ESPN releases 2013 CFB broadcast pairings
ESPN released their broadcast pairings for the 2013 college football season. Not much changes. Brian Griese still doing the ESPN afternoon broadcast with Dave Pasch, Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman for one of the ABC Saturday afternoon games, Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge on the ESPN Saturday Primetime game, and Musberger/Herbstreit on the ABC Saturday Primetime game. The biggest change is Friday night is now Carter Blackburn and Danny Kanell which is a huge downgrade from the days of Joe Tess and Rod Gilmore.
The full list: http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/08/espns-2013-college-football-game-announcer-pairings-unveiled/
For Michigan, we will probably draw Musberger/Herbstreit for Notre Dame, Joe Tess/Matt Millen or Nessler/Blackledge for PSU, and McDonough/Spielman for Ohio State. So we are probably going to have PSU and OSU alums calling color for both games. Fun.
August 13th, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^
...I can't wait.... to put the TV on mute.
August 13th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
Probably Millen.
August 13th, 2013 at 7:09 PM ^
I hear a lot of people say they hate Spielman. What's the deal? He's a good guy, he's funny, he's sorta that old school/hard nosed type. What's wrong with him? I really like his commentary. I know he's from Ohio, but I don't feel like he's a homer. He gives plenty of positive feedback about UM.
August 13th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^
Agree. It irks me to hear him announce The Game because on that day anything related to Ohio is irksome (at the least), but every other game I think he's pretty good. Honestly out of that group he's probably my favorite.
As for PSU, anyone but Millen. He acts like he actually knows football.
August 13th, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^
I don't know why but i'm on edge for the entirety of The Game. I develop Turrets, and find myself saying "I Fucking hate ohio state" every 10 secs.... anyone else?
August 13th, 2013 at 9:14 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^
I can't remember the last time we had an easy win against them, and considering all the losses in recent history, it makes it difficult to relax and actually enjoy the game until it's over. Looking at the history of the game the last time we won by more than 14 points which is basically what makes a game not close was 1993. I think we have only beaten them three times by more than 14 points since 1970...not exactly a relaxing game. Oddly enough, I think they have only beaten us the same number of times by more than 14 points in that span as well, which surprised me.
August 14th, 2013 at 8:18 AM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^
Whoops, my bad.
August 14th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^
His football related insights are good as well, and even if, as his detractors say (and I do not agree with this at all) his calls lean their way--so what.
August 13th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
no Matt Millen for Michigan games?!??!?!
Derp!
August 13th, 2013 at 4:58 PM ^
I didn't have that punchable picture.
August 13th, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 3:00 AM ^
I am up here in Napa this week on biz...and the local FM Sports Radio show out of Oakland had Millen on talking football and the Raiders. He totally dissed on Terrell Pryor...which is great....he said Pryor is a guy who is impossible to coach because you dont know what the hell he is going to do and cant count on him to stay in the pocket and make the read. Actually everything Millen said during the segment was both spot on and entertaining...
But whatever Millen says...can not erase the Stink of being the Worst GM in the history of the NFL. His record speaks for itself. ...but he can talk a great game.
August 14th, 2013 at 8:16 AM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
Spielman is a fantastic analyst, a good guy, and does a decent job of being impartial. I don't mind getting him on broadcasts at all.
Joe Tessitore is on the ladder. He might take over for Brent as the top guy whenever Brent retires.
I get excited for football just reading this stuff.
August 13th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
in Michigan-Ohio State games. I don't think he was anywhere near neutral the last two years in The Game. Almost sounded more like what you would expect out of a Buckeye color man than a national analyst.
August 13th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
if they tried a 3 man booth with McDonough, Spielman, and Griese for The Game. I think it would add some spice having one guy from both sides.
August 13th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 9:47 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 12:41 AM ^
I tend to like Spielman. It would be great to have him with Griese for OSU, exactly what I was thinking the other day.
August 13th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
Here's the known TV schedule to date so we can attempt to match up broadcast teams with games as well - LINK
More than likely, as someone mentioned, Herbstreit and Musberger get us in Week 2, but I assume they'll be at Georgia-Clemson the week before. The 8 PM game in Week 3 is Notre Dame-Purdue.
August 13th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 5:20 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
The new ESPN minor league broadcast team to avoid is Beth Mowins and Joey Galloway. Pray we don't ever end up on ESPN2 at noon.
August 13th, 2013 at 8:02 PM ^
And for the record, I'm not saying they are not qualified to call games. I just wish they would stop doing the puke voice thing that most announcers stopped doing 15 years ago.
August 14th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^
You are right about that. I too feel a woman is every bit as qualified as any guy to do play by play--but I do confess to personally not enjoying the game as much with a female play by play on football. Maybe I'm old, but something about the atmosphere calls out for a Jackson-like masculine voice in that game.
August 14th, 2013 at 12:40 AM ^
Hope we don't get him
August 13th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
Jesse Palmer will be replacing Pepper Brooks on ESPN 8 (aka the Ocho)
August 13th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
What a pompous stiff. Probably personally responsible for radio ratings increasing when people simulcast the radio with his broadcasts on the TV with the sound off.
August 13th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
Give Brent his due, he knows a pretty woman when he sees one.
August 13th, 2013 at 6:28 PM ^
Seriously. "Stiff" was a good word choice for him.
August 14th, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
+ a zillion points (Funny)
August 13th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 6:01 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^
Guess it's the B's for The Game again this year. Good thing I don't mind when the radio is 10 seconds ahead of the TV feed.
August 13th, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^
OK I laughed also as I typed that.
August 13th, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^
Nothing like homer announcers during big games to give my remote throwing hand a workout.
August 13th, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
and get Keith Jackson and Bob Griese together for The Game every year? Just one game only per year. I felt like he was the only thing missing from the 2006 game with OSU, outside of a M win.
August 13th, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 2:56 AM ^
I hate Spewman on TV... nothing against the guy, but an Ohio grad should not do the Michigan game. It was especially awful that year when he and Meyer did the game...
Spewman and his "TJ Floyd" can shut the fk up..IMHO.
August 14th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
Likes:
- Brad Nessler
- Brent Musberger
- Rece Davis
- Kirk Herbstreit
- Chris Spielman
- Mike Patrick (maybe the most underrated p/b/p man at the network); and who the hell is Ed Cunningham?
Hates:
- Millen
- Dave Pasch
- Todd Blackledge
- Sean McDonough
Hilarity:
- The fact that ESPN seems to have now almost fully codified the template in which two male announcers are paired in the booth, with a semi-hot female (or Holly Rowe) reporting from the sidelines. 9 out of 10 CFB broadcast teams are set that way. In the future, there may be a requirement that the sideline chick be named Jessica, Heather or Allison. Someday, there will no doubt be protests about this blatantly sexist stereotyping. The easy answer to the protesters would be, "Pam Ward."
August 14th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
Spielman is ok sometimes. He has his moments where I want to punch him in his throat.
I agree with this list though.
August 14th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^
Isnt that why Erin Andrews left? She basically said my "brand" is as big as some of the boys (Herbie, Nessler) so let me do some hosting gigs rather than being a sideline lackey and ESPN balked at her.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^
His commentary is fantastic, if you catch a game that he's covering I recommend listening for a little while.