The Top Media Personalities in College Football

Allowing Verne and Gary to be on here is a travesty. They only go with what’s trending – as evidenced by three years of Tebow and a year and a half of UAT. Gary makes only the most obvious of assessments and Verne calls the game slower than Eli Gold. I listen to the Auburn Network and leave the television on mute when Auburn plays on CBS – it’s almost as bad as Jefferson Pilot.

I’m with you on Verne. He has his faults, but there’s something soothing about him calling a game, or 15 and 16 at Augusta.

Honestly the only one I would gripe about is that you gave honorable mention to Craig James. That dude shouldn’t be anywhere near this list. I’d replace him with Chris Speilman in that part of the list.

Danielson is my absolute favorite however. He just get’s it. I love listening to him on Finebaum’s show (in fact it’s pretty much the only reason why I listen to Finebaum).

I think it is a 4-way tie for second for me with Herbstreit, Davis, Fowler and King. I’ve got so much respect for Herbstreit being able to put aside is obvious fandom when making points or calling games. Ohio State fans may think he is intenionally hard on the Buckeyes just to make sure he doesn’t show favoritism and they may have a point, but he is such a big ambassador for that program I’ve got to think it’s worth it. To a lesser extent Rece shows the same professionalism. He makes a few good natured jabs to Bama rivals but he’s a class act as well.

So since I ditched Musburger I need to replace him with someone…I’m probably in the minority, but I’m a big fan of Jesse Palmer. I feel like the dude knows his stuff, and he seems like a class act as well. He uses his Florida experience as a knowlegde base, and doesn’t seem to pick favorites.

The turds will be up set at that one. They and he both know that he is at the top. Says so in his program’s intro everyday. Also no Brando? His ego says he deserves better.
For me, I like Bill King and Tony Burnhart.

I have to agree about Danielson. He has won me over. He is sometimes very critical of players and coaches during the game, but I find that refreshing. He and Verne make the best SEC team since (IMHO) Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried.

As much as I do like Lee Corso, it’s time to hang it up because of his stroke from two years ago. His brief Heisman snippets last December proved that to me. I hate it for him. His tombstone one day will read “62-0”.

Mark May would be in my top 5. His analysis I trust. I wish they’d give him more but slobbering Lou is always trying to steal the show.

Herbie is the best guy out there. His ability to severly criticize his alma mater proved to me that he’s no homer and has more un-paralled objectivism than any former player in the business.

Musberger and Barnhart are too high. Both rely on ego and personality too much and seem less prepared every year. Rece Davis, Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge are too low. Davis is always very prepared, Nessler is almost perfectly suited to television play-by-play with an understated performance and Blackledge is improving every year.

Danielson sometimes forgets the college rules (CBS needs to do a better job of having producers tell him when he’s f’ed up a rule interpretation) but his ability to break down the in-game Xs and Os is unparalleled in CFB right now.

Fowler (as hard as it is to believe) is the dean of CFB analysis right now. Unfortunately, GameDay is over-produced and too long, making it hard to watch.

two under-appreciated analysts…IMO. I also like Todd’s eating exploits when he covers the games. I don’t like the idiotic questions that Wolfson always asks b/f or after half-time, which are likely her producers and not her own (hopefully), otherwise she would be further up on the list for me.

The other SEC Saturday on CBS play-by-play guy.

Todd Blackledge and Mark May on the list and leave off Verne and Gary.

1) Phillip Marshall
2) Tony Barnhart
3) Bill King
4) Rob Bramlett
5) Chris Lowe
Not partial to any of the TV guys. Lowe was stricken from my list after last season.

And each of you can laugh at any/all of them if you want.
1.) Gary Danielson – simply the best at the X’s and O’s in the game today.
2.) Ron Franklin – pre-humiliation of course. He could call a game better than any since Keith Jackson.
3.) Kirk Herbstreit – Fair and prepared as a guest commentator, not so much as a cover/commentary. This may not be fair, since he is stuck with the worst college football play by play to get top billing.
4.) Rece Davis – Anyone who can shut both Mark May and Lou Holthzz up has my vote!
5.) Verne Lunquist – I am still partial to his golf commentary, but he is pretty good at football too.
6.) Erin Andrews – Duh!
7.) Chris Fowler – ESPN Game Day is unlike anything I can remember, and a college football fans dream come true. Even if it is a little long winded at times.
8.) Charles Davis – The only TBS guy I even want to hear talk. But he is usually prepared.
9.) Tony Barnharrt – Mr. College football, need I say more?
10.) Since recruiting is as big as it is nationally, I have to include Phillip Marshall.

With all that said, I would rather hear Rod Bramblett call a tennis match than listen to most anyone else on my list even say good morning. Except Ms. Andrews of course. I am a man after all. Or as Brad Paisley sings, “I’m still a guy”.

…..I don’t notice the TV guys. If I notice them, it’s probably because they made a mistake. Like Musburger calling us “the War Eagles of EWAH-burn.” I really don’t like listening to Davie or Holtz, either.

……I enjoy the CBS broadcast because of Danielson. I learn things listening to him. On the other hand, the CBS game ticker is pretty primitive compared to what ESPN provides. Only occasionally does CBS show it. You get a lot more information out of ESPN, including how many timeouts each team has left.

She’s much more fun to look at than Verne Lundquist

you don’t like Verne’s dreamy jowls?

(Yeah, hi-def really brings that home in a way I’d never hoped to see.)