The fact that this is the 7th time that these awards have been handed out shows that your humble blogger has been doing this for a long time.
With that said, it’s time to look at the best and worst in college football broadcasting in 2013. There’s been a lot of moments to consider. Let’s review the season that was in college football on television.
Thanks to the debut of Fox Sports 1, we have a bigger pool to consider for studio programming, hosts, play-by-play and analysts. Let’s do this without further delay.
The College GameDay Award for Best Pregame Show — This award goes to College GameDay of ESPN. Yes, it’s easy to give this award to College GameDay, but it’s head and shoulders above the rest. The program is beginning to show its age as it expanded to a full three hours after being on for just two on ESPN and being on for one on ESPNU previously hosted by Erin Andrews and then Samantha Steele. With Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard being on for three hours with some cameos from Tom Rinaldi, David Pollack and Paul Finebaum, GameDay began to drag midway through the show, only to ramp up again in the final half-hour. Maybe it’s best the show go back to two hours and reduce the cast. Still, the other college football pregames cannot match the content and the chemistry of GameDay.
Best Highlights Show — Renaming this category from last year’s Best Studio Show, this goes to College Football Final, ESPN2. A comprehensive wrap up of every college football Saturday, this show has the highlights down pat. Rece Davis is an excellent host. However, both Lou Holtz and Mark May need to go. Perhaps Davis’ Thursday Night booth partners Jesse Palmer and David Pollack would make for a better cast with Rece.
Best Debut — Andrew Catalon, CBS Sports Network and Joel Klatt, Fox Sports 1 (tie). Andrew Catalon became the Voice of Mountain West football on CBS Sports Network and he showed why he’s and up-and-comer. He calls a good game and he allowed the action to breathe instead of force-feeding a storyline. And because of his calls on Mountain West games, CBS has given him some late-season NFL assignments.
Joel Klatt has called Big 12 games on Fox Sports Net and got a bigger stage when Fox Sports 1 launched in August. He has shown some excellent versatility as a game analyst, a studio analyst, substitute studio host and update anchor for the NFL on Fox. As the FS1 launch was getting closer, Fox officials were telling sports media observers that Klatt would be a star. Turns out that they were right.
The Keith Jackson Award for Best Play-by-Play — Brad Nessler, ESPN/ABC. A very good nuts-and-bolts announcer. He calls both Thursday Night Football on NFL Network and primetime college football for ESPN/ABC. He works well with his partners Mike Mayock and Todd Blackledge. Nessler does very well in recognizing trends and allowing his analysts to expand on points. Very good play-by-play man.
The Frank Broyles Award for Best Game Analyst — Todd Blackledge, ESPN/ABC. Yes, Brad’s partner goes here. I think he’s surpassed Gary Danielson and Mike Mayock as best college football analyst on television. He’s not afraid to criticize and he can first-guess plays. In addition, Todd’s segments on local eateries is a welcome addition to games. Just don’t watch them when you’re hungry. I can attest to this personally.
Best Announcing Team — Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson, CBS. It’s easy to criticize Uncle Verne for his slippage and Danielson for being an SEC shill, but this team has very good chemistry. Verne and Gary work well off each other. Tracy Wolfson is one of the better sideline reporters in the business. Their work was best illustrated in consecutive games at Jordan Hare Stadium in November when Auburn won the “Prayer at Jordan Hare” against Georgia and then the Iron Bowl win over Alabama. All bases were covered in play-by-play, analysis and interviews.
The Jim Lampley Award for Best Studio Host — Rece Davis, ESPN. I’m waiting for the day when Rece blows up at Lou Holtz and Mark May. The man is a saint for putting up with them. Davis does excellent work in providing in-game updates, the halftime show, in-progress scoreboard programs and College Football Final. That’s a long day not to mention the Holtz and May factors. ESPN is fortunate to have two frontline hosts for college football in Chris Fowler and Rece Davis. Some networks can’t even boast one.
Best Studio Analyst — Spencer Tillman, CBS. Spencer gets some love here. An ardent critic of the Bowl Championship Series, Tillman isn’t afraid to express an opinion. For years, it was just Tillman and host Tim Brando with various guest analysts. This year, Tillman shares the set with Brian Jones (more him later). He doesn’t yell, he doesn’t scream, he allows his words to speak for themselves and he’s very good.
The Jack Arute Award for Sideline Reporting — Heather Cox, ESPN/ABC. This season, Heather was criticized for her tough questions of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston just days after Florida prosecutors elected not to charge him with sexual assault. Isn’t that her job? Some said it wasn’t the right time or place. Then when is the right time? Is it Heather’s job to back off and ask softball questions? C’mon. She was doing her job and asked the right questions. Cox’s body of work speaks for itself. She doesn’t have to explain herself to you, me, Florida State or anyone else. She wins this award hands down for the second year in a row.
Most Valuable Network — CBS. Fifth straight year of the SEC on CBS being the highest-rated and most-watched college football regular season package. Say no more.
Best Overall Coverage — SEC on CBS. Production is top notch. Work is on a par with the Sunday Night Football production which I feel is the best on television.
Best Move — Fox installing Rob Stone as main studio host. Putting Rob Stone on the halftime updates and Fox College Saturday on the Fox Mothership was a brilliant move. Stone is a highly qualified host and he works well with his partners whether it be in college football or soccer.
The Pam Ward Award for Worst Play-by-Play — Craig Bolerjack, Fox Sports/Fox Sports 1. Read 2011’s post on why Bolerjack gets this award.
Worst Analyst, Game or Studio — Brian Jones, CBS. No need to yell, dude. See Spencer Tillman above.
The Erin Andrews Award for Worst Studio Host — Erin Andrews, Fox Sports 1. This season, Fox adjusted her role to host Fox College Saturday on Fox Sports 1 at 10 a.m. ET and gave her a better cast. While Erin did better this year than last, she is still ill-suited as a host. Rob Stone subbed for her while she was away on the MLB Postseason and he had better chemistry. I’m sure Fox will have her host the show again next year. I hope she improves.
Most Bizarre Moment — Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit interviewing Eminem. Where do you even begin? Eminem looked out of place. Brent asked him if the Detroit Lions would cover the point spread. Kirk Herbstreit tried to ask a question and Eminem jokingly cut him off. It was truly the most bizarre moment of the 2013 season.
Most Bizarre Lee Corso Moments — Yes, we have more than one. First, Bill Murray bodyslamming Corso at Clemson.
Second, Corso firing off guns again, this time in Stillwater, OK.
And finally, Corso and Herbstreit have a sword fight at USC and Lee gets cut. Oh my.
And that concludes our Awards for 2013.
