NFL Talent Calling College Games...

**d4nim4l** · 01-06-2010, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by acgclone

I agree. I've never understood why fans get so upset about that. Are these guys supposed to learn 60 or so pronounciations in a few days of prep?

Even if you've heard them, it doesn't always roll off the tip of your tounge correctly in the real world.

Originally Posted by mac4cy

Mispronouncing names happens all the time. I am a teacher and that is one of the hardest things to do on the first day. Trying to get the names right is d*** near impossible. Some names look like they should be said this way and they are not. On a side note Ferentz referred to Georgia Tech as Wake Forest last night in the post game.

One thing no one ever talks about is the value of the SIDs that each school has. There was a shot in some of our bowl practice photos that showed the NFL Network guys at practice a few days before the game talking to ISU's SID. That is a perfect time to get little facts and... the correct pronunciation of names. Hell, Iowa State even spells out some names phoenetically on the roster.

In bowl games, when announcers have a few days to prep for the game, they should be able to bring it and sound like they have actually researched the teams playing.

**Tre4ISU** · 01-06-2010, 09:59 AM

Charles Davis is a college announcer. That is why it's so pathetic. He is the worst I have have ever heard do color. Give me Kirk and Brent any day. Those guys work together every week and really seem to mesh well.

**Cutlass** · 01-06-2010, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

I guess I'm one of the 5% who doesn't. Unless they put them on ESPN360, I guess I'll just be one viewer who won't be watching next year. The BCS games aren't a big enough deal to me to swing me into getting cable/satellite TV (especially now that I have 30+ HD OTA channels available), or to head out to a bar to watch them all. If ISU is playing, I would head out to a friend's place for that game.

What is the quality of the HD on the basic cable tiers that would carry ESPN?

The Dallas Cowboys make arrangements to have any cable-only games (i.e MNF on ESPN) broadcast over a local OTA channel. From what I'm told, other NFL teams do this as well. To me, this seems to indicate that there is a significant demographic of sports viewers that does not have cable/satellite.

I'm in that 5% too, so no more BCS games for me. ESPN doesn't put Monday Night Football on 360, so I doubt they'll put the BCS games on either. Kinda sucks, but I'll get over it.

**khess83** · 01-06-2010, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

I'm in that 5% too, so no more BCS games for me. ESPN doesn't put Monday Night Football on 360, so I doubt they'll put the BCS games on either. Kinda sucks, but I'll get over it.

I am one of the 5% in the fact that I don't have cable or satellite. So I will probably head to the local tap to watch the games and I am interested in and just ignore the rest. Oh well.

**pulse** · 01-06-2010, 10:42 AM

When I flipped onto the channel around halftime for abut 3.67 seconds, I thought what in the world is Jimmy Johnson doing there. He's probably seen Iowa and GT play less this year than I have. And I've only seen Iowa play once. I then proceeded to change the channel.

**CYdTracked** · 01-06-2010, 10:50 AM

The 1 name that kept bugging me was them calling Trey Stross "Terry"

**larry** · 01-06-2010, 10:54 AM

I'm also in the minority here as well. Have to wait and see as far as ESPN 360 goes. I know MNF was not broadcast there, but that might have more to do with the NFL than ESPN, like the NFL didn't sell ESPN the rights to broadcast on the internet(and also have access to it later for replays).

**khess83** · 01-06-2010, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by cyclonenum1

Your overall premise is correct...not just for the talent but the overall production of these games on Fox has been inferior to what ESPN/ABC/CBS do on a regular basis.

You are wrong on Pat Sumarall...he is retired...the Cotton Bowl is the only game he has done in quite a few years. You are wrong that Fox is using their big NFL guns...none of the guys doing these BCS games is on either their first or second announcing crew.

ISU getting a bowl on the NFL Network was really a bad break...it is almost like that old saying...if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound if no one is there to hear it (if a CFB bowl game appears on the NFL Network did it really happen if no one was able to see it). Unfortunately, ISU got no pregame pub on ESPN, no casual fan viewers (sure ISU fans were able to seek out the NFL Network but non-vested fans certainly did not seek it out), and virtually no postgame analysis. Just too bad IMO.

I realize Sumarall is retired, but he is still calling one of the bigger college football games of the year and he is terrible. Unfortunately, the man is losing his broadcast skills. For example, during the game one of the backs, probably Toston, from OSU busted a long run, Sumarall didn't say a word as soon as the play started and as the back was making moves all over the field. 10 seconds of dead air. When the play was over the only thing he said was the back's name all the way down to the 10 yardline.

By Fox's big guns, I meant the pre-game, halftime, and post-game crews. Not the actual play by play.

In any event you are correct in stating that the overall product was inferior. Fox treated the games as second rate and they definitely came off that way.

**CycloneErik** · 01-06-2010, 11:12 AM

It was odd when they referred to GT as Georgia Southern.

The Orange Bowl committee chairperson was awkwardly funny as she awarded the trophy to the "Iowa.......team."

**Clark** · 01-06-2010, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

It was odd when they referred to GT as Georgia Southern.

The Orange Bowl committee chairperson was awkwardly funny as she awarded the trophy to the "Iowa.......team."

That lady was....different. I've been around drunk people who made more sense than her.

**garn91** · 01-06-2010, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by larry

I'm also in the minority here as well. Have to wait and see as far as ESPN 360 goes. I know MNF was not broadcast there, but that might have more to do with the NFL than ESPN, like the NFL didn't sell ESPN the rights to broadcast on the internet(and also have access to it later for replays).

From the ESPN.com link in this thread:

The games will also be carried on ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Digital Media rights include operation of the official BCS Web site and the opportunity to simulcast the games online at ESPN360.com and on ESPN Mobile TV for mobile devices.

**weR138** · 01-06-2010, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by mac4cy

Mispronouncing names happens all the time. I am a teacher and that is one of the hardest things to do on the first day. Trying to get the names right is d*** near impossible. Some names look like they should be said this way and they are not. On a side note Ferentz referred to Georgia Tech as Wake Forest last night in the post game.

This is the point isn't it? If you're making first day mistakes commenting on the Orange Bowl which you've known you're supposed to do for (presumably) weeks you are unprofessional. It was clear that Jimmy Johnson knew nothing about either team and didn't particularly care. That is bull****.

**dualthreat** · 01-06-2010, 12:23 PM

I thought the guy on NFL network does a good job. He liked comparing everyone to the NFL too much, but I thought he did ok.

Charles Davis used to be on TBS and I always liked him announcing games. He seemed to know the game of football very well, even if he didn't know how to pronounce every players name.

**SmokinH2O** · 01-06-2010, 12:38 PM

I think ESPN just does that good of a job. They make everything/everyone look and sound inferior. Granted, I don't think Fox did a great job in any aspect but I really didn't have any major issues with the announcers last night. It was better than watching what ever was on any other TV station. I guess it just makes me appreciate what ESPN provides that much more. ESPN has set the bar and that's what we all expect now.