If you haven't been watching Pitt is handling West Virginia and should be killing them at this point. The problem is that on two occasions officials called phantom holding penalties and added a non-interference call immediately following one of the holdings. The first holding call came on a TD and here's the video on the former two calls....

Pitt somehow hung on and that's yet another #2 to go down. And with Missouri's impending loss to Oklahoma coming in the next 30 minutes we're going to be looking at an OSU-Georgia Championship game. One of the greatest season's ever is going to end with the shittiest finale of all time.

It's never happening, but here's another vote for Playoffs.

This still doesn't mean he can't change his mind, but CBS' Tracy Wolfson asked Les Miles if he'd be around next year and he emphatically stated yes.

Good job by Brando to call the report "erroneous". Way to slip that in there Timmy.

Someone mentioned this in the comments of the previous post, but it's true. ESPN showed a clip near the end of the MAC Championship game which started with Miles saying that he was the head coach of LSU. Here's the video...

Thanks Stan, but where was the very beginning when Les Miles mentioned ESPN? Via MGO Blog...

Miles: "There was misinformation on ESPN and I think it's imperative that I straighten it out. I'm the head coach at LSU, I will be the head coach at LSU, I have no interest in talking to anyone else. I have a championship game to play and I'm excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play in it. And that's really all I'd like to say. It's unfortunate I had to address my team with this information this morning. With that being done, I think we'll be ready to play. There will be no questions for me; I represent me in this issue, please ask me after. I'm busy. Thank you very much, and have a great day."

Hmmm, where was that beginning sentence in the clip Stan just showed us??? That's odd. I don't think Herbstreit is 100% wrong because Miles didn't entirely close the door, but this is sketchy reporting at best. Herbstreit is either completely off base or ESPN is throwing him under the bus on this one.

ABC also is airing this edited version as well, and I just found the full version. Anyone want to guess where? Surprisingly on ESPN.com. I wonder if they change this one soon as well.



(Thanks to Joe D. for sending the MGO article along)

Update: Tracy Wolfson of CBS just had an exclusive with Miles and he said he's definitely coming back to LSU next year. Thanks for actually going to the person himself and reporting on it CBS. It's a strange process I know, but occasionally it works.

This morning Kirk Herbstreit dropped a bomb on the College Football world by breaking the news that Les Miles was heading to Michigan. ESPN immediately put the video up on ESPN.com following the Herbsteit's scoop.

Well now they're saying that he's staying at LSU. The Leader can't make up their mind about this, so much so that they have both posted as items on the main page of ESPN.com (click for larger)......


Can we get a confirmation one way or another please? CBS is reporting that he's staying and they've said that all morning on their Pregame and Halftime shows, so I think I'm going to believe them.

Why would he announce today that he's leaving? Makes no sense whatsoever.

(Thanks to Andrew for sending the screen shot)

It's gotta be tough for an announcer when there are audio problems for just about the entire game. It's also gotta be tough when the studio throws the game back to you and you don't know you're on-air....

"What?!?"

Pam and Ray have been disappearing every so often while calling the MAC Championship game. Stan Verrett and Jesse Palmer have been calling the action from the studio, but it's been slow going. Verrett should never call a game again....audio problems or not. It seemed like he was on a 10 second delay. I guess it's possible that the TV screen he was watching on could have been 30 feet away though.

Welcome back to our weekly installment of The Pam Ward Chronicles. I'm going to be keeping track of the Announcing Quotes throughout the day and I ask that you join in. Please leave any that you come across in the comments or feel free to email me at AwfulAnnouncing@Gmail.com.

Your College Football Announcing Schedule: Week Thirteen
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Oh no! Pam and Ray are having audio problems and Stan Verrett and Jesse Palmer are calling the MAC Championship from the studio. That's not a good way to start the day.

"He said he was a chubby little red baby."- Ray Bentley on Central Michigan LB Red Keith

"This is a huge game obviously a MAC Championship, it's a Conference Championship, but Miami is 6 and 6 on the season and they win they're MAC Champions and they will get into a Bowl. They lose and they're done."- Pam Ward

Someone needs to tell Pam that six wins gets you into a Bowl this year.....and every year.

I take it back Pam....you were right. Because they'll finish under .500 they're out of the running. They would have been better off not making the Championship Game. I'm sorry my love.

"Well, I don't understand [the triple option] as well as some, but I understand football, and they've gotta get a play going on third and long." - Boomer Esiason (Via S2N)

That's understanding football for sure.

"I'm sure you've done a couple of Patriots games in your day. I would tell every young Quarterback to watch how Peyton, excuse me Tom Brady utilizes the pocket to his advantage."- Boomer Esiason

We could just combine them into one person when making statements along these lines. Either Peyton Brady or Tom Manning would work.

"They didn't call me I was in Gameplan."- Boomer Esiason
"Yes, a DeNiro like performance from you, and a stretch playing yourself."- Ian Eagle

And we have audio problems again in the MAC Championship game. Oh man...they just went back to Pam and she didn't know she was on-air. Tough going for them today.

"The SEC Title Game Tennessee and Louisville, or LSU."- Andre Ware

"He's as good as it gets as far as a duel threat Quarterback. I'd put him up along side of Tim Tebow, Pat White, Matt Grothe...all those guys. I think Dan LeFevour is just as good if not better."- Ray Bentley

You think the fact that Bentley went to Central Michigan might have something to do with that statement?

"If they throw it to the left side of the end zone, they've got a good shot at hitting you. That'd be funny." - Brad Nessler to Paul Maguire (Via S2N)

Maguire looks funny as hell wearing those reading glasses and flying around on the Camera Truck. They keep showing shots of him about an inch from his nose.

"An Oklahoma win over Mizzou would create a cobweb of worms."- Craig James (Via Hawkeye State)

Referee: "Dead ball penalty. False start..."
Maguire: "...that's going to be a false start."
(Via Jim)

Good work there by Maguire talking over the official.

"What did he say about tackling Jonathan Stewart? You have to bring your big boy pads?"- Dan Fouts
"It's like going bear hunting with a stick."- Tim Brant

Exactly like that.

"Eric Ainge busted one. Watch the inside rub here."- Gary Danielson

It's about time Gary....I thought you were going to get through a game without a sexual comment.

Gary Danielson: on UT-LSU SEC Championship Game after fake punt: "This game has turned into a battle for the SEC Championship." (Via Anon)

"And he was not afraid taking a ball on the face."- Tim Brant on Oregon blocking an OSU FG.

"In college football, if the ball bounces off the ground, it's an incompletion"- Todd Blackledge (Via Jared)

"A fresh set of downs for the Steelers."- Mike Patrick

Hahaha....we may have a winner folks.

"And you can't review an incomplete pass."- Ed Cunningham
(Ref states there will be a review)
"Check that you can review it in the endzone."- Ed Cunningham

Aren't all complete/incomplete passes involving the sidelines reviewable?