Fox announcer Eric Collins calls University of Maryland versus University of Southern California football game Credit: Fox Sports
By Drew Lerner on

With about two minutes to go during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s University of Maryland versus University of Southern California football game, Terps fans began filing out of SECU Stadium early. This tortured Terps fan included. It’s a familiar feeling for anyone who follows Maryland football, and after a failed fourth down conversion gave USC the football back, up a touchdown and already in field goal range, another disappointing result felt all but certain.

However, Fox college football announcer Eric Collins, who called the game for FS1, showed a bit more optimism for Maryland’s chances than their own fans. And thankfully, it led to a series of electric calls the chronicled an unlikely Terrapins comeback against the Trojans.

Starting with a 41-yard field goal attempt by USC with just under two minutes left in the game, Collins brought the energy level from 0 to 100 about as quickly as any announcer has ever done it.

“Blooooooooooooocked! And a pitch! Are you kidding me!?” Collins bellowed. Not even a minute later, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards would scamper into the end zone to tie the game at 28, extra point pending.

“Keeper. Edwards. Touchdown Maryland!” Even Collins’ call of the go-ahead extra point had some juice!

And to put a bow on it all, Collins’ call of a do-or-die fourth down for USC as they approached field goal range for a potential game-winning kick had all the energy to meet the moment.

“Fourth down. Marks. Dropped it! He dropped it! Caleb Wheatland forced him to drop the ball. And that’ll do it!”

By no means was this battle of Big Ten basement dwellers the biggest game of the week, but it’s refreshing to hear an announcer that makes a game feel important, even if it isn’t on a national scale. And if one does find themselves watching a game with little national relevance, the experience is definitely elevated by an excited announcer. Eric Collins certainly delivered in that regard.

About Drew Lerner

Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.

View all posts by Drew Lerner