguire, Chris Spielman
Best Studio Personality- Chris Fowler
I’d almost be willing to say that Chris Fowler is the best host in any Sport and on any Network. You would hard pressed to find anyone with more knowledge about College Football and keeping Lee Corso in line is a job in itself. Speaking of Lee….
Worst Studio Personality- Lee Corso
He just doesn’t even know what’s going on anymore (not that he ever did). I mean the guy was convinced that Boston College was still in the Big East earlier in the year. Come on.
Best Newcomer- Jonathan Wiener of Trinity College
Every announcer could learn a thing or two from his passionate call at the end of the “Lateral Game”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Zl7ssPAXw&rel=1
Honorable Mention: Jesse Palmer
Worst Live Broadcasting Idea- Where’s Paul
The idea to put Paul Maguire in various spots throughout the stadium during the game was the most distracting and pointless idea I’ve ever seen. When they showed him on the camera truck getting confetti thrown at him to celebrate New Years Eve during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl…..I wanted to throw my Champagne flute at the screen.
Best Sideline Reporter- N/A (Sideline Reporters are pointless)
Just kidding…….of course it’s Erin Andrews!
Best Player Introductions- Cartman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9kp6l6bWNc&rel=1
Quote of the Year- Mike Patrick
“What is Britney doing with her life?”
_______________________
Post Season
Overall I have to say this was one of the worst Bowl Seasons in quite some time and not just in regards to the Announcing. Almost every game was uneventful and I can’t imagine how hard it gets to call a game when there’s a blowout on hand. In a Bowl Season filled with boring games I think only one word can sum up the entire College Post Season: Bands.
FOX’s BCS Bowl Bash was the worst set of Post Season games by any network I’ve ever watched in my life. Thom Brennaman was dreadful, Charles Davis regressed, Terry Donahue was confusing, and the only Announcing highlight, Matt Vasgersian’s Beer Truck and Dingle Berry comment, seemed to be poached from other mediums. I’m also praying that Oklahoma never makes another BCS game again…..not because I hate the team, but if I hear that school Fight Song ever again I’m going to lose it.
FOX’s Grade: F (first ever in AA history!)
Best Announcing Team- John Saunders, Doug Flutie, Jesse Palmer
I’ve never seen a team more passionate about a game (International Bowl) that no one was watching.
Best Individual Lead- Matt Vasgersian
Even if he did borrow those lines for broadcast I think that he was the only breath of fresh air during the BCS. He seemed to be genuinely excited about the game and was hilarious at times. I don’t buy the fact that his humor takes away from the game. I think he balances it perfectly.
Best Individual Analyst- Jesse Palmer
You may laugh it this selection, and I did when he was signed by ESPN, but the kid is solid. He’s as knowledgable as any person in the business and his timing is perfect. I was really impressed with him in the Studio all year, but especially during the International Bowl.
Post Season Pammy Award Winner- Lou Holtz
As if there was any doubt. You say you’re going to cut someone on National television…..you’re going to win something (probably a restraining order). Thanks for your almost one thousand votes and I give your final Post Season Pammy Standings and the video of your winner.
5. “Now you know why his teammates call him ‘Sweet Pea’.” – Charles Davis
“He’s got a couple of nicknames. Donny Avery called him a white Michael Vick.” – Mike Mayock
“I think Sweet Pea is a little safer.” – Brad Sham
4. “Owen Schmitt, like a big runaway beer truck” – Matt Vasgersian
3. “You have an I-Pod and an I-Phone?”- Todd Blackledge
“Anything with an I in it I have it. If they come out with an I-Car I’m buying it.”- Mike Patrick
“Do you have Britney Spears on that I-Pod?”- Todd Blackledge
“No………….although I hear she might be renting out that double wide to a family member.”- Mike Patrick
2.
“You know, I did Larry Fitzgerald when he was a young redshirt freshman at Pittsburgh.”- Gary Danielson
And your winner…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bjM-FHh4mU&rel=1
Thanks to all of you readers and commenters for a great season and hopefully next season will be just as crazy! Leave your thoughts in the comments.
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