Outback Bowl Announcers Chosen
Per ESPN release, the announcers for the bowl will be Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden. The sideline reporter will be Shannon Spake.
Thoughts? I'm definitely not a huge fan of Gruden, personally, but I do like Tirico most of the time.
Link: http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/12/61713/
December 5th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
once Gruden takes the Tennessee job?
December 5th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
Bruce Pearl?
December 5th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
University of Dayton Alum.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
and usually has some good insight. Would not have minded Mr Griese though.
December 5th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
Go Flyers!
December 5th, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^
everybody and everything - there won't be any hating vibe that's for sure. Plus every Michigan player will be described in a "Fred Jackson" style........love it - plus I will be hungover so sound will probably be turned down a touch.
December 5th, 2012 at 9:32 PM ^
"See [veteran NFL player] here? I like this guy. I call him the workhorse. You know why I call him that [rookie NFL player's nickname]? 'Cause he's a workhorse."
Love listening to Gruden. He's this generation's John Madden and I have no problem with that!
December 5th, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^
Scouting his new Badgers team.
December 5th, 2012 at 5:34 PM ^
I hear the skiing in Colorado is nice this time of year. Perhaps he will pass by Boulder to investigate the infrastructure the football program has been building.
~Herm
December 5th, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^
Not as nice as the beaches in south Florida though, Gruden's kicking the tires at FIU right now
December 5th, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
I couldn't diagree more. I love Gruden. The guy knows football, particularly offense, and is as enthusiastic as they come. The only downside to this may be that he probably isn't able to watch as much college football as other announcers, but to be honest that probably means he'll have a fresher perspective and rely more on the film he'll watch on both teams.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
But enthusiasm doesn't necessarily lead to good things. McGary is enthusiastic about playing basketball, but that high energy can lead to good things (like 5-5 FG's) and also mistakes (like 4 turnovers). I think he sometimes doesn't know how to stop talking and just let the game stand for itself, a lot of what he says doesn't add a ton of value for me.
Also, I just don't like the sound of his voice. Just a preference thing.
December 5th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
Gruden's gushing can be a bit much, but he really is a quality announcer, especially given the other options. I don't know how many times I've heard him say something like "I wouldn't be surprised to see X happen right now" and it inevitably does. And his X is usually pretty specific.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
I like Tirico a lot, and Gruden doesn't bother me much. I'm just thankful it's not BTN. Or Pam Ward.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
Surprised it isn't Herbstreit and Spielman with Casey Anthony as the sideline reporter.
/s
December 5th, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^
I hear Urban Meyer is free this bowl season, I enjoyed his commentary last year.
~Herm
December 5th, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
Tirico lives in A2. Good choices.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
I don't love Gruden, but that's a lot better than the vast majority of shitty announcers that I hate, so I'll take it. I'm pretty relieved, actually. He'll say lots of nice things about our players, and as an actual coach I respect his opinion. He does lay it on a little thick, but he doesn't just talk out of his ass to fill the entire broadcast like some announcers do.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^
I would pick them over any team other than Buck/Aikman. Sure, I like Herbstreit's commentary, but he's so often paired with Musburger who makes me nauseous.
Tirico is pleasant and critical enough; Gruden is very good at picking apart a play and explaining the keys to it.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
Turico is a Michigan guy, and Gruden is the man. I guarantee you Gruden will watch 20+ hours of film on both South Carolina and Michigan and be fully prepared to break down the game as he sees it. He's a coach at heart and it will be great to hear his insight on our team.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
I wonder how many times Gruden will slip up and say he's a "National Football League player"
December 5th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
That's one of the better teams out there. A lot better than the pair doing the Ohio game, couldn't switch over to Brandstatter quick enough.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 3:03 PM ^
I don't have much of an opinion on Gruden, but Tirico sucks as a play-by-play guy. He doesn't have the voice for it. He is a studio host who ended up with a play-by-play job merely by default because he worked for ESPN. Much like Steve Levy. Disney no longer tries to get great play-by-play guys like they used to. If they have an opening, they just pluck somebody from the sidelines or the studio, regardless of whether they have the voice or the elocution for it. That's how Pam Ward, Dave Ryan, and Mark Jones got their jobs. Just about every play-by-play guy on ESPN who is really good has been doing the job for over 20 years.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
that way when John Saunders calls games, but I like Tirico. I think he is an underrated play by play guy.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
I don't remember John Saunders calling any games.
Chris Fowler is another guy who is fantastic as a booth host but really bad as a play-by-play guy, and who only does play-by-play because he was a pre-established ESPN personality.
Tirico's excited calls are particularly high pitched and annoying.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
John Saunders called Michigan v. Pitt at MSG, didn't he?
December 5th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
I'm pretty sure John Saunders called our basketball game against Pitt but I could be mistaken.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^
TomVH calling a game might be interesting, though.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
I think Gruden is pretty good at the Xs and Os.
December 5th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
Right. Gruden is one of the very few who really gets into the X's and O's. Chris Collinsworth does too, but it seems to me not as much as he used to. The best at this is Mike Mayock of the NFL Network Thursday night games. He also does Notre Dame for NBC. Brian mentioned in the UFR on how excellent he was during this year's Michigan-Notre Dame game.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^
Tirico rarely does Michigan games, despite living in Ann Arbor.
The last two I remember him doing was Braylonfest in 04 and Iowa in 05, both of them overtime wins.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
But he did the Alamo Bowl we were in most recently. Actually met him and Herbstreit at the bar before the game.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
I stand corrected. But we won't go into that game.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 10:44 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
So are you Angelique or Wojo?
December 6th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
But I'm probably more a Wojo than an Angelique.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
I don't recall any Alamo Bowl game with UM in it.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
Was really looking forward to Pam Ward.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
December 5th, 2012 at 7:39 PM ^
How could it not be sarcasm?
December 5th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
I'm happy with this selection. Gruden at least provides actual X's and O's insight. Tirico's great. Of course, if Michigan is losing I find EVERY announcer to be annoying, no matter who they are. Lol
December 5th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
Does that say more about the state of sideline reporting, or me?
December 5th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
I was just about to mention that we are leaving out the fact that we get Shannon Spake for this game, too. Yes, please.
December 5th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
It could be worse!
December 5th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
love them together on monday night football