ND's Talking Heads ... The good, bad & ugly

[BobbyMac]

How long will the current TV crew last? ND and the flagship NFL Sunday broadcast back to back will be an absolute grind.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/miketirico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@miketirico</a> named studio host for FOOTBALL NIGHT AMERICA. <a href="https://twitter.com/liam_mchugh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@liam_mchugh</a> named on-site host. Rob Hyland named new coordinating producer. <a href="https://t.co/vYPaZbFh8f">https://t.co/vYPaZbFh8f</a> <a href="https://t.co/slKRuQ2le6">pic.twitter.com/slKRuQ2le6</a></p>— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsPR/status/1031559373909372928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[IrishLion]

I'm gonna be 100% honest... not super excited about Jack Nolan being there.

Something just feels very inauthentic about his basketball radio calls... I think he had a few good calls during the basketball team's run in '14, and he's been playing it up a little too much since then. Just doesn't feel like it comes natural when he does the "got ittttttt" thing these days, and it bothers me for some reason.

I think I just have unrealistic expectations for radio and tv teams in general, though.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I'm gonna be 100% honest... not super excited about Jack Nolan being there.

Something just feels very inauthentic about his basketball radio calls... I think he had a few good calls during the basketball team's run in '14, and he's been playing it up a little too much since then. Just doesn't feel like it comes natural when he does the "got ittttttt" thing these days, and it bothers me for some reason.

I think I just have unrealistic expectations for radio and tv teams in general, though.

Jack Nolan is going to be the "field analyst". I'm assuming that means that you won't be hearing a lot of Jack Nolan on the broadcast.

 

[Rack Em]

I'm gonna be 100% honest... not super excited about Jack Nolan being there.

Something just feels very inauthentic about his basketball radio calls... I think he had a few good calls during the basketball team's run in '14, and he's been playing it up a little too much since then. Just doesn't feel like it comes natural when he does the "got ittttttt" thing these days, and it bothers me for some reason.

I think I just have unrealistic expectations for radio and tv teams in general, though.

Jack Nolan is going to be the "field analyst". I'm assuming that means that you won't be hearing a lot of Jack Nolan on the broadcast.

A few years ago I was walking around campus with my family on the Friday before a home game and spotted Jack coming out of the stadium. I yelled his name from across the street and waved. He waved back but looked so damn confused when he figured out I was the one who yelled.

That moment was a second to when I yelled at Barry Melrose and he waved back after an ND hockey game during high school. That mullet.......

 

[IrishLion]

Jack Nolan is going to be the "field analyst". I'm assuming that means that you won't be hearing a lot of Jack Nolan on the broadcast.

That is good news then. I think he'd be good in that role.

 

[irishog77]

A few years ago I was walking around campus with my family on the Friday before a home game and spotted Jack coming out of the stadium. I yelled his name from across the street and waved. He waved back but looked so damn confused when he figured out I was the one who yelled.

That moment was a second to when I yelled at Barry Melrose and he waved back after an ND hockey game during high school. That mullet.......

Seems like you're batting .500 for whipping it out on sports personalities you have crushes on then.

 

[IrishTusker]

I'm gonna be 100% honest... not super excited about Jack Nolan being there.

Something just feels very inauthentic about his basketball radio calls... I think he had a few good calls during the basketball team's run in '14, and he's been playing it up a little too much since then. Just doesn't feel like it comes natural when he does the "got ittttttt" thing these days, and it bothers me for some reason.

I think I just have unrealistic expectations for radio and tv teams in general, though.

I think he is pretty good on basketball broadcasts. I would also say that Darin Pritchett is excellent on the hockey broadcasts. I think he should eventually do football broadcasts.

 

[IrishLion]

Reiterated from the post-game thread, but Flutie is just the worst.

The guy can't help but get excited when the opposition makes a good play, and gives it plenty of color commentary. When ND makes a big play, he is silent. He has to collect himself and think of something to say. And there is usually some underhanded tone, as well.

He was literally projecting his own wishes and bias onto Patterson before scUM's last drive. "Shae Patterson loves this type of situation. He's going to be able to use his mobility to move around and buy himself some time to make plays in the 2-minute drill."

Except you can't possibly know that, and can't possibly think that's analysis, because Patterson has literally never been in that situation before. He was anticipating a legendary moment from Patterson and scUM, just like he was anticipating a legendary outing from Sam Darnold during the USC game last year.

He doesn't offer analysis. He offers his own hopes and dreams that the opponent will rise up and beat ND. He just hides it well enough, or else the NBC/ND folks don't care, I guess.

 

[dublinirish]

Reiterated from the post-game thread, but Flutie is just the worst.

The guy can't help but get excited when the opposition makes a good play, and gives it plenty of color commentary. When ND makes a big play, he is silent. He has to collect himself and think of something to say. And there is usually some underhanded tone, as well.

He was literally projecting his own wishes and bias onto Patterson before scUM's last drive. "Shae Patterson loves this type of situation. He's going to be able to use his mobility to move around and buy himself some time to make plays in the 2-minute drill."

Except you can't possibly know that, and can't possibly think that's analysis, because Patterson has literally never been in that situation before. He was anticipating a legendary moment from Patterson and scUM, just like he was anticipating a legendary outing from Sam Darnold during the USC game last year.

He doesn't offer analysis. He offers his own hopes and dreams that the opponent will rise up and beat ND. He just hides it well enough, or else the NBC/ND folks don't care, I guess.

he's there to provide "balance" i guess, if he was a homer then NBC would get so much shit from other fanbases

 

[IrishLion]

he's there to provide "balance" i guess, if he was a homer then NBC would get so much shit from other fanbases

That's what drives me nuts though lol, it's not even balance. It is essentially openly shilling for the other team or their star player to make good things happen.

They could literally grab any other color guy off the street, and he'd probably be fair.

Instead, they are so worried about taking further shit for their NBC contract, that they hire famous alumni from historic rivals.

It's so dumb. NBC is your home station, and it's your contract! Just get somebody good!

 

[dublinirish]

That's what drives me nuts though lol, it's not even balance. It is essentially openly shilling for the other team or their star player to make good things happen.

They could literally grab any other color guy off the street, and he'd probably be fair.

Instead, they are so worried about taking further shit for their NBC contract, that they hire famous alumni from historic rivals.

It's so dumb. NBC is your home station, and it's your contract! Just get somebody good!

Mike Mayock was my favourite with Alex Flanagan on the sideline beat. Problem with Mayock was that apparently he was too technical with his analysis for NBC :S

 

[BobbyMac]

That's what drives me nuts though lol, it's not even balance. It is essentially openly shilling for the other team or their star player to make good things happen.

They could literally grab any other color guy off the street, and he'd probably be fair.

Instead, they are so worried about taking further shit for their NBC contract, that they hire famous alumni from historic rivals.

It's so dumb. NBC is your home station, and it's your contract! Just get somebody good!

If there was a... 'I hate ND becuz they didn't offer me' Club who would be president? Flutie or Fitzgerald?

It would be so much better if NBC hired an ND alum to sit next to him for balance & banter. Steve Beuerlein would be perfect since he was ND's QB in Flutie's era and has broadcasting experience.

 

[koonja]

Flutie isn't the best, but the amount of complaining about him you guys do doesn't match how bad he is, IMO.

He's bad, but he's not destroy-my-ears, what-is-he-doing bad. I don't really notice it until you guys point it out after the fact. I think there's a lot of group think jumping on him.

I'm not saying he's Tirico, but you guys make it sound like he has anti-ND neck tattoos and would walk around chewing on rocks if he wasn't monitored.

 

[BobbyMac]

Mike Mayock was my favourite with Alex Flanagan on the sideline beat. Problem with Mayock was that apparently he was too technical with his analysis for NBC :S

My favorite was Alex Flanagan and the other people that were on her crews.

No italics.

Would dump Tirico yesterday for Alex, Alex, Alex, Mayock, Hammond w/ Costas in the studio or in attendance for big games. I've been around along time and listened to some of the all-time greats call ND football and that was the best crew for me.

Plus, I'm in the minority... I loved Tom Hammond.

 

[RDU Irish]

My favorite was Alex Flanagan and the other people that were on her crews.

No italics.

Would dump Tirico yesterday for Alex, Alex, Alex, Mayock, Hammond w/ Costas in the studio or in attendance for big games. I've been around along time and listened to some of the all-time greats call ND football and that was the best crew for me.

Plus, I'm in the minority... I loved Tom Hammond.

Neg worthy

Mrs. Doubtfire was great movie too.

 

[dublinirish]

My favorite was Alex Flanagan and the other people that were on her crews.

No italics.

Would dump Tirico yesterday for Alex, Alex, Alex, Mayock, Hammond w/ Costas in the studio or in attendance for big games. I've been around along time and listened to some of the all-time greats call ND football and that was the best crew for me.

Plus, I'm in the minority... I loved Tom Hammond.

Big Alex fan, she has a blog about parenting kids who play sports and she is generally on the money

 

[connor_in]

I didn't get a chance to hear any of the new ND radio team...impressions?

 

[BobbyMac]

Neg worthy

Mrs. Doubtfire was great movie too.

Yeah yeah yeah.

As a horse racing fan, the Breeders' Cup and the Derby are big events for me and his longtime association with those classy productions always carried over for me. I always liked his work in track & field too. Plus, as a basketball player with a Dad who also played in college and is from Kentucky, we watched a lot of UK games Hammond called back in my day.

To each their own. Oddly, most everyone I talk to away from this board liked Hammond too. Definitely some of that group think at work that Koon is talking about IMO.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

My favorite was Alex Flanagan and the other people that were on her crews.

No italics.

Would dump Tirico yesterday for Alex, Alex, Alex, Mayock, Hammond w/ Costas in the studio or in attendance for big games. I've been around along time and listened to some of the all-time greats call ND football and that was the best crew for me.

Plus, I'm in the minority... I loved Tom Hammond.

Bingo, I'm with you on this.

 

[BobbyMac]

Bingo, I'm with you on this.

And then there were two...

 

[BabyIrish]

I didn't get a chance to hear any of the new ND radio team...impressions?

I listened to them for the first part of the third quarter. I liked it. I enjoyed Ryan's analysis on the plays, although he diagnosed Karim's injury as high ankle sprain which freaked me out. I expected him to be gone the rest of the game. I was glad when they called his name on the next series.

 

[IrishLion]

Flutie isn't the best, but the amount of complaining about him you guys do doesn't match how bad he is, IMO.

He's bad, but he's not destroy-my-ears, what-is-he-doing bad. I don't really notice it until you guys point it out after the fact. I think there's a lot of group think jumping on him.

I'm not saying he's Tirico, but you guys make it sound like he has anti-ND neck tattoos and would walk around chewing on rocks if he wasn't monitored.

It takes him 10+ seconds as a color analyst to think of something nice to say when Wimbush uncorks a 40+ yard TD with Finke going Moss on a defender... but it takes him zero effort to sound absolutely giddy that Shae Patterson is about to mount a legendary comeback drive (spoilers: he didn't).

That says all I need to know.

He had two games that he called last year that I thought he was just fine... but generally, he struggles to offer analysis about ND when they play well. That's pretty telling, IMO.

 

[CHIDomer9]

It takes him 10+ seconds as a color analyst to think of something nice to say when Wimbush uncorks a 40+ yard TD with Finke going Moss on a defender... but it takes him zero effort to sound absolutely giddy that Shae Patterson is about to mount a legendary comeback drive (spoilers: he didn't).

That says all I need to know.

He had two games that he called last year that I thought he was just fine... but generally, he struggles to offer analysis about ND when they play well. That's pretty telling, IMO.

Another example that is the freshest (because it was the last during the game) was Coney's scoop of the fumble. Saying "just fall on it" would have been fine during the play, but he was bashing Coney after the play is over and they are on to the highlight. Dude, ND just secured the win and all you can take from that play is that Coney scooped it and didn't just fall on the ball? Guess the alternative was describing how Patterson coughed it up.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Another example that is the freshest (because it was the last during the game) was Coney's scoop of the fumble. Saying "just fall on it" would have been fine during the play, but he was bashing Coney after the play is over and they are on to the highlight. Dude, ND just secured the win and all you can take from that play is that Coney scooped it and didn't just fall on the ball? Guess the alternative was describing how Patterson coughed it up.

This cracked me up.

Dude was so butt hurt that ND just won. Had to find something to critique. Would have loved for Coney to return that for a TD to see if Flutie still would have criticized him.

 

[IrishLion]

This cracked me up.

Dude was so butt hurt that ND just won. Had to find something to critique. Would have loved for Coney to return that for a TD to see if Flutie still would have criticized him.

Had Coney scored, Flutie's first comment would have been, "He should've gone down to protect the ball, and that score will not tell the story of just how close this game was."

 

[ACamp1900]

Another example that is the freshest (because it was the last during the game) was Coney's scoop of the fumble. Saying "just fall on it" would have been fine during the play, but he was bashing Coney after the play is over and they are on to the highlight. Dude, ND just secured the win and all you can take from that play is that Coney scooped it and didn't just fall on the ball? Guess the alternative was describing how Patterson coughed it up.

It also took him almost a full ten seconds to say anything... he was dead silent during the moment... the moment calmed down then his only chime in was "stupid, selfish, play"... you could literally hear his being annoyed. Where as at different parts of the game when UM had bigish plays he chimed in immediately and clearly showed enthusiasm for what just happened. If some are over hearing about it then I get it because we are beating a dead horse a bit, but those who are "nah, ND fans are imagining things" are blind imo.

 

[koonja]

I guess I just don't listen to the broadcasters much, or Flutie. I don't think he's good, but I don't notice all the stand-off-ish he's apparently letting on when something goes ND's way.

I guess I watch and talk over the announcers a lot. But I'll pay attention from here on out.

 

[ACamp1900]

I guess I just don't listen to the broadcasters much, or Flutie. I don't think he's good, but I don't notice all the stand-off-ish he's apparently letting on when something goes ND's way.

I guess I watch and talk over the announcers a lot. But I'll pay attention from here on out.

I've noticed it on and off over the last year or so but yeah i usually cheer or whatever during big plays so I don't catch a lot of the in moment stuff either. I made a point to go back after the game and see how he responded to the majority of big plays (either way) throughout and it was pretty striking. Yes, in this case I was looking for it but I honestly don't think I'm being unfair, he's been bad before and this past weekend was up there.

 

[GowerND11]

I love Tirico, and I think he does a fantastic job of staying balanced, and generally his calls are great. That is why, I think you need someone else who might just be a homer (or Mayock). Tirico is very balanced in his calls, but not in a trying to0 hard way. He just comes across as professional. If you partner him with a Mayock style color guy, I would be in heaven.

 

[ACamp1900]

I love Tirico, and I think he does a fantastic job of staying balanced, and generally his calls are great. That is why, I think you need someone else who might just be a homer (or Mayock). Tirico is very balanced in his calls, but not in a trying to hard way. He just comes across as professional. If you partner him with a Mayock style color guy, I would be in heaven.

I'm here...