Worst...Broadcast...Ever
12 comments so far
October 8, 2006 by
I can't believe it. But, the ABC crew that produced this game made me long for a chance to listen to Jim Rose. Okay, maybe not that far. But, I'd settle for Fox Sports. The producers and crew were factually inaccurate, unobservant and flat out biased throughout the game. I knew there was trouble right from the start when Dan Fouts was doing the play-by-play instead of color. What's up with that?? Fouts was pretty good as Keith Jackson's color guy for several years. But, he's no play-by-play man. The name of his partner escapes me, which should tell you how impressive he was, too. Here are some of the problems I noticed (and this list is by no means all-inclusive).
There were many factual inaccuracies throughout the game. They include but are not limited to:
- Jack Arute asking ISU Coach Dan McCarney about their quest for the Big 10, er, I mean Big 12 this season.
- Iowa State being referred to as Iowa more than once (This happens in a lot of places and stations. Why, I’ll never know. It’s not a tough distinction to make).
- Fouts calling players by incorrect names. Frantz HARVEY is the one that stood out most.
- Arute referring to NU having a West Coast Defense. That’s hilarious, and classic.
The fellas in the booth also lacked basic powers of observation. A more thorough review of the DVDs will tell me more. But, I can say that both announcers simply failed to notice that the clock was failing to run in the 4th quarter. Even when the officials stopped play to correct it, both members of the crew seemed mystified by the delay. Wow, come on guys.
And, neither member of the booth picked up on how many NU fans were in attendance. I'm not saying it out of pride for NU fans. I'm saying it because it CONFUSED the booth. In two situations, NU fans were audible in the game (once saying Ruuuuuud) after a tackle, and once for being upset with a particular call. Both times, Fouts and his pal got it wrong. They wondered why ISU fans would be booing, and why they would be upset. Hey guys, NU fans travel. Somebody in your pre-game meetings probably clued you in to that fact. Or...maybe you could see the crowd shots where 10 out of every 50 fans were in Red. As opposed to the folks in mustard, I mean, uh, "gold".
No doubt about it, both announcers got caught up in the setting and lacked objectivity. They were rooting for ISU. Their use of personal pronouns told me. They referred to ISU's as "we" on a few occasions. And I quote Fouts as saying - "Let's learn more about our quarterback, Bret Meyer." Our quarterback, nice Dan.
They also speculated liberally trying to keep ISU in it. ("If ISU can score here...if ISU can get a stop here...”). And, they assumed calls in to the record, like "tack on another 15 yards for a personal foul against Nebraska", when there wasn't, in fact, a penalty called.
I could go on and on but people would just say I'm a huge NU homer. I admit I am, but I wish a non-biased watcher in Michigan or Ohio would write in to confirm what I was hearing.
Finally, the production choices were....poor. They seriously "featured" four different ISU players with either graphics or sound bites or clips before they even bothered to highlight one NU player. And, just FYI, NU was winning the game the whole time.
As the cherry on top of their sundae of poor production, they did a phone interview with Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe during a key sequence of the game! Somebody please tell me what that has to do with this contest, and why it should supersceed description of this contest. Wolfe is a fringe Heisman candidate who doesn't play in the Big 12, and who really didn't have anything interesting to say. Oh...wait...I know why they did it - because Northern Illinois was playing a game on Sunday night on ESPN. Ah...the dreaded "interview promo" for a game. Why should we let what is happening on the field get in the way of a promotion?
God bless ESPN, ABC, Disney and Dan Fouts for a thoroughly awful production of a football game.
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Russ Oct 09 06
I've really enjoyed the Cornhuskers ruining opposing fans T-shirts. First the KU "Who has the winning streak now" and now ISU broke their own "Golden Rule - Beat Nebraska". Our defense is still not as dominate as we need to be but hopefully we can continue to "Restore The Order".
ryan Oct 09 06
After they interviewed Wolfe, Staci said, "That was an awful interview, they should never do that again." I didn't even realize there was an interview going on, I was paying attention to the crucial point in the game.
Jeff Oct 09 06
Agree 100%. Fouts is NOT a color guy -- he's ALWAYS been an analyst. Tim Brandt did okay as he's normally the analyst on the #3 or 4 ABC game but was fed horribly by Fouts. Bottom line...the new "Saturday Night Football" screwed up every broadcast team. Al McGuire with Nessler? Just doesn't fit. Give me Ron Franklin.
ABC better seriously revisit their broadcast teams b/c I can't handle it. I was at the game so I could thankfully fast-forward my DVR so as to skip Fouts' inaccuracies during my game review but I'll learn to love Rose if that crap continues.
Travis Oct 09 06
Glad I was a bar and couldn't hear them. A lot of my friends complained about how bad they were too. Someday the Huskers will get back the respect they deserve.
Grant Oct 09 06
I wasn't happy with the team we had broadcasting, but I was still thankful it wasn't Musberger! Think the athletic department at UNL has enough $$ to bring Keith Jackson back to do only Husker games?!!
darren Oct 09 06
Glad to see so many folks posting and agreeing. I think there are two universal truths with most fans - rip on the refs and call the announcers biased, and people will agree. ;-)
But seriously, this really was a bad broadcast.
Interesting idea, Grant. Too bad I don't think Keith leaves the West Coast now...like...ever.
Yeah, it wasn't the Muss (thank God). But, at least he is prepared enough to say something specific, or give away secrets like he did to U$C. :-)
darren Oct 09 06
Russ,
Great and funny point about ruining opponent t-shirts. I had never thought of it that way.
That is a good reason not to put bold predictions or sayings on t-shirts. It's better to go with something cool and slightly understated. Something like you might find in our online store - www.bigrednetwork.com/store - sorry for the shameless plug. They are great shirts.
Scott Oct 10 06
ABC announcer Tim Brandt claimed Iowa St. was 'robbed' of a touchdown when an official declared that a receiver was out of bounds on what appeared to be a touchdown. As the replay showed (and what Mr. Brandt failed to notice), was that the Iowa St. receiver did now show possession while his foot was in bounds. If he wants robbed, ask Bob Stoops how his game went against Oregon.
Tim Brandt sounded like one of those whiny, complaining fans who thinks their team is getting screwed out of every call. I think ABC should consider reassigning him to games that people don't care about....then nobody will have to listen to him.
Guy Oct 10 06
This is regarding Scott's comment about Tim Brandt. "ABC should consider reassigning him to games that people don't care about.." Unfortunately I think that was what ABC was trying to do. Seriously, outside of Nebraska and Iowa, who really cared about this game. If I were not a Nebraska fan, I would have been pissed if this were the game ABC decided to air in my region.
DEMoss Oct 16 06
Tim Brandt is a sad analyst. Tim tries to start controversy when none is present. Fouts seems to try to correct Tim at times. He should do it more often.
Nancy Kermashek Dec 01 07
Bret Musberger is the worst broadcaster of football games that I have ever heard.
He is so corny and all he can do is run his mouth about things not important.
ABC keeps showing him when we all would much rather be watching the players and seeing the field.
Every game that he has been the play by play announcer has been the worst I have ever heard.
It's time to retire him..NOW...no more Musberger, please
Nancy Kermashek Dec 01 07
Bret Musberger is the worst broadcaster of football games that I have ever heard.
He is so corny and all he can do is run his mouth about things not important.
ABC keeps showing him when we all would much rather be watching the players and seeing the field.
Every game that he has been the play by play announcer has been the worst I have ever heard.
It's time to retire him..NOW...no more Musberger, please