ETHICS: ESPN’S College Gameday Crew Had Super-Secret Nike Deals. Should We Be Concerned?

I’m not really sure how we’re supposed to feel about stories like this anymore. Richard Sandomir of the NYT with the dirty work:

Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso have deals with Nike that Corso described as a joint arrangement that largely involves speaking engagements for the athletic shoe and apparel company.

After an inquiry to ESPN about the announcers’ Nike contracts, Josh Krulewitz, an ESPN spokesman, said that Fowler, the host of “GameDay,” is “ending his minor association” with Nike “to avoid any potential perception issues.” Fowler was not made available for an interview.

Corso, Fowler and Herbstreit’s deals with Nike were never announced or disclosed to viewers. “We were unaware of these deals,” Krulewitz said.

There are two big reasons why this is news. First, a big deal was made about Erin Andrews signing a deal with Reebok, with some sports media types wondering if it could develop into a conflict of interest for the reporter. Second, and perhaps most importantly, nobody knew about these Nike deals? ESPN’s PR office didn’t even know? That’s crazy, isn’t it?

Or isREAD MORE

DL516: Groundhog Day, Letters of Intent, Stephen A, NFL Labor, Groundhog Day

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It’s Groundhog Day. I refuse to recognize Staten Island Chuck as a deciding-factor of springtime. Seriously, look at this guy:

Anyway, we talk about that, plus a ton on National Signing Day, Stephen A. Smith going back to ESPN Radio (it really IS Groundhog Day) and some NFL Labor issues.

There is another show coming today. Thanks for listening.

Urban Meyer Joins ESPN As Studio/Game Analyst. SEC Games In His Future?

Hot off the ESPN Press Release machine:

Former University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer, who won two BCS National Championships in six years, will join ESPN as a college football game and studio analyst. He will make his debut Wednesday, Feb. 2 as a studio analyst during ESPNU’s 10-hour ESPNU National Signing Day Special.

As part of the agreement, Meyer will work a weekly regular-season game (specific assignment to be determined) and select post-season bowl games. He will also provide studio analysis throughout the year on ESPN’s dailyCollege Football Live program; NFL Draft, spring games; and bowl games, including during the network’s on-site BCS coverage.

In addition, Meyer will contribute to ESPN’s popular Saturday morning College GameDay Built by The Home Depot series (from his game site), make weekly appearances on ESPN Radio, and provide analysis onSportsCenter and additional ESPN outlets.

The life of a college football analyst is certainly less stressful than the life of a college football coach. Still a ton of travel, though. While CBS has a large chunk of  the SEC slate, it will be interesting toREAD MORE

Over/Under: Reaction to Brady Hoke, Dave Brandon, Michigan Men

Not long after this blog opined that Michigan needed to hire a good coach, not make a good hire, U-M AD Dave Brandon took the suggestion to heart. When he offered San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke the job, Hoke agreed without bothering to ask about terms. To say Hoke was eager to take the job is understatement indeed; practically the first words out of Hoke’s mouth after being introduced were, “We would have walked to the University of Michigan.”

Rich Rodriguez’s tenure at Michigan was unquestionably marked by his relationship with the media. It was a Detroit Free Press investigative report that resulted in the first major NCAA violations in Michigan football history. Throughout Rodriguez’s tenure, Michigan fans complained that the Detroit media seemed to paint Rodriguez as a renegade outsider, and Mark Dantonio as an avatar of integrity—even as Michigan State players wound showed up in the police blotter over and over again.

In Hoke’s introductory press conference (video available at http://www.mgoblue.com), however, the media seemed to welcome Hoke with open arms; the Q&A sessionREAD MORE

Soapbox: Michigan Needs To Hire A Good Coach, Not Make A Good Hire

(Ed Note: This post comes courtesy of Ty Schalter of Detroit Lions blog The Lions In Winter.)

Bill Martin was, figuratively, standing alone in the rain. He was staring forlornly at the heavy oaken door to Rutgers Castle, just closed in his face. The sloppy wet spatters of New Jersey rain were figuratively pummeling his wispy comb-over as he wondered where he’d turn next. He’d figuratively come six hundred miles, figurative hat in hand, to ask Rutgers’ head coach if he’d take over the winningest program in college football history. Greg Schiano declined.

Martin was in a bind. Lloyd Carr’s storybook national championship farewell didn’t make it past the first chapter. A $226 million dollar Michigan Stadium renovation was already underway. He had a hundred years of tradition, a massive fan base, and an impressive donor list all demanding that stadium house a winner. Martin had publicly blown his chances with the best (and obvious candidate): Les Miles, an SEC coach whose #2-ranked team was about to play for, and ultimately win, a BCS National Championship. Miles,READ MORE

DL506: The BCS Title Game Was One Heckuva Show

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Nick and I recap the BCS title game, focusing mostly on the coverage by ESPN during (and before) the game.

In short, we both seem to love the work of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit and, I’ll admit, I have a media crush on Chris Fowler. He’s the best studio host in the business, covering any sport on any network.

Speaking of that, we talk about why the college pregame show can be handled professionally and with a modicum of class and seriousness (yet still be fun) while almost all the professional pregame shows are yukfests. Why are the guys who cover amateurs more professional than those covering the actual professionals, who come off looking like amateurs by comparison?

HOUSEKEEPING:

We touch briefly on the Carmelo Anthony rumors and how ESPN reported that the Nuggets are upset that media reports keep leaking out about the deal, something we find funny coming from a media source that has gotten beat on the exact reports the Nuggets don’t want out. So meta.

We talk about Pitt sneakingREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Brent Musburger And The Case Of The Missing Touchdowns

Look, I love Brent Musburger and I think that he and Kirk Herbstreit are the best announcing tandem in college football. Sure others like Brad Nessler, Verne Lundquist, et al are fantastic announcers, too, but something about Brent’s voice that just screams “big game.” Add in Herbie and you have the best booth in America.

Having said that, Brent’s not without his quirks, and mistakes. So, with respect, let’s pick out a few of those moments from last night’s title game!

I seriously thought about clipping together all the times he called LaMichael James by his first name only, perhaps thinking his name was James LaMichael or perhaps an homage to all of us calling Brent, himself, primarily by his first name. Anyway, if “LaMichael” was added to the Brent Musburger drinking game, you all were sloshed by halftime.

But clipping that was way too much work. Instead we clipped up his two touchdown calls…that weren’t. Now, the second one in the clip below wasn’t his fault, as the officials signaled it a touchdown before replay got theREAD MORE

ESPN Must Speed Up (And Shut Up) To Keep Pace With BCS Title Teams

Those in charge of the BCS title game telecast better get ready for some quick decisions tonight as both Oregon and Auburn aren’t teams too likely to dawdle or lolly-gag or, well, even huddle most of the game. Things are going to be fast paced, tonight, which could lead to some issues for those calling, directing and producing the game.

From Michael Hiestand of USA Today, here’s Brent Musburger’s gameplan:

Championship games can attract big audiences that include viewers who otherwise don’t follow the sport. That can lead broadcasters to explain things that avid fans already know.

But Brent Musburger, calling Monday night’s BCS national championship game on ESPN with analyst Kirk Herbstreit, expects to take the opposite tack. “I’ll be quieter than usual, won’t try to over talk. I know they’ll be some people who, believe it or not, won’t know where Auburn is, so we’ll mention it. But I think the bigger the game, the less you need an announcer. I’ll just let people enjoy it.”

Musburger told Hiestand that he plans to deal with the Oregon hurry-up offenseREAD MORE

DL505: Doug Flutie On Helmet-to-Helmet Hits, Paying Players, Conference Alignment & BCS

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Doug Flutie joins the show! Yes, he was plugging something, but it’s not like he was plugging knives or anything like that (note: that’d be totally awesome if people starting going online equivalent of door to door selling knives.) Flutie is plugging the Capital One Cup. Particulars below:

Doug is touring on behalf of the Capital One Cup, which honors one Division I mens and one Division I womens program for their cumulative on-field success across 13 different sports.  The winning universities will receive the Cup in July and be handed a $200,000 check earmarked for student/athletes looking to continue their studies.  The team that wins tonight’s BCS Championship will win 60 Capital One Cup points.  For more information – and to follow the standings of your school or favorite team – listeners can go to www.capitalonecup.com.

It’s a great program, so check it out.

Flutie and I spin the Capital One Cup into a conversation about conference realignment and how any of the schools are able to actually pay for their non-revenueREAD MORE

DL502: A Caffeinated College Football Rant With Kevin McGuire of CFB Examiner

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Okay, so yesterday was a day that I had a lot of caffeine. Probably too much. And then I hopped on the Skype machine and talked with Kevin McGuire of CFB Examiner about the bowl season, Joe Paterno and whether or not the NCAA has any control over college football.

I probably should have gone with the half-caf.

Or, maybe, I just needed to get a lot of this out of my system.

We talk about the Ohio State suspension situation (which looks even more telling considering OSU won the Sugar Bowl last night on the backs of four of the five suspended players). We debate the delayed suspension, and talk a lot about why a player has to give back the money they were given if they’re already getting suspended. It makes no sense, to me, that a player gets a five game suspension AND has to give back the money he was given. If he says no, he’s suspended forever, right? That’s basically punishing the guy twice for the same crime. WhatREAD MORE