The Reader's Media Notes reviews FOX's coverage of the 71st annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Monday in Dallas. Auburn defeated Nebraska, 17-14.Check Your Facts: FOX play-by-play man Pat Summerall said Callahan was with the "Super Bowl Champion Raiders" when, in fact, Callahan's Oakland Raiders lost 48-21 to Tampa Bay.
Case of Mistaken Identity: Analyst Brian Baldinger mistook Nebraska linebacker Corey McKeon for quarterback Zac Taylor, telling viewers Taylor was lined up to attempt a punt block late in the game. McKeon and Taylor both wear No. 13.
Announcers Faked Out: Nebraska placekicker Jordan Congdon quick-kicked out of field goal formation. Cameras caught Congdon smiling and high-fiving after the ball was downed at the one yard line. But moments later, Baldinger said of Congdon, "The punter has put his helmet back on. He's gone back to being a punter." Dan Titchener is Nebraska's punter.
Online or on TV: FoxSports.com streamed the game live, for free. Fans will be able to purchase single-game highlights or a "Best of the Bowl Bash" highlight package that will feature the best plays from all five bowl games FOX will televise in one program produced exclusively for digital distribution.Most Revealing Interview: At the end of halftime, Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville told sideline reporter Krista Voda, "We're trying to do much. I can't believe we're still in the ballgame the way we played on offense. We're a little embarrassed after this first half. We're going to play better this second half. We had too much time off to put too much stuff in. I've cut it all the way back. We're going to play football this second half."
Dreaded Glitch: Voda's microphone malfunctioned as she was interviewing Coach Bill Callahan on the sideline prior to kickoff.
Trying Too Hard: Summerall dredged up every possible cliche about Marlon Lucky's last name and used all of them on the Huskers' opening drive of the game: "Lucky, better than lucky," "Lucky is better than that" and "Still Lucky, let's see if he is."
Shades of Last Year: The first video review of the game, when running back Kenny Irons fumbled on a third quarter run. In last year's Alamo Bowl, a Sun Belt Conference officiating crew that took plenty of heat for its shaky performance, including several plays that should have been reviewed but were not.Shades of Last Year II: When "indisputable video replay evidence' showed Irons was down before he gained a first down that would have allowed Auburn to run out the clock. Callahan had already removed his headset and was preparing for the post-game handshake. Instead, Nebraska got the ball back for a final chance to tie or win the game.
Best Play Not Replayed: Fox Sports cut off the replay too early when Auburn receiver Courtney Taylor had an official's flag thrown into his facemask on a third-quarter pass interference call.
Best Observation: Baldinger correctly noted that Nebraska was ineffective when it tried to use a hurry-up offense. "Every time they've rushed a play today, it has backfired."Best Comment: "He was the guy jumping over the huddle. Now guys are jumping over him." - Baldinger, talking about Nebraska defensive back Cortney Grixby's inability to defend the pass.
Check the Pronunciation Guide: Summerall had problems pronoucing the last names of Grixby ("GRIZ'bee" and "GRIGS'bee") and Maurice Purify ("Puri-FEE"), while Baldinger referred to former Husker Coach Tom Osborne as "Oz-BORN."
Best Views: A pre-game shot of Grixby leaping into the middle of the Huskers' huddle and a field-level view of Summerall and Baldinger in the Cotton Bowl stadium press box high above.
6 comments:
I didn't get a chance to watch the game, but if the announcing was as bad as Sean describes it, then Fox did a disservice to people tuning in.
There's quite a few good announcers out there. (And Keith Jackson is not one of them.)
Summerall was horrible. No excitement whatsoever (what do you expect from an 89 yr old). If I didn't have digital cable I would have as a last resort tuned into Jim Rose but would have had a 10 second delay on the digital cable (by then Rose would have had the yardage marker correct, well maybe). FOX really stepped back on this one. When the bowl games are on the weekend on NFL games, the cubbard is bare for announcers. Thank god we didn't get a woman announcer.
Midtown:
Yes, upon further review (as the officials are fond of saying), you are correct that shuttle is an accepted term.
The audio also was weird during the first quarter. I could barely hear the announcers at times, and then a loud grunt from the the sidelines would come in. Can't speak for the rest of the game's audio as I turned on Rose and Co.
Excellent observations. Summerall should go back to the old folks' home.
Summerall was great in his time, but his time has long since passed. Keith Jackson knew when his time to hang it up was and he did so with dignity. Pat needs to recognize that his time has also come and gone and he needs to hang it up as well.
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