I mentioned at the beginning of the month that the Lions were interested in having hometown boy Gus Johnson call their preseason games. Well it's official. Gus and his jorts are leaving the Eagles and calling games in Detroit before the start of the 2008 season. Oh and he's bringing another friend of the State of Michiagn along, Desmond Howard....

Lions exhibition games will have some new voices as they move to Channel 62: Detroit native Gus Johnson will do the play-by-play with Desmond Howard as the analyst, and Matt Shepard and Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders will do the pregame show.

Johnson, a U-D Jesuit grad, replaces Frank Beckmann, who called the games for Channel 50.

I can't think of a worse person to have as a color analyst in Howard and that's coming from a Michigan fan. The guy is just not quick enough for television. I'm also going to need some video from you Detroitans(?) when get the first, "Calvin Johnson, WITH THE CAAAAAAAATCH!" Good times and sorry Philly for your loss.

On the air: Gus Johnson, Desmond Howard will call Lions preseason (Detroit Free Press)
The Lions Are Looking To Gus For Some Preseason Hype (Awful Announcing)

What is in the water these days up in Bristol? You've got Simmons calling his bosses out, podcasters arguing online, and now one of you're College Gameday guys has words for another. From The Detroit News via Fanhouse....

Q. What was your take on the Herbstreit's report when he said Miles-to-Michigan was a done deal?

A. I was in Hawaii doing ESPN, so I had no knowledge of anything. I put the (earpiece) in my ear, and I'm hearing Herbstreit break this news, and I'm thinking, 'You know, things happen overnight, maybe it did.' He's a seemingly intelligent guy, so if he's going to say it, I don't think he's going to go out there and blurt it out. He must have believed what he said. Whether it was true or false, there's no doubt in my mind that Herbstreit believed what he was saying on TV.

Now, should he have dug deeper, should ESPN have dug deeper? Of course. They have a Michigan guy on their crew and they knew how to get in contact with me, but no one ever called me.

It put Les in a bad position. That was wrong on so many levels. As a former player, unless I spoke to that coach and he told me it was cool, I would never have done that because he was still coaching a team that's about to play in a (SEC) championship game. ... His team, the first thing they saw when they woke up was that report. It was not fair to him and not fair to the players. ... And no one from this side of the story (at Michigan), as far as I know, came out and refuted it. The only one who said something was Les Miles that day.

Now the only question is what the repercussions will be for a statement like that. Herbstreit is the face of College Football on ESPN and saying he screwed something that big up (let's face it he did), when ESPN never said anything publicly about the mistake, you're going to get a talking to. Keep it up ESPN, you make this "job" so easy at times.

Howard: U-M may struggle (Detroit News)
Red On Red: Desmond Howard Criticizes ESPN's Reporting (Fanhouse)

I don't know about you but I was ready for Football to come back around February 15th, so this idea doesn't really bother me. For some of you that welcomed the break from the game this might get under your skin a bit. ESPN is sending their College Football program Gameday to Florida's Spring Game on April 12th.

Oh but that's not all. They're adding a very special correspondent for the festivities...

For the first time, College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will originate from the site of a college football spring game. The popular Saturday morning pre-game show will originate from Gainesville, Fla., for the University of Florida’s spring game Saturday, April 12. Florida is led by 2007 Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow.

The two-hour College GameDay will be aired from 11 a.m. ET to noon on ESPN2 and noon to 1 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN will televise the spring game following the show at 1 p.m. The show and game coverage will be hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. ERIN ANDREWS will join them to report from the sidelines during the game. The two-hour game telecast will showcase the school’s final spring football intra-squad scrimmage, and will include interviews with coaches and players.

ESPN is also naming a late night College Football show "College Football Final" which will air late night leading up to the start of the Season. I'm of the more Football coverage the better, but this might get into National Signing Day territory if they take it too seriously.

(ESPN PR)

Hey it's the first Bowl Game between ranked opponents this Season! It's Texas (not A&M Desmond) and Arizona State! I'll be around most of the night posting quotes. Brent and Kirk are on the call so it should be a fun one. See you in about 30.






#11 ASU vs. #19 Texas
Holiday Bowl
8 PM ET, December 27, 2007
Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA

Weather: 55 Degrees, Mostly Cloudy
Spread: Texas -2.5, O/U 63
AA's Pick: Texas -2.5 (Record 5-2)
Announcers: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit(ESPN)

Team Leaders

ASU Passing- Carpenter: 63%, 3015 Yards, 23 TDs, 8 Ints
Texas Passing- McCoy: 64.9%, 3129 Yards, 21 TDs, 18 Ints

ASU Rushing- Herring: 152 Carries, 816 Yards, 5.4 avg, 5 TDs
Texas Rushing- Charles: 231 Carries, 1458 Yards, 6.3 avg, 16 TDs

ASU Receiving- McGaha: 52 Catches, 751 Yards, 14.4 avg, 0 TDs
Texas Receiving- Jones: 64 Catches, 748 Yards, 11.7 avg, 5 TDs
_____________________________________

Wow, Jake Plummer got big. That beard is very impressive as well.

"They're trying to figure out how to attack Sex.....Texas."- Kirk Herbstreit

I think the term "Face Rape" comes to mind. Also anyone have an over/under on the number "Booms" do you think Herbstreit will unleash tonight? I've counted two already.

"The faster team always wins."- Bob Davie

Really? Is Bob Davie playing the Siragusa roll for tonight's game???

What in the hell was that ballboy doing?!?! Oh he's going to get killed if the ball goes back to ASU.

"Do we have a reverse angle of his left thumb?"- Brent Musburger

That was one of the oddest plays I've ever seen. And it's overturned! Amazing!!!

"We got a new Steve Bartman in the State of Texas!"- Kirk Herbstreit

"Everyone's looking at him like.....Duuuude.....Oh no."- Kirk Herbstreit in his best stoner voice

"When I asked one of the Sports Information guys they said they didn't want to embarrass him."- Lisa Salters

(Video of all of that in the works in case you missed it.)

"I'm sure he will be a first round draft choice over there, Williams, were you aware of how good he is?" -Brent Musburger
"...I think that was his signature game, Chris Johnson..." -Kirk Herbstreit
"Yah, Chris Johnson was phenomenal..." - Brent Musburger
(Via Anon)

College Gameday is heading to Eugene, Oregon for the third time ever, and second time this year, this upcoming Saturday.

EUGENE, Ore. – ESPN College GameDay has confirmed it will produce its weekly college football preview show from the University of Oregon for the second time this season prior to the Ducks’ home game vs. Arizona State.

Kickoff for the football game, which is currently slated to be televised locally on the Oregon Sports Network, will be 3:45 p.m. (PDT).

I was hoping it would head to Columbus, Ohio because I will actually be at the Wisconsin-OSU game, but alas no such luck. Going back to Oregon, as the #5 Ducks take on the #4 Arizona State Sun Devils, is definitely the right choice.

Lee, Kirk and Co. Return for an Encore (GoDucks.com)

College Gameday is running this weird promo where they air a commercial that asks you a question. You then go to CollegeGameday.com to check your answers. The first promo....Fowler, Herbie, Desmond, and our old pal Lee Corso walk into a gym. Sounds like a bad joke right? I guess it kinda is....

So the question is whether they work out together on the road. Umm okay, good question.....I always wondered that. Actually no...no I didn't. I don't ever wonder that about anyone.

The answer is actually false, which surprises me. I thought Corso would do everything in his power to strengthen that baby arm.

College Gameday (CollegeGameday.com)

The Texas Bowl
Houston, TX- Reliant Stadium





Kansas State (7-5) v. Rutgers (10-2)

Weather: Indoors

Past Results (6):

Dec. 31, 2005	TCU 27, Iowa State 24
Dec. 29, 2004	Colorado 33, UTEP 28
Dec. 30, 2003	Texas Tech 38, Navy 14
Dec. 27, 2002	Oklahoma State 33, Southern Miss 23
Dec. 28, 2001	Texas A&M 28, TCU 9
Dec. 27, 2000	East Carolina 40, Texas Tech 27

Player(s) to Watch: Florida State's DT's Broderick Bunkley and/or Rutgers's Junior QB #14- Mike Teel

Everyone in the nation knows Raymell Rice, so that'd be too easy. Ray will get his yards so I think pressure is on Teel to be accurate and not make mistakes. He can't have another game like he did against Cincy (4 Ints).

Kansas State's Freshman QB #1- Josh Freeman

In his past three games (Col, Tex, Kan) Freeman is averaging 254.6 Yards per game. He's gotten better as the season's gone on, but he's still prone to mistakes he has over a 2-1 Int to TD ratio. If he plays like he did against Texas, K-State can hang around.

Deciding Factor(s): The Rutgers D forcing turnovers.

Obviously Freeman is prone to turnovers, but he's been better of late. Rutgers has one of the top D's in the country and will be all over him. Kansas State wants a high-scoring affair like the Texas game and Rutgers wants it low.

Interesting Fact: The Texas Bowl was formerly known as the Galley.com Furniture Bowl.

Spread: Rutgers -7.5, O/U 44

AA's Pick and Analysis: I'm turning to this quote by Rutgers Coach Terry Schiavo Greg Schiano (too soon for that joke?)

"Certainly, there's disappointment. We had an opportunity to be in the BCS, and more importantly to be league champions. To come close and not get it hurts."

For some reason I see this as a let down game for Rutgers, and K-State will have their chances to win. Rutgers has already proved enough.

Prediction Kansas State 20-16.
___________________________________________

The Desmond Howard Holiday Bowl

San Diego, CA- Qualcomm Stadium

Texas Texas A&M (9-3) v. CAL (9-3)

Weather: Fair, 60 Degrees

Past Results (28):

Last 10....

Dec. 29, 2005	Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14
Dec. 30, 2004	Texas Tech 45, California 31
Dec. 23, 2003	Washington State 28, Texas 20
Dec. 27, 2002	Kansas State 34, Arizona State 27
Dec. 28, 2001	Texas 47, Washington 43
Dec. 29, 2000	Oregon 35, Texas 30
Dec. 30, 1999	Kansas State 24, Washington 20
Dec. 30, 1998	Arizona 23, Nebraska 20
Dec. 29, 1997	Colorado State 35, Missouri 24
Dec. 30, 1996	Colorado 33, Washington 21

Player(s) to Watch: Florida State's DT's Broderick Bunkley and/or Rutgers's Sophomore QB #9- Nate Longshore

Again, everyone in the nation knows RB Marshawn Lynch, so that'd be too easy. Longshore has racked up a ton of yards and 3, 4TD Games. Cal is going to have to throw early and often against Texas Texas A&M.

Texas' Freshman QB #12- Colt McCoy

Colt is the deciding factor in this game, but can he play through his injuries? He only has 7 INTs on the year and.........okay this is getting old......I'm wearing out the joke aren't I?.....moving on......

Texas A&M's Sophomore TE #13- Martellus Bennett

Tellie is tied for the team lead in receptions with 37. He has also put up some good yardage and is a great blocking TE for his team's running offense.

Deciding Factor(s): I have no idea.

Honestly, I don't. These teams seem pretty damn even to me. They are the perfect polar opposites of each other. When that's the case I usually go with the better defense.....and Cal has zippy.

Longshore has been off as of late completing less than 50% of his passes in his last three games. Look for Texas A&M to load up against the run, and dare Longshore to beat them up top.

Interesting Fact: One of the more popular (yet unusual) events associated with the Holiday Bowl is the Wiener Nationals, the national championships for the U.S. dachshund racing circuit.

The Wiener Nationals are the United States national dachshund racing championships sponsored by Wienerschnitzel. Regional qualifiers are held in the Southwestern United States (California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada), with the final 8 Dachshunds racing for the national title every December in San Diego as part of the Holiday Bowl. (Wikipedia)

Spread: Cal -5, O/U 54

AA's Pick and Analysis: I'm seeing this one play out as another letdown game. CAL floundered at the end of the season (losing to Arizona is inexcusable) and should have made a better Bowl.

Texas A&M plays great team defense and the option should be good for 300 yards against a suspect CAL Defense.

Prediction A&M 24-21, and I love the under!
__________________________________________

I got this email from John V. yesterday, and it hurt me to the core. Desmond Howard is our favorite college player ever. Hands down. So you can understand why I was hesitant to post it.....um, that was until I found the video.

From John V: Last night, before the game, they asked the studio guys to pick the pre-New Year's game they were most looking forward to. Desmond Howard selects the Holiday Bowl, and how much he is looking forward to the Cal/Texas game. He then launches into an analysis of how Colt McCoy will fare against the Cal defense. That's all well and good, except for the fact that Cal is playing Texas A&M. None of the other guys in the studio bothered to correct him.

Desmond Howard has been consistently horrible, but this takes it to a new low.



Why Desmond!?!?!?!?! WHY!!!!!!!?????? No, you can't be an Awful Announcer! I refuse to accept it. This never happened.

Update: Apparently I'm slow.....The 12th Manchild already has Howard's Apology from the Bud Hot Seat. I guess it's an apology....Howard says he "mis-spoke" when saying Texas instead of Texas A&M.



Pay no mind that you even brought up Texas QB Colt McCoy, Desi. You just mis-spoke....that's all you did....let's forget this ever happened. Right? Right. Just in case.......everyone please look at this pen.