Musburger out as ABC/ESPN lead announcer?

[KPENN]

Replacing Brent Musburger; NFL selling new television package - More Sports - Richard Deitsch - SI.com

As first reported by James Andrew Miller, Musburger has been offered the job of lead college football announcer for the upcoming SEC Network, which debuts at the end of August. It is unclear whether Musburger will take that offer, as some sources I spoke with noted he is unhappy with how the process is shaking out. What seems clear is that Musburger is being pulled from the lead announcer spot for ABC's Saturday Night Football, which is ESPN's top game each week. (Musburger, via ESPN PR, turned down an interview request from SI.com. "He isn't doing any interviews on the subject," said an ESPN spokesperson.)
As I've written previously, I think Musburger's performance during Florida State's win over Auburn in the BCS title game, as well as his performance over the last couple of years has earned him at least one of those playoff games. That, alas, is unlikely to happen.
College GameDay host Chris Fowler is the leading candidate to call ABC's Saturday Night Football game as well as next year's national championship game with Kirk Herbstreit. (The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre speculated on Fowler getting the top job last month). He and Herbstreit would also call one of the semifinal games under this scenario. Fowler's contract expires after the World Cup in July -- a key leverage point for Fowler -- and it was not hard to read between the lines what he wanted when I spoke to him a couple of months ago on his ESPN future. "I don't think it is anything secret internally what I want the next for me to be at ESPN," Fowler said. "I don't think that is a mystery given the landscape. It's why GameDay is a unique standalone thing for me. It doesn't act or feel like a studio show. But the live events are the most inspiring, unexplored thing for me. I really have a passion to document live events as they happen. Hosting is wonderful and remains really satisfying but the joy for me is calling big matches"

 

[nsisk157]

Hallelujah! Not a fan of Brent's but I wish him well.

 

[johnnycando]

Hallelujah! Not a fan of Brent's but I wish him well.

I hope he chokes on a chicken bone, personally.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

"I'm Kirk Herbstriet, here with Brent Musburger." -Brent Musburger

 

[ThePiombino]

Replacing Brent Musburger; NFL selling new television package - More Sports - Richard Deitsch - SI.com

Lovely. We can finally get some more on-air Notre Dame hatred

 

[garyasher]

I wish NBC would really upgrade our pre-game show, the half time show and offer a post game show.

I feel like its minor league. It seems they have the "we're the telephone company" mentality. They have to watch us, we're ND and really don't care about the product itself.

 

[dublinirish]

I wish NBC would really upgrade our pre-game show, the half time show and offer a post game show.

I feel like its minor league. It seems they have the "we're the telephone company" mentality. They have to watch us, we're ND and really don't care about the product itself.

yep especially when 50% of the broadcast is a NFL preview show. Tbh if you have Hines Ward and Flutie on there then you dont really give a crap about ND or its viewers.

 

[ThePiombino]

yep especially when 50% of the broadcast is a NFL preview show. Tbh if you have Hines Ward and Flutie on there then you dont really give a crap about ND or its viewers.

Agreed.

 

[Irish#1]

Never was a fan of Musbergers.

"You are looking live." No shit?

 

[phork]

I guess they had enough of the on air "stalking" of players gfs?

 

[texbender]

Lost respect for BM years ago, way too over the top and nothing but cliché after cliché. Bon voyage.

 

[BobD]

He's nearly 75 years old. I've heard his voice in sports most of my life, so like him or not, I will miss him when he's gone.

 

[NCND]

He's nearly 75 years old. I've heard his voice in sports most of my life, so like him or not, I will miss him when he's gone.

Exactly. Just remember him every sat watching those 330 big ten games when I was younger. One of the greatest voices ever in college football.

 

[eNDzone]

Let him go kiss SEC butt on the SEC network.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

So happy! Thanks for the great news!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

For some reason, I've always gotten more excited for ND games on ABC because they feel more significant to me simply because of Musburger's charismatic style of announcing during the game.

The NBC guys have always been awful (Mayock's lisp isn't helping now), and sometimes feel like I'm watching a high school game because of the shitty coverage.

 

[Irish#1]

I liked BM in his earlier days, bit it seems like the last 10-15 years he's been more about himself than the games.

There are a lot of guys who I thought were much better.
Keith Jackson
Vern Lundquist
Brad Nessler

to name a few.

 

[greyhammer90]

He's called CFB my whole life, so I associate his voice with big time CFB. I'll miss his calls even "you are looking live..."

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

For some reason, I've always gotten more excited for ND games on ABC because they feel more significant to me simply because of Musburger's charismatic style of announcing during the game.

The NBC guys have always been awful (Mayock's lisp isn't helping now), and sometimes feel like I'm watching a high school game because of the shitty coverage.

+1. I love Musburger. He has the voice of CFB for a long time.

Whoever replaces him better have his level of gambling knowledge or I will be pissed.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I liked BM in his earlier days, bit it seems like the last 10-15 years he's been more about himself than the games.

There are a lot of guys who I thought were much better.
Keith Jackson
Vern Lundquist
Brad Nessler

to name a few.

Can't compare with Keith. Best ever.

I've always liked Brent. Every announcer is going to make mistakes and he makes his fair share. But he's an iconic voice.

 

[BurningRiver]

I'd love to see Brad Nessler promoted to Musburger's spot. Nessler is probably my favorite play-by-play guy out there.

 

[dwshade]

Agreed, Nessler should be the #1 guy. I can't imagine Fowler in that role. Strikes me as the lead dog for pre-game not lead play by play man.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'd love to see Brad Nessler promoted to Musburger's spot. Nessler is probably my favorite play-by-play guy out there.

Sean McDonough is my favorite for football and basketball.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

+1. I love Musburger. He has the voice of CFB for a long time.

Whoever replaces him better have his level of gambling knowledge or I will be pissed.

Same here. Kinda grew up with hearing the guy's voice. Hearing someone else with Herby would be weird...like getting to Heaven and God's voice not sounding like Morgan Freeman.

 

[mgriff]

I just came here to say, "WHOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA NELLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

 

[Catholics_Rule]

Never could stand him.

 

[ND NYC]

Same here. Kinda grew up with hearing the guy's voice. Hearing someone else with Herby would be weird...like getting to Heaven and God's voice not sounding like Morgan Freeman.

the voice of God in my view will be/is Bob Sheppards.
PA announcer at Yankee Stadium s1951-2007 and for the NY football Giants 1956-20005.
the very first game he called had 8 eventual hall of fame baseball players playing in it.
fun fact: Sheppard and Wellington Mara never had a contract or anything for him to be the PA announcer for the Giants, it was a handshake deal...that lasted 50 years.

 

[BobD]

The voice of God is George Burns.

 

[chicago51]

Agreed, Nessler should be the #1 guy. I can't imagine Fowler in that role. Strikes me as the lead dog for pre-game not lead play by play man.

I really don't like Fowler as the announcer for the Thursday night games. Just doesn't have much passion or intensity.

I agree the guy is better for the pre-game lead. The guy is articulated and smart just not very energetic.

 

[KPENN]

Sean McDonough is my favorite for football and basketball.

This. I miss him, Bilas and Raftery doing CBB games.