With the college football season officially over and we transition over to the bowl games, it’s time to hand out the 3rd Annual College Football TV Awards. My goodness. Three years on this blog have gone by rather quickly. To compare, you can look at the inaugural and 2nd annual awards.
Let’s begin with the heavy awards right off the bat.
The College Gameday Best Pregame Show Award – College Gameday, ESPN. Even with Lee Corso affected by a stroke, the show did not miss a beat this year. It appeared ESPN made a concerted effort to go to locations that were not ESPN games. In addition, the show made visits to Mountain West schools, offsetting criticism that ESPN was ignoring non-BCS conferences. I liked the increased role for Desmond Howard this season. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit continue to be stars on the show. College Gameday the football version continues to be the best pregame show in sports, bar none.
The Keith Jackson Award for Best Play-by-Play – Verne Lundquist, CBS. Despite having poor games at the SEC Championship and Army-Navy last week, Verne locked up this award early. His best call was during the final moments of the LSU-Ole Miss game when the Tigers inexplicably wasted time, failing to call time out early, losing valuable seconds, then when a Hail Mary pass was caught with one second left, Verne was incredulous when LSU did not bring out its field goal unit to kick a potential winning figgy. It was the perfect call. In addition, Verne was on top of things early in the season. However, his poor performances in the last two games of the season bears watching.
Honorable mentions – Ron Franklin – ESPN/ABC, Sean McDonough – ABC and Brad Nessler – ESPN
The Frank Broyles Award for Best Color Analyst – Todd Blacklege, ESPN. I gave this to Gary Danielson the first two years, but I think he’s become an SEC apologist. He won’t give the other BCS conferences a fair shake and for this reason, I strip him of the award and hand it to Todd Blackledge. Todd was replaced by Gary Danielson at CBS when Todd decided he wanted to return to ESPN. Both Todd and Gary have become the elite analyst for their respective networks. He sees trends and sums up his analysis quite well. He doesn’t overthink in the booth, Blackledge allows the game to come to him and that’s a good thing. Teamed with Brad Nessler for the first time this season, I felt they meshed quite well to become a very good announcing team.
Honorable mentions – Gary Danielson – CBS, Pat Haden – NBC, Chris Spielman – ESPN
Best Overall Announcing Team – Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson, CBS. They have meshed so well over the last few seasons on CBS that they sometimes complete the other’s sentences. When Verne and Gary arrive for a game, fans know they’ll get solid work. As mentioned, Verne did have some slippage in his last two games for CBS, but I will give him a pass, however, this will be watched next season. Gary is a pro’s pro in the booth, but again, he’s become an SEC company man. I will watch that for next season as well.
Honorable mentions – Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge, ESPN; Mike Patrick/Craig James, ESPN/ABC; Tom Hammond/Pat Haden, NBC
The Jim Lampley Award for Best Studio Host – Tim Brando, CBS, in an upset over previous two-time winner Rece Davis. Tim had a very strong year in the studio for CBS. Not afraid to express an opinion about the BCS, Tim is like the comfortable pair of shoes you’ve had for ten years. They still fit. They still function. And they’re very comfy. Tim has been hosting the college football studio either for ESPN or CBS dating back to the 1980’s and he does it very well. I watched a lot of SEC football this season and I found myself appreciating Tim’s work once again. When he does play-by-play, Tim dabbles too much in cliches, but when he’s hosting the SEC on CBS studio, he’s nuts and bolts, gives you the scores, hands off to Spencer Tillman for the highlights and is back to the scoreboard. That’s what you want in a host. Very solid work.
Honorable mentions – Rece Davis – ESPN, John Saunders – ABC, Jimmy Roberts – NBC
Best Studio Analyst – Jesse Palmer, ABC. I really didn’t want to like Jesse stemming from his days appearing on “The Bachelor,” but I’ve grown to like him. Maybe it was seeing him in person at the ESPN Media Workshop in August, whatever it was, I feel Jesse has become a very good analyst. Replacing the horrible tandem of Doug Flutie and Craig James, Palmer got to shine with John Saunders in the ABC studio on Saturdays. He’s also become an excellent game analyst working Thursday Night Football with James and the filibustering Chris Fowler. Palmer’s very smooth and he’s very good with the quotes in the studio. I look forward to seeing him for a long time at ESPN. I really mean that.
Honorable mentions – Spencer Tillman – CBS, Kirk Herbstreit – ESPN
The Jack Arute Award for Best Sideline Reporter – No one. Charissa Thompson broke her foot and missed a host of games for Big Ten Network so she gets an incomplete this season. Erin Andrews is more of a personality on the sidelines. Lisa Salters is ok, but not worthy of getting this award. So we leave this category blank for 2009.
Most Valuable Network – CBS. Under its first year of a new 15 year contract with the SEC, CBS had the first pick of games every week throughout the season and it led to excellent ratings. The ratings were so good, CBS was able to run to its highest viewership for college football since 1996 outpacing ABC, ESPN and NBC for the entire season. Plus, its coverage of the SEC is second to none. I feel CBS’ coverage of college football has outpaced ESPN and NBC this season.
Best Overall Coverage – CBS. The replays are mostly spot on. Production is excellent. The telecasts always give you the feel of the pageantry of the game. Great work by the SEC on CBS team throughout the season.
The Phil Stone Award for Worst Play-by-Play – Pam Ward, ESPN. She’s close to retiring this award and having it renamed in her dishonor. I think there are other women who can call the games. I feel ESPN is being stubborn by continuing to have her call the noon games on ESPN2.
Dishonorable mentions – Terry Gannon – ESPN/ABC; Joe Tessitore – ESPN
Worst Analyst (Studio or Game) – Ray Bentley, ESPN. Teamed with the worst play-by-play announcer in college football, Ray is just plain awful at analysis. Originally on Fox’s NFL coverage in the 1990’s, Ray is to college football as Julia Roberts is to acting. Both are horrible.
Worst Sideline Reporter – Tracy Wolfson, CBS. The only drawback to CBS’ coverage is Tracy Wolfson. Some of her questions drew double takes from coaches during pregame, at halftime and during postgame. I thought some coaches would tell her off and some questions make you wonder if she’s actually watching the game.
Dishonorable mention – Rob Stone – ESPN
Most Bizarre Moment – Bob Griese – ESPN for his “out having a taco” comment regarding NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya during the Minnesota-Ohio State game.
For his troubles, Bob was suspended one game. It’s always dangerous when the announcers veer away from the game and have to discuss upcoming network programming. I feel the live reads should be banned and if the networks want to promote upcoming programs, run taped promos. It’s always safer and you won’t get moments like you saw with Griese.
Worst Studio Show – College Football Live, ESPN, only when hosted by the arrogant Erik Kuselias. Why ESPN continues to subject “I’m Mr. Mensa” Kuselias to an audience is beyond me. He’s awful as a studio host. He’s terrible on the radio. And he comes off as Mr. Know It All when hosting College Football Live. He makes the show one of the worst viewing experiences. When I see Kuselias hosting the show, I immediately shut off the TV and drink 140 proof vodka straight up. Thank you.
Worst Treatment of a Legend – Ron Franklin by ESPN. Ron is one of the classiest announcers on TV, however, he’s being treated as if ESPN wants to force him out. No longer doing the main primetime game for ESPN, he was relegated to mop up duty this past season. That’s not how you treat a man who is well known in Big 12 country and is loved by college football fans all over. And because he was removed from Big 12 basketball games this season by ESPN, Ron has decided to retire in April. After Keith Jackson, Ron is one of the best college football announcers of all-time. He should have been given one of the primetime games for either ESPN or ESPN2, but instead, he was given either the third 3:30 p.m. game or the barely seen “B” primetime game for ABC. Ron deserved better.
And that will conclude our College Football TV Awards for 2009.
