There was really nothing redeeming about last night's Orange Bowl until the very end of the program. The game was dominated by Iowa's defense, but it was their quarterback who stole the show by giving a speech for the ages....

USA! USA! USA! There were a few people who thought he was celebrating the United States' win in the World Junior Hockey Championships, but I have a different idea. Stanzi was just reiterating to Chris Myers that jokes about terrorists will not be tolerated in this great country.

This FOX experiment is almost over. Fortunately, we have a few more games with those folks, and we can play the band game! I'm too lazy to look back, but I think that the record was 117 shots in the 2008 Orange Bowl (don't quote me on that). I'm bitter that the only game I want to watch has Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan, but what are you gonna do? Here's your full BCS Bowl Game schedule. Mark down the games, and get the booze ready folks (I'll have the full one for you later in the week)!

Friday, January 1st

Rose Bowl (ABC, 5pm): Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks - Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit
Sugar Bowl (FOX, 8:30pm): Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Florida Gators - Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick

Monday, January 4th

Fiesta Bowl (FOX, 8pm): Boise State Broncos vs. TCU Horned Frogs - Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan

Tuesday, January 5th

Orange Bowl (FOX, 8pm): Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Dick Stockton and Charles Davis

Thursday, January 7th

BCS National Championship Game (ABC, 8pm): Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas Longhorns - Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit

This is FOX's last year putting on the all of the BCS Bowl Games, other than the Rose Bowl on ABC (and the Championship Game this year), and they released the names of the individuals calling the games in January. Both FOX has decided to give the booth to their NFL announcing teams, while the Rose Bowl and Championship Game will feature the only true College announcing team of Musburger and Herbstreit, on ABC. Here's your list....

Rose Bowl - Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit (ABC, January 1st)
Sugar Bowl - Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick (FOX, January 1st)
Fiesta Bowl - Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan (FOX, January 4th)
Orange Bowl - Dick Stockton and Charles Davis (FOX, January 5th)
BCS Championship Game - Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit (ABC, January 7th)

Game: The Outback Bowl
Teams: South Carolina Gamecocks (7-5) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4)
Location: Tampa, Florida, Raymond James Stadium
Start Time: 11 AM EST (ESPN)
Network and Announcers: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Rob Stone
Favorite: Iowa (-4)
AA's Pick: Iowa 20 - South Carolina 13


Game: The Capital One Bowl
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs (9-3) vs. Michigan State Spartans (9-3)
Location: Orlando, Florida, Florida Citrus Bowl
Start Time: 1PM EST (ABC)
Network and Announcers: Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
Favorite: Georgia (-8)
AA's Pick: Georgia 27 - Michigan State 20



Game: The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Teams: Nebraska Corn Huskers (8-4) vs. Clemson Tigers (7-5)
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Start Time: 1PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Craig Bolerjack, Steve Beuerlein, Dan Fouts
Favorite: Clemson (-3)
AA's Pick: Nebraska 34 - Clemson 24


Game: The Rose Bowl
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1) vs. USC Trojans (11-1)
Location: Pasadena, California, Rose Bowl
Start Time: 4:30PM EST (ABC)
Network and Announcers: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters
Favorite: USC (-10)
AA's Pick: USC 28 - Penn State 20



Game: The FedEx Orange Bowl
Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (9-4)
Location: Miami, Florida, Dolphin Stadium
Start Time: 8:30PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Myers
Favorite: Cincinnati (-2.5)
AA's Pick: VT 28 - Cincy 24

The scuttlebutt in and around the Sports Media World this afternoon is the very interesting development that the BCS is seriously considering accepting ESPN/ABC's bid, and a move away from FOX Sports. From John Ourand at SBJ via the Sporting News....

The BCS is considering a proposal from ESPN that would see all BCS bowl games, including the championship game, wind up on ESPN, sources familiar with the negotiations are saying. If the BCS ultimately accepts the bid, it would mark the first time all games in a major championship were not available on an over-the-air broadcast network. If the BCS opts to move to ESPN, it would continue a trend that has seen other leagues migrate playoff series exclusively from broadcast to cable. MLB, the NBA and the NHL all have placed playoff games on cable over the past few years. If ABC/ESPN ultimately wins the bid and moves even one BCS game to ESPN, it would trigger a clause in its Rose Bowl contract that would allow it to immediately take the annual game in Pasadena from its home of 21 years on ABC to the cable channel.

Now here's where it gets tricky. While ESPN probably offered a number that's way higher than FOX would or did, under the current contract the BCS still has to present FOX with a number first. The network can either accept or refuse, and if they don't accept, the rights go out on the open market. The number that's being thrown around is a $500 million, 4-year deal, which would constitute a 50% hike over last year's price to FOX.

Even though FOX's broadcast and presentation of the BCS is terrible, the network still gets great ratings and advertising dollars from the four games. With this year's regular season shaping up like a virtual playoff system, those numbers and dollars are only going to go up. It would seem tough for them to give a cash cow like that up, but ESPN has been kicking themselves for losing the rights before (rightfully so), and might make an offer FOX just can't compete with. Plus if you add in the fact that FOX hasn't been letting ESPN rebroadcast BCS game highlights for the past few years, it might be safe to say the "Leader" could be holding a grudge.

I've personally been hoping for this move for the past two years, but didn't think it was likely leading up to this year's negotiations. I think my feeling today has changed from doubtful to....."So you're telling me there's a chance?!" Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

BCS considering moving games from Fox to ESPN (Sporting News)

I need a moment to clear a couple of things up, so bear with me.

1. The Bowl Prediction Contest- It's going great....I couldn't be happier with the participation. Buuuuut....I'm slacking on the standings. Give me another day to filter through two email accounts and the comments to get the standings up. Sorry, but cheerleaders' asses and Bryant Gumbel burping on air takes precedence here.

2. Live-Blog of the Orange Bowl tonight. But more importantly........

As you know.....I love the live-blog. I think it brings an added enjoyment to the game, and if you can make it through a few of the crapfests you usually have a good time.

Brian at One More Dying Quail guest live-blogged the Motor City Bowl, and did a stellar job. So here's what I'm proposing. If you have local announcers (i.e.- you are this German site that linked me through Technorati.) or National Announcers you just can't stand. Or if you just want to do the big game.....You can live-blog it here.

Hear me out. I know what you're thinking.....why the hell would I help out AA's site and not my own? Well you'd be helping out both of us. Whether you are a big or small site (we are no monster....the site's largest day was 13,000 hits) I and the readers think you have something to say/bitch about as far as Announcing is concerned.

As you can see, Brian's site has been all over this site the last few days (and will continue to be), and he most undoubtedly got a couple of click-throughs. Stan at Gentrifried Rice also live-blogged the Monday Night Opener this year when I attended the game.

I think us bloggers can probably do a better job of being funny, noticing the game's nuances, and making fun of the announcing ALL while still commenting on the flow of the game. Nobody does it better than you. My ultimate goal is to create a valid live-blogging community (with much more to follow......wink, wink.)

So here's my proposal (and I'm flexible) if you want to do any of the Bowl Games left this season....email me. If you want to do a playoff game.....email me. If you want to make fun of that British Soccer Announcer (I forget his name).....email me. If you want to do that riveting Buffalo Sabres/Carolina Hurricanes Hockey matchup.....um, well....email me and we can discuss it.

I invite you to the site.....you live-blog. We both Win!

3. I normally hate "Year in Reviews", but with this site I think it would be funny to do a Top 50/100 Worst Announcing Lines of 2006. So if you think of one....post it in the comments or email me. I probably won't finish it until March, but it should be worth it (actually the goal is the day after the National Championship).

4. When switching over to Blogger Beta I accidentally left the anonymous commenting on. I was going to turn it off, but how can I pass on getting items like this in my Inbox???

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "On Third (and hopefully final) Thought":

Fuck off. TK is doing a fine job. Like you could be half as brilliant a tenth of the time.

Tony if you are sooooo brilliant you could have made up a creative blogger name like.....Wilbon's Bitch or JoeTheeeesmannMakesMeWantToShootMyselfInTheSkull......and not gone the Anonymous route. But I appreciate that you read the site, and the comment.

Back to your regularly scheduled AA.....

XOXO,
AA

P.S.- Tony......when you're out of the job next year let me know if you'd be interested in guest live-blogging a few of the MNFers.