Les Miles Is Going to Michigan ... Right?

By Brian Powell
Each Monday morning, Brian posts a recap of the weekend’s broadcasts, along with a “MNF” recap on Tuesday mornings as well as a weekend preview every Friday.
ESPN Is All Over News That Didn’t Actually Happen
The biggest news over the weekend came early Saturday morning, but turned out not to be news at all. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit reported on College Gameday that LSU Coach Les Miles had taken a job at his Alma Mater Michigan:
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The report was quickly refuted by the coach in a press conference called that afternoon and ESPN backed off it’s reporter’s initial claim. Herbstreit, however, stood by his source.

BCS Selection Show on FOX Tries To Be Sneaky
The BCS Selection Show aired on FOX last night at 8PM with hosts Chris Rose, Charles Davis, Barry Switzer, and Jimmy Johnson. The program seemed to have more commercials than actual picks and even Barry Switzer wanted the program to move along. The ex-coach gave away the surprise pick of Hawaii before the show could unveil it.
FOX did have exclusive rights to the selections and ESPN was airing a selection show at the same time while waiting for the picks. This could have been the reasoning for the staggered picks and untimely commercial breaks, or they could have just been trying to emulate CBS’ NCAA Basketball Selection Show. Either way it turned out pretty uneventful.
Worst Announcing of the Weekend
The worst call of the weekend came from ESPN’s Pam Ward. During the MAC Championship game early Saturday, Ward and her partner Ray Bentley had numerous audio problems. The sound was missing from the broadcast through most of the first quarter and at the start of the second-half. ESPN had resort to Stan Verrett and Jesse Palmer calling the game from Bristol during these delays. Thinking the problems had been fixed, Verrett threw it back to Ward during the second-half. There was a long delay followed by Pam proclaiming, “What?! … Okay, and we’re back.”:

Audio problems can’t be blamed on the announcers, but someone should have let Pam know she was back on air.
Best Quotes From the Weekend’s Telecasts
“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 combining Peyton and Brady into one Super QB
“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
“The SEC Title Game: Tennessee and Louisville, or LSU.”- Andre Ware not realizing Louisville isn’t in the SEC
“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 talking to Paul Maguire who was on the camera truck in the endzone.
“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
“This game has turned into a battle for the SEC Championship.”- Gary Danielson playing the role of Captain Obvious during the SEC Championship
“A fresh set of downs for the Steelers.”- Mike Patrick forgetting he was calling a Pitt Panthers game
“I guess if you’re doing a Steeler game, you’ve gotta be an expert in horticulture.”- Al Michaels on the conditions at Heinz Field
Sideline Reporter of the Week Who Didn’t Actually Report Anything
Not a sideline reporter this week, but NBC’s Jerome Bettis and Chris Collinsworth headed out to bars to enjoy the Sunday Night Football game. Bettis was greeted with open arms at a Steelers bar in NYC, while Chris drove all of the patrons away from a Bengals establishment:

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