What do you think of the ESPN2 crew?
I think they're doing a nice job of (trying to) analyze some plays. They had a cool breakdown of Tate's TD run against ND. Ultimately though, Pam Ward is unbearable. Anytime she's announcing a game, my viewing experience sucks. (Might partially also be that fact that she only gets the less interesting opponents)
September 26th, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
Repeatedly, she said Michigan scored in 1 play on their opening drive.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:49 PM ^
The breakdown of Tate's TD run was terrible. They completely wiffed on describing how the read option works.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
Yeah, but you gotta admit the graphics were pretty cool!
The guy also repeatedly circled the wrong player when looking for Brandon Graham. At least he's trying though.
And what's the deal with this Wendy Hicks? I haven't heard a single update from her yet?
September 26th, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
I like the half-time crew, but overall I think espn 2 is better than BTN because it seems on every commercial break the BTN is still showing the last commercial while the play has started then they go back to the game once the play is over
September 26th, 2009 at 1:55 PM ^
Definitely ESPN2>B10 Network except the announcers for this game are just terrible. This could be skewed by my increasingly foul mood though.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
The halftime bunch is losing standing.
They have now twice said that Indiana is down by 2 at the half.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
always have been.
The women is completely unaware and makes numerous errors throughout the broadcast. Such as saying M scored on its 1st play from scrimmage (it was the 2nd) not even 2 plays after it happened and repeating the same error.
She missed an Indiana touchdown call.....ok for Keith Jackson in his 70's to miss, not ok for her in her 40's.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
All of our announcers so far, as well as the whole ESPN crew, repeatedly refer to Denards first touchdown as his first collegiate snap. It was not, it was his first as quarterback, but he was in at slot for one play prior to it. I haven't seen anyone correct this.
Unless I'm way off base, but that's how I remember it, sadly the game is gone from my Tivo now.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^
I try not to
September 26th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
but Ward and Bentley are just not worth listening to. He's not bad (but not good) at color but Pam is just lousy.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
Is this a serious question. These two are AWFUL. Tate is a redshirt freshman according to the one and only Pam Ward.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:49 PM ^
I also thought this was an absurd way of describing tate's early enrollment. Honestly I almost puked thinking about how little you would have to know about football in order to word vomit that much.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
I was sick from being upset most of the game, and mostly drunk the fourth quarter. With that said, the least informed person involved in the coverage was Pam Ward, who made up for it with a 'know it all' smirk tone in her voice.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
Ray Bentley was atrocious. He had no f-ing clue what he was talking about the entire time. I could have done a better job of analyzing this game, and I st-st-st-stutter.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
Which is setting the bar pretty low, I admit.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
A lot of little things were wrong. They referred to Roundtree as making a play on defense, I think (not Bentley/Ward, but on top of the score where they use text to show who made the play). And they said Lalota caught a pass when Odoms did. And Bentley called J.T. Floyd T.J. Floyd. Little things like that.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^
Glad someone else caught the LaLota bit.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
I thought I was on another planet. A planet where defensive linemen are eligible receivers.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
Yeah, it's because Roundtree and Floyd both wear #12. I think they also credited Brandon Minor a special teams penalty. Didn't see who it was really on, but I found it hard to believe that Minor would have a holding (?) call on a return. Anyone remember the play I'm thinking of?
September 26th, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^
Listening to Pam Ward talk is like cleaning out my ear canal with a sandpaper Q-tip. I understand she's a woman working in a man's world, but does she have to affect the most masculine voice possible? She sounds like she's about to start talking about how much she puts up on the bench press.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
I was not making it up in the CiL when I said that my boyfriend watched the entire first half and was completely unaware of the fact that Pam Ward was a woman until they cut to a shot of Ward/Bentley in the booth at the half.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:11 PM ^
I wouldn't think that a visual of Pam Ward would settle her gender that easily.
HEY OH!
September 26th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
Fe-mullet about says it all.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:49 PM ^
Ray Bentley does not understand the definition of the word "indisputable", and Pam Ward is... Pam Ward.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
This was a game better listened to on the radio with the TV muted.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
understand anything he see's.
Tate's arm is clearly draggin down by waist and he's flexing his wrist.........Bentley says he just had the wind knocked out of him.
Even friggin Pam Ward picked up on Tates bad arm.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
I slept til 11:15. I was still a bit groggy when the game started, and the first two drives went well enough; it was becoming a good day. Then came the rest of the game.
I spent the remainder of my viewing alternately screaming at the dog, throwing cheez-its, burying my head in my hands, and running to the door to smoke. I'm somehow afraid of the remaining B10 season. Losing Molk hurt a lot.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
to Beckmann. Won't listen to Ward and Bentley.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
we play on ESPN2 b/c of the shitty broadcast crew they get.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
How many times did this guy call any formation involving a running QB the wildcat? It's not a wildcat simply because your QB is mobile. Also, Pam Ward's refusal to engage the makeup team for ESPN is borderline criminal.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:52 PM ^
Seriously; I remember seeing multiple times the QB trotted out with two tailbacks. "Oh hey, here's another Wildcat look."
September 26th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Did she used to be a man at some point? I'm not trying to diss, I'm seriously wondering.
Her voice is irritating, though... She sounds like a hoarse pubescent boy.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
is one of the worst announcers i've ever heard....ever. And my god, can they please not cut to her ugly mug in the booth. She has a face for radio, and a haircut for rodeo.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:32 PM ^
I would rather hear gunshots coming from my children's bedroom than listen to Pam Ward announce a football game.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:38 PM ^
Pam is an example of why women should never be doing a man's job. Besides what was mentioned early, anyone else hear her refer to Indiana's O-line as big 'blocky' guys? She sounds like a 6 year old.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
"Pam is an example of why women should never be doing a man's job."
I'm guessing you're single.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:14 PM ^
Anyone else find it awkward and hilarious that the commentator opposite Pam Ward (sorry, can't remember his name) kept saying that Denard "can make lemonade"? I realize that he had previously dropped the snap, but when you don't say "he can take lemons and" first, it just sounds weird.
Almost on par with the "givin' him the skittles" bit from the BTN last week."
September 26th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
It is delicious schadenfreude that she cover a lot of MSU games.
I was at the game today, but I watched some of it on the DVR.
I think she referred to Death Roh as linebacker.
Inexcusable.