Because Your Television Has Sound…

… this information will impact you this fall. ESPN/ABC released its announcing teams for the networks this fall. Most of the teams have remained the same but there are some notable changes.

For the full lineup, head over to Awful Announcing. As far as the first weekend is concerned, here is the partial lineup for August 28 – August 30.

My initial reactions include:

• My first reaction is the one I have had for the last few years; I miss Ron Franklin on Saturday ESPN night games. The Franklin/Gottfried team will forever remind me of my more naïve, formative years when watching the Saturday night SEC game was a special treat. It was before ABC Primetime and the (worthless) ESPN Gameplan package. It signaled the end of the day and that duo had a way of making every game, and Saturday, interesting. 

He has a capable sidecar in Ed Cunningham and Jack Arute is still great despite his racing leanings, but the team is relegated to Big 12 games at inopportune times. Perhaps, I will go out of my way to watch a Franklin game or two this fall, but I don’t anticipate the vibe I used to know.

• Second, I was 100% positive ESPN was going to cancel Mike Patrick’s contract after the Britney Spears saga from last season (part one, part two). It was, without question, the most bizarre non-sequitur I can remember that was not from Chappelle’s Show. But since Patrick is back to call the action, I would like to challenge him to come up with another entertaining, albeit totally irrelevant pop culture storyline that he can awkwardly weave through the season. And, no Brad and Angelina. That is way too easy.

• Yeah, he puts too much product in his hair, but Jesse Palmer is actually very good. So far, he has only been in the studio, although I understand he did NFL games on FOX. He is definitely a big upgrade from Doug Flutie.

• Rece Davis clearly slept with an ESPN producer’s wife, as nothing else could possibly explain his indefinite punishment of being perpetually accompanied by Lou Holtz and Mark May. College Football Final is the greatest hour on Saturday, that is not a game, but Holtz and May can make it virtually unwatchable. I can live with Holtz (kind of) but Mark May is a total douche. 

The pain felt by sharing a studio with those two clowns must pale in comparison to having to travel and share a booth with them for midweek games. Can you imagine their conversations over breakfast?

• Speaking of comeuppance, the only conceivable reason that Erin Andrews is not teamed with Musburger and Herbstreit, is the potential wrath Herbie would face from Mrs. Herbstreit for spending too much time with the on-air beauty.

• She may have an eponymous award, but every time I watch a Pam Ward game … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.