Maybe Mike & Mike are too busy doing Soap Operas (3 O’clock on CBS!), but the pair isn’t going to be back in the AFL booth next year for ESPN/ABC. No that honor will go to the most random collection of analysts and play-by-play guys ever assembled.
The plan seems to be to mix and match three different analysts and three different leads over the four month season beginning March 1st. And your winners are….
Leads: Bob Wischusen, Dave Pasch, and Joe Tessitore
Analysts: Shaun King, Marcellus Wiley, and Ray Bentley
While this is really a random set of announcers none of them are really that bad. As far as PxPers go Wischusen and Pasch are top notch and I think King and Wiley are intelligent and great studio analysts. I’m also convinced that Ray Bentley could be good as well without having Pam Ward dragging him down.
You would think that they would pick one team and go with it but apparently ESPN plans on changing them around for every single game. Here’s your schedule if you’re into the AFL….
Sat., March 1
Dallas at Georgia- Bob Wischusen, Shaun King and Marcellus Wiley (ABC, 1 p.m.)
Mon., March 3
San Jose at Chicago- Dave Pasch and Wiley (ESPN2, 9 p.m.)
Sun., March 9
Philadelphia at Chicago- Joe Tessitore and King (ESPN2, 1 p.m.)
Mon., March 10
Los Angeles at Arizona- Pasch and Wiley (ESPN2, 11 p.m.)
Mon., March 17
Colorado at Dallas- Wischusen and King (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Sat., March 29
Tampa at Philadelphia- Wischusen and Wiley (ESPN2, 2 p.m.)
Sun., April 6
Chicago at Orlando- Tessitore and King (ESPN2, 2 p.m.)
Mon., April 14
Chicago at Kansas City- Wischusen and Ray Bentley (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.)
Mon., April 21
Philadelphia at Columbus- Pasch and Wiley (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., April 28
Dallas at Philadelphia- Wischusen and King (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., May 5
Chicago at Tampa Bay- Wischusen and King (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., May 12
Philadelphia at Georgia- TBD and Bentley (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., May 19
Los Angeles at Chicago- Wischusen and Bentley (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., May 26
Georgia at New Orleans- Tessitore and Wiley (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
Mon., June 2
New York at Colorado- Pasch and King (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.)
Mon., June 9
Los Angeles at Utah- Pasch and Wiley (ESPN2, 10 p.m.)
Mon., June 16
Colorado at Arizona- Pasch and King (ESPN2, 10 p.m.)
Sun., June 22
Dallas at Chicago- Wischusen and Bentley (ESPN2, 4 p.m.)
