The Notre Dame season begins today in South Bend, IN as the Fighting Irish host South Florida. And the matchup is a bit intriguing as South Florida coach Skip Holtz is the son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz and he’s an alum of the school. NBC airs the game at 3:30 p.m. today and this is what the network is saying about the game.
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL COVERAGE BEGINS SATURDAY ON NBC AS THE NO. 16 FIGHTING IRISH HOST SOUTH FLORIDA AT 3:30 P.M. ET
This Marks NBC Sports’ 21st Season Broadcasting Notre Dame Football
Pre-Game Show on VERSUS at 3 p.m. ET Includes Exclusive Interview with Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly
“This is a legitimate top-15 team.” – Mike Mayock on Notre Dame
“Look for a close game.” – Roland Williams
“This game will be a great measuring stick and a great test for the team.” Doug Flutie on Notre DameNEW YORK – September 1, 2011 – The NBC Sports Group kicks off its 28-game college football schedule this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC as the No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the University of South Florida Bulls. This marks NBC Sports’ 21st year of broadcasting Notre Dame Football.
NBC will surround coverage of every Notre Dame broadcast with a pre- and post-game college football studio show on VERSUS, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
COMMENTATORS: NBC’s Dan Hicks will step in to handle play-by-play for the first Notre Dame game of the season, while veteran announcer Tom Hammond is covering the World Track and Field Championships from Daegu, South Korea. Alongside Hicks will be analyst Mike Mayock, one of television’s premier college football and NFL Draft experts, is in his second season with NBC Sports as a Notre Dame game analyst, and sideline reporter Alex Flanagan.
VERSUS, to be re-branded NBC Sports Network on January 2, will provide pre- and post-game coverage from NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio at 30 Rock hosted by Liam McHugh with 1984 Heisman Trophy-winner Doug Flutie and Super Bowl champion and former NFL tight end Roland Williams starting at 3 p.m. ET. During Saturday’s halftime, Flutie will interview Notre Dame Quarterback Dayne Crist. Additionally, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com will join the studio crew at halftime to discuss the current NFL storylines.
MAYOCK ON NOTRE DAME: “This is a legitimate top-15 team in the country with three exciting playmakers on offense in Michael Floyd, Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood. Additionally, Notre Dame’s Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco has done a phenomenal job getting the defense to improve from week to week last year, and this year he has even more athletes on defense.”
MAYOCK ON SOUTH FLORIDA: “If their quarterback plays a clean game, meaning if he doesn’t turn the ball over, I believe USF has enough playmakers on offense and team speed on defense to get this team into the fourth quarter.”
FLUTIE ON NOTRE DAME: “It’s a year of high expectations for Notre Dame and this game will be a great measuring stick and a great test for the team. This is Brian Kelly’s second year at Notre Dame and traditionally he’s had great results in his second year of coaching.”
FLUTIE ON SOUTH FLORIDA: “They are a much better team than a lot of people realize.”
WILLIAMS ON THE MATCHUP: “Notre Dame Nation is eagerly anticipating the sophomore campaign of Coach Kelly and the Irish. USF may be first-time guests, but Head Coach Skip Holtz knows the terrain well and will pull out every trick to disrupt Dayne Crist. Look for a close game.”
Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly will celebrate his second year with the team after leading them to an 8-5 record last season. USF Head Coach Skip Holtz will return to his alma mater to lead the Bulls against Notre Dame for the first time in school history.
NBC will air seven Notre Dame games this season, including the first Fighting Irish home primetime game in 21 years when they host No. 25 USC on October 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
That’s all.
