NBC has sent us a pregame preview of tonight’s Football Night in America which features an interview with Archie and Olivia Manning conducted by none other than Bob Costas. Of course, it’s in advance of the New York Giants-Indianapolis Colts game quarterbacked by brothers Eli and Peyton Manning. So here’s a transcript of the interview.
BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS ARCHIE & OLIVIA MANNING TONIGHT ON “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” AT 7 PM ET ON NBC“I thank the offensive lines every night in my prayers that they protect them so well.” – Olivia Manning to Bob Costas
“They talk about the day Eli dunked over Peyton.” – Archie Manning to Bob CostasNEW YORK – September 19, 2010 – Bob Costas interviews Archie and Olivia Manning, the parents of NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, on tonight’s “Football Night in America” in advance of “Manning Bowl II,” which features the brothers competing against each other when the Indianapolis Colts host the New York Giants tonight on “Sunday Night Football” on NBC.“Football Night” airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC with Costas, who won the outstanding studio host Emmy last year, hosting the program live from inside the stadium. He is joined on site by SNF commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) for reaction to the afternoon games.Dan Patrick co-hosts “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach and Emmy-nominated Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Alex Flanagan reports from the New Meadowlands Stadium on the Patriots-Jets game.Also on “Football Night in America” tonight:
- Highlights, analysis and reaction to Week 2’s afternoon games
- Home movies of the Manning brothers as children.
- Thoughts and opinions on “Manning Bowl II” from Dungy, who was the Colts head coach for the original Manning Bowl in 2006.
Below are excerpts from Costas’ exclusive interview with the Mannings airing tonight on ‘Football Night in America.Costas: How difficult is it to watch your sons play?Olivia: I’m very nervous for them when they play. And I don’t take that for granted when they get back up. I thank the offensive lines every night in my prayers that they protect them so well.Costas: I know there was a five-year difference so they were never directly competing. When Eli started to assert himself as a ballplayer, was there ever a moment of friction or drifting apart?Archie: A big part of their youth was basketball in the backyard. It was for all of us. We even had Olivia play in the games. They talk about the day that Eli dunked over Peyton.Olivia: There was friction that day.Archie: He (Eli) had grown…But very little (friction). We’re glad they’re good brothers and they get along.Costas: What’s difference in the phone call that comes after a loss as opposed to one that comes after a win?Olivia: The phone call doesn’t really come after a loss. We call them and leave a message.Archie: It doesn’t take them long to start talking about next week or correcting it or turning it around. They’ve been there.Olivia: And then they’ll ask about each other. If Peyton doesn’t know much about Eli’s game, if Eli was playing at the same time, ‘What happened to the Giants? I know they won or I know they lost.’ That never changes.Costas: Can you cheer at all? What do you do?Olivia: I’m going to cheer because I don’t want to sit there looking miserable.Archie: The first time (the 2006 game) that was probably a dumb philosophy on my part. I said, ‘Look, we’re not going to get caught here. I know the camera is going to be on us. It could show up later like we’re cheering for one child against the other.’ So after the game our friends said, ‘Y’all looked so miserable at that game.’ I said ‘We weren’t’ miserable. We just weren’t’ going to get caught.’ So I don’t know what we’re going to do.Olivia: I don’t know what is the best way to act…but we are really proud.
That will do it for now.
