One of the major talking points surrounding last night's BCS Championship Game is the quality of the announcing. FOX's Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis made a number of miscues in the booth.
New York Times media critic Richard Sandomir recounted the errors in today's edition:
"Brown on third and goal sniffing the end zone, but apparently just short," Brennaman said with confidence (on what was actually second down). He thought the next play was fourth down, as did Davis, who advised Oklahoma: "Go, go, go!"
Fox's graphics stripped across the top of the screen had it right: third and goal, but the announcers evidently were not looking. When the Sooners did not rush to the line of scrimmage, Davis seemed to believe that Coach Bob Stoops was having second thoughts about going for it on fourth down. "Surprised they're even hesitating," Davis said. But it was third down. Fox's scoring strip and on-field graphic said it.
"Brown did not get there!" Brennaman said as Chris Brown was stopped. "A huge stop for the Gator defense on fourth and goal." (But really, third down.) Belatedly, Brennaman acknowledged his error, but it was too late; from then on, every time he said third or fourth down, I checked his claim against the screen. He and Davis, a credible analyst, had expended a lot of credibility. Minutes later, Brennaman giddily said, "I got so excited I thought they were going on fourth down twice." He laughed, as if such a failure of the basics of sportscasting were a minor matter. "I should have been there for you, partner," Davis said. But where was their producer to correct them?
Awful Announcing came through with video of the sequence last night in their on-the-spot criticism of the announcing tandem.
But it didn't stop there. Many observers took objection to the team's unabashed, over-the-top praise of Tim Tebow. Here's a sampling of the reaction from around the blogosphere:
• "Can someone please check Thom Brennaman’s identification? Seriously. We’d like to see his social security card and passport. We firmly believe he is in some way related to Mountain-Mover/QB Tim Tebow." [The Big Lead]
• "Did you hear the Good News? Tim Tebow won his second National Championship using girt [sic], determination, four kinds of leadership and a form of mind control that he learned while uniting the Philippines." [Deadspin]
• "Like TBS' Chip Caray, Fox's Thom Brennaman often seems to be doing a clever parody of an old-time sportscaster, except that he's serious." [Watchdog]
• "Thom Brennaman gave Bill Raftery a serious run for most ridiculous statement about a player during the BCS Championship game last night. 'Watching Tyler Hansbrough listen is special' was going to be hard to top, but Brennaman railed against public cynicism over great human beings and closed by saying 'if you’re fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.' That’s some high fructose corn syrup right there." [850 The Buzz]
• "College football can’t get a playoff system right, but they’ve got to get a better broadcast in place than that. What a joke. Has the team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit ever looked so good?" [Taylor-Made Tirade]
• "Brennaman and Charles Davis' gushing reached unbearable levels late in the game, when, after Tebow received a taunting penalty, they suggested that he was baited into it by an OU player (with zero evidence to suggest that was true)" [SPORTSbyBROOKS]
• "Brennaman was so far over the top in his pro-Tebow hyperbole on Thursday that the game became darn-near unwatchable unless the volume was off. It started in the first half, when Brennaman stated that 'if you're fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it,' and continued from there. He basically repeated that line early in the second half and then, when Florida put the game away in the fourth, Brennaman let it all out." [Fanhouse]
• "Really the only problem with the game Thom Brennaman’s love affair with Tim Tebow. As much hype and praise is doled out to Tebow, I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone go as over the top with his comments as Brennaman did. The commentary was so nauseating it almost became unbearable. ... Sure, Tebow is a fantastic player and played well in the second half of the game, but he’d be God’s son the way Brennaman told it. I really hope Tebow goes to the NFL just so I don’t have to deal with another year of this crap. I don’t believe I’d be able to handle 'Tebow’s chase for a third national championship' or second Heisman." [Larry Brown Sports]
• "The Tim Tebow worship was the worst of all though. The one thing these media people that kneel at his altar don't realize, the hate comes from you, you created this monster. If they did not give him credit for a 5 yard run like he just cured cancer, there would not be such a backlash. At this point the large portion of the sports viewing audience just want Tebow to go away." [Amphibious Sports Duo]
• "Reader Dave, of Tulsa, Okla., chimed in right after the game, saying 'The announcers for tonight's game were horrible...horrible! I would expect that kind of announcing talent in a Rice/UTEP matchup, not the National Title game. I put the television on mute multiple times. Absolutely no talent, Fox should be ashamed. Fox couldn't even figure out where Tebow's girlfriend was seated, worthless b-------.' Not to be outdone, reader Kent, of Fargo, N.D., e-mailed this earlier today: 'Is it just me or did the announcers in the title game want to bring Tebow up to the booth and perform [sex act deleted] or something like that? They can't stop talking about how you would be a better person if you met him.' Kent went on to say many other things that couldn't be printed." [Hot Clicks]
Now it's your turn. What did you think about FOX's announcing team during last night's game?
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I liked it when the dude was saying, "Oh Florida's rush is coming here." and "Here comes Florida." on back to back plays when both times, Florida rushed three and dropped the rest into coverage.
So silly.
Sports, Yay!
Total Comments (226)
i, too, was getting annoyed by all the pro-tebow talk. i've never in my life seen such blatant homerism.
FRIZBIZ
Brownsburg , IN
Total Comments (17)
I completely agree. This was the single most worst announcing job i have ever heard. no skill at all. these dudes LOVED tim tebow and it just got ridiculous by the third quarter. they basically announced his life story to the world which i dont think has ever happened before. Born in the phillipines! Home schooled! kids named after him in the phillipines! loves god (fair enough though)! never does anything wrong! perfect human! THAT WAS SO RIDICULOUS
Sam Jonas
Northampton, MA
Total Comments (2)
It sucked! I miss ABC and CBS college football announcers. Along with the officials, FOX and the two announcers scored an 'F' for failure.
sowhat
Chandler , AZ
Total Comments (13)
And let the glorious hatefest begin...
For the record, it's all true and warranted.
RaiderDave
Dublin, CA
Total Comments (497)
FOX sucked as well as the officials. Bring back ABC or CBS college football announcers. These two from FOX were clearly out of their skill sets. The officials blew a number of calls for both teams which shows probably another reason why the ACC is so far behind the PAC-10, SEC, Big 12 and other conferences in football.
sowhat
Chandler , AZ
Total Comments (13)
FOX sucked as well as the officials. Bring back ABC or CBS college football announcers. These two from FOX were clearly out of their skill sets. The officials blew a number of calls for both teams which shows probably another reason why the ACC is so far behind the PAC-10, SEC, Big 12 and other conferences in football.
sowhat
Chandler , AZ
Total Comments (13)
It wasn't just the announcing - the whole production was poor. Where was the replay (or explanation) of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Florida's 93 on the OK drive to tie it at 14? Where was the play clock during ANY of the OK drives? [Follow-up: the announcers, rightly so, focused on the timing of play-calling and the seemingly frenetic OK offense, but there was no display of the clock to allow viewers to see how close the snaps were to 0.] The announcers announced that the killer interception on OK's late drive was a 'wrestling away', but it really just was the OK receiver letting the ball go right through his fingertips. If he catches that ball, OK moves and scores the go-ahead TD, and the game would've been VERY interesting. Tebow may have driven for the winning TD anyway, but at least it would've been a competitive ending. Oh well. TV production of the BCS Championship Bowl Game seemed to be par for the course.
MrTuckRuehl
Boston , MA
Total Comments (11)
It wasn't just the announcing - the whole production was poor. Where was the replay (or explanation) of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Florida's 93 on the OK drive to tie it at 14? Where was the play clock during ANY of the OK drives? [Follow-up: the announcers, rightly so, focused on the timing of play-calling and the seemingly frenetic OK offense, but there was no display of the clock to allow viewers to see how close the snaps were to 0.] The announcers announced that the killer interception on OK's late drive was a 'wrestling away', but it really just was the OK receiver letting the ball go right through his fingertips. If he catches that ball, OK moves and scores the go-ahead TD, and the game would've been VERY interesting. Tebow may have driven for the winning TD anyway, but at least it would've been a competitive ending. Oh well. TV production of the BCS Championship Bowl Game seemed to be par for the course.
[NOTE: Possibly submitted 2x, as SI.com's program wants for clarity.]
MrTuckRuehl
Boston , MA
Total Comments (11)
As a die hard Gator fan, I too grew weary of the over-the-top adulation of Tebow. Yes, he's a great athlete, yes he's a great leader and role model and yes, he'll probably be regarded as the best Gator ever. But that does not mean you need to impart your personal infatuation with him on national television. Much of the disdain towards Tebow comes from moments like these...moments in which Tim had nothing to do with it.
GatorsFan
Manassas, VA
Total Comments (13)
Don't fault Charles Davis too much. you could tell he lacks experience and was taking his cues from Brennaham. Brannaham on the other hand was was a work of art. Obviously trying way to hard to make the game bigger than it was. I'll bet he went home and said a prayer to God thanking him for the opportunity to simply watch Tebow. Do you think he asked him for his autograph?
bdj
Total Comments (17)
1. They identified Chris Brown as "Allen Patrick" on one of Brown's runs. Patrick graduated last year (probably the last time Fox analysts watched college football).
2. They continually criticized OU's offensive hesitation at the line, apparently having not watched the Sooners all year (as OU's m.o. is often to hurry to the line, observe the defense, and adjust the play).
3. They act like there isn't another person in college football with character. Their praise of Tebow overshadowed the thousands of collegiate athletes who don't happen to wear their character on their faces. Character isn't wearing Scripture on your face; in fact, Biblically, ostensible shows of character detract from it.
4. Not just the media, but The South's romance of Tebow is a little disturbing. Anyone who remembers Vince Young at all would rather have him quarterbacking your team. In Tebow's best season, his team lost four games. In Young's best season, his team went undefeated, beat arguably the most talented team ever in what was virtually a USC home game, and his performance in that game was actually worthy of the accolades showered upon Tebow because he can do a jump pass. If you switch out Tebow with Young, Florida never loses four games and sure as heck doesn't lose to Ole Miss (Conversely, does anyone actually believe Tebow beats USC at that Rose Bowl?). At the same time, it seems hard to imagine the media falling at Young's feet like it does Tebow. Of course, this is all in the name of "character."
sebastian22
Total Comments (9)
How about the statement on Florida winning the game 92% of the time when they block a punt - anybody stop to realize Florida wins probably more than 92% of the time.
MJSports
Ambler , PA
Total Comments (1)
Dude,I thought is was just me but sometime in the next week or so I'm gonna make the trek to Florida to spent 5 minutes or 20 minutes with "Superman", although I thought both of them are dead now, and if I don't then I may take my own life because how can I live knowing my life is not going to be better!!!
osddad
Total Comments (379)
As a die hard Gators fan, I too grew weary of the over-the-top adulation by the commentators. Is Tebow a great athlete? Yes. Is he a outstanding role model and leader? Absolutely. Will he be remembered as the greatest Gator (to date)? Definitely. But that's not an excuse to impart your infatuation of him on national televsion.
It's situations like these that cause more disdain for Tebow...and Tim had nothing to do with it.
GatorsFan
Manassas, VA
Total Comments (13)
I have to make the trek to Fla. to spend 5 0r 20 minutes with "Superman" , although I thought both of them are dead, otherwise I too will have to kill myself because my life will not be better.
osddad
Total Comments (379)
Your commentThe
osddad
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osddad
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"but Brennaman railed against public cynicism over great human beings and closed by saying 'if you???re fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.' That???s some high fructose corn syrup right there."
That is EXACTLY the moment I stopped watching the game and went to bed...and the score was tied at that point. I couldn't take the Tebag worship anymore, so I turned on the news this morning just to see who won the game. If the BCS is looking for ways to keep people tuned in to a game that the nation doesn't care about, this isn't the way to go about doing it.
"Brennaman and Charles Davis' gushing reached unbearable levels late in the game, when, after Tebow received a taunting penalty, they suggested that he was baited into it by an OU player (with zero evidence to suggest that was true)"
I wonder: will being subjected to a very un-Christianlike taunting penalty make "my life better for it"? Heck, Teabag could have ripped the hat off of a three-year-old Sooner fan's head, and the announcing duo would have said that the little brat baited Timmy into it.
jaxman
Middleburg , FL
Total Comments (70)
lame....all of it
T- 3 Months
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