Tag: Chris Fowler

Chris Fowler excited for return of Penn State’s whiteout vs. Auburn

ESPN’s Chris Fowler is super excited to see the return of Penn State’s whiteout this season.

Every college football fan should have a bucket list of experiences they want to have at least once in their life. A Penn State whiteout should be among the highlighted bucket list items.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler knows just how special a whiteout atmosphere is. So once the word broke that Penn State was bringing back the whiteout for this season’s first-ever regular-season meeting with Auburn, you knew Fowler was going to get some goosebumps. Fowler will be in the broadcast booth in Beaver Stadium to call the action on ABC’s primetime nationally televised game against the SEC program.

Needless to say, Fowler is looking forward to it.

Penn State released their schedule of themes for each home game this season, with the stadium-wide Whiteout the highlight of the season for the Nittany Lions. As Fowler noted, the whiteout is typically used for the alternating home games against Michigan and Ohio State every year. But the big game atmosphere in Week 3 with the national spotlight is too much to pass up, especially after missing out on the whiteout game last season.

It should be noted that Penn State will also have a student section whiteout for the home game against Michigan later in the year, although there is nothing stopping other fans attending the game from joining in the whiteout fun (expect a stadium-wide whiteout for the game anyway).

We know Auburn quarterback Bo Nix is looking forward to his trip to Beaver Stadium. And we know Fowler is too.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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Possible candidates to replace Dane Fife as assistant coach

Dane Fife has moved on to take an assistant coaching position with the Indiana Hoosiers. Who are possible candidates to replace him at MSU:

Michigan State basketball assistant coach Dane Fife has announced he is leaving the program to take a job on Mike Woodson’s new staff at Indiana.

Coach Fife gave MSU 10 strong years as an assistant coach on staff, as an integral part of the coaching staff and program. Now Tom Izzo will be tasked with replacing Fife on his staff.

It will be interesting to see who Izzo targets for such an important role within the program. A spot on Izzo’s staff will be very attractive to a lot of people in the coaching world.

Let’s take a look at some of the possible candidates to replace Dane Fife:

NFL Week 1 announce team assignments

Some familiar names and some new faces will be on the mic in Week 1 of the NFL season for networks.

What voices drew what assignments for Week 1 of the NFL season? There are plenty of familiar names and some new ones on the menu. We’ve got you covered.

Sunday

Seattle at Atlanta, FOX 1 p.m.: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth & Lindsey Czarniak

Cleveland at Baltimore, CBS 1 p.m.:  Ian Eagle, Charles Davis & Evan Washburn

NY Jets at Buffalo, CBS 1 p.m: Andrew Catalon, James Lofton & AJ Ross

Las Vegas at Carolina, CBS 1 p.m.: Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon & Jay Feely

Chicago at Detroit, FOX 1 p.m.: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma & Shannon Spake

Indianapolis at Jacksonville, CBS 1:p.m.: – Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

Green Bay at Minnesota, FOX 1 p.m.: Chris Myers, Brock Huard, Greg Jennings & Jennifer Hale

Miami at New England, CBS 1 p.m.: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo & Tracy Wolfson

Philadelphia at Washington, FOX 1 p.m.: Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston & Pam Oliver

LA Chargers at Cincinnati, CBS 4:05 p.m.: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green & Melanie Collins

Tampa Bay at New Orleans, FOX 4:25 p.m.: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Erin Andrews

Arizona at San Francisco, FOX 4:25 p.m.: Kevin Kugler, Chris Spielman & Laura Okmin

Dallas at LA Rams, NBC 8:20 p.m.: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth & Michelle Tafoya

Monday

Pittsburgh at NY Giants, ESPN 7:15 p.m.: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit & Maria Taylor

Tennessee at Denver, ESPN 10:10 p.m.: Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick & Lisa Salters

Who will call the Broncos-Titans game on ESPN in Week 1?

Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are not expected to call the Broncos-Titans game on ESPN in Week 1.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football commentary crews apparently haven’t been set just yet.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding college football, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit — ESPN’s top NCAA duo — could be on the call for several NFL games this fall, especially if games are played on Saturdays.

Fowler and Herbstreit were originally expected to call the Broncos-Titans game in Week 1 but they are now expected to call the first MNF game between the Giants and Steelers, according to the New York Post‘s Andrew Marchand.

That would leave Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick to call the Denver-Tennessee game, ESPN’s second game in a Week 1 doubleheader. Levy and Griese have called Broncos games before — Riddick has mostly served as a studio analyst for ESPN but does have experience commentating on college games.

Griese was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Michigan. He spent five seasons in Denver and earned a Pro Bowl nod after totaling 2,688 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions in 2000. Griese has been with ESPN since 2009.

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Report: ESPN won’t audible to Chris Fowler-Kirk Herbstreit for MNF

Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler won’t be resting on Saturdays if ESPN can land possible NFL games.

The pieces are moving everywhere. On the field, off the field. College football, pro football. Sports is in a chaotic state due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is no different with TV networks and broadcast teams. What will they do if the NFL shifts games from Sundays to playing some on Saturdays, too?

Well, according to one report, ESPN would stick with its still-to-be-announced “Monday Night Football” team of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick, and keep its options open about having its premier college team if Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit available for the possibility of Saturday broadcasts.

With the potential of Saturday NFL games in the event of college football being totally canceled, ESPN’s current plan is to stick with its newly created, but yet to be announced “Monday Night Football” team of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick, The Post has learned.

That doesn’t mean that its No. 1 college football broadcast team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit won’t do multiple NFL games.

If this were to happen, then ESPN/ABC would try to land Saturday games. Fowler and Herbstreit would be in line to call those telecasts.

The duo is already expected to be on the Giants-Steelers “Monday Night” opener on Sept. 14. Levy, Riddick and Griese will handle the second game of that night’s doubleheader between the Titans and Broncos.

 

ESPN sets ‘Monday Night Football’ crew for Broncos’ season opener

ESPN has set two commentary crews for ‘Monday Night Football’ this season.

ESPN will have a new commentary trio for Monday Night Football this fall.

The Disney-owned network will have Steve Levy serve as a play-by-play announcer with former NFL players Louis Riddick and Brian Griese providing color commentary, according to USA TODAY’s Chris Bumbaca.

Levy has been with ESPN for 27 years. Riddick has been with the network since 2013 and Griese has been with ESPN since 2009.

Griese was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Michigan. He spent five seasons in Denver and earned a Pro Bowl nod after totaling 2,688 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions in 2000.

Levy, Riddick and Griese will serve as ESPN’s top commentary crew so they won’t call the Broncos’ season opener against the Titans in Week 1. Denver will be playing the second game in a double-header and the showdown against Tennessee will have a separate broadcast crew.

Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, who call the top college football games for ESPN, will serve as the secondary MNF crew this season. Fowler and Herbstreit will call the Broncos-Titans game at 8:10 p.m. MT on Sept. 14.

Before Denver’s season opener, the Steelers-Giants clash will air at 5:15 p.m. MT on ESPN. Levy, Riddick and Griese will call the first game.

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Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit may call Giants-Steelers in Week 1

If the 2020 college football season is canceled, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call a Week 1 game between the Giants and Steelers.

ESPN will make substantial changes to their “Monday Night Football” crew this season, which includes Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland being replaced by the trio of Steve Levy, Brian Griese Louis Riddick.

However, that group will not call the Week 1 game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, instead being assigned to the Tennessee Titans-Denver Broncos game.

So, where does that leave the Giants and Steelers? Well, that depends on whether or not there is a college football season.

James Andrew Miller reports that Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the booth for Giants-Steelers if the college season is canceled. Obviously, that’s all subject to change.

ESPN attempted to lure both Tony Romo and Peyton Manning into their broadcasting booth this year, but those efforts fell flat. And an attempt to trade for NBC’s Al Michaels also came up empty.

Although Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit wouldn’t represent a permanent option for “Monday Night Football,” it would be an interesting change should the college football season be canceled here in 2020.

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Does ESPN know something the rest of us don’t?

With news of Fowler and Herbstreit potentially moving to Monday Night Football, does ESPN know something about college football in 2020?

In life it’s always good to have a plan.  I get that, I understand that and appreciate it.  Maybe one day I’ll have a better plan for my life.  In the meantime I’ll be here writing and discussing Notre Dame and college athletics, however.

News leaked on Wednesday that ESPN has a plan in place to have Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit move to the Monday Night Football television booth in the event that college football is either delayed or cancelled for 2020.

Now like I said, having a plan is great, but I have to ask why they’re leaking that news.  Do the folks at ESPN know something that athletic directors and college football coaches nationwide have refused to admit?

That seems like something you keep close to your vest unless you have a pretty good idea as to what might be happening since they haven’t officially named a new Monday Night Football broadcast team yet but have made it appear that it’ll be internal candidates.

As for the move, I don’t dislike it.  I won’t confuse Fowler to ever be Howard Cosell or Al Michaels but he’s a solid broadcaster, no doubt.  He also carries more cache than the other potential play-by-play voices at ESPN.  He and Herbstreit make a solid call, something Monday Night Football has lacked in the last few decades.

So if you’re ESPN, why wouldn’t you consider this, pandemic or not?  If people didn’t turn off the game because of the brutal call Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland put on last year, do you think they’ll turn it off because a couple guys who have a college background are on?

I don’t love everything Herbstreit has to say but I do enjoy his dedication to helping grow college football and the same can be said for Fowler.  It’d be a wise move by ESPN but I’d certainly miss them on Saturday nights.

But if they do get moved to Monday nights can I make the request to get Jason Benetti on the prime-time ABC game each week because that’s who I’d like to see get it.

Thanks.

Report: ESPN could shift Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit to MNF if college season is delayed

Could ESPN’s top college team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit be headed for Monday Night Football?

The anticipation will continue to grow when it comes to what voices ESPN will tab as the next “Monday Night Football” team. And Front Office Sports reported Monday the college football season — or a delay to the start of it — could play a huge role.

FOS reports ESPN would consider moving Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit into the MNF booth if there is any delay to the college football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If college football’s fall season is delayed or, at worst, canceled, ESPN will likely turn to its top college football broadcast team of analyst Kirk Herbstreit and play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler to call “MNF,” sources tell Front Office Sports.

“It all hinges on when and if college football comes back,” a source told FOS. “If Herbstreit and Fowler are ESPN’s best football booth, and a lot of execs at ESPN believe they are, why not have them call Monday Night? They call the College Football Playoff National Championship game every year.”

ESPN is replacing the team of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland, which was heavily criticized during its two years.

Should college football kick off on time, the names bandied about for MNF have been: Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Pat McAfee, Steve Levy, Dave Pasch, and Brian Griese.

ESPN is not alone in playing a waiting game on NFL voices. FOX has to replace analyst Charles Davis, who left for CBS. FOS suggests FOX could move Joel Klatt into the role Davis vacated if college football is delayed.

ESPN analyst Chris Fowler believes college football season in spring of 2021 gaining momentum

ESPN college football analyst Chris Fowler believes delaying the season, potentially until the spring of 2021, is gaining momentum.

It’s the question every college football fan is asking as the clock ticks away towards some type of decision needing to be made on the fate of college football this fall.

And before we even go there, certainly everyone’s priorities are on the state of the world today as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic currently turning our life upside down as we know it. Health is the paramount concern and anything else is just icing on the cake.

All of that being said, there’s still a pending college football season in the fall that many hope don’t end up on the same shelf as every single spring sport that has been effectively canceled or delayed with no timetable in sight so far.

So will there be a college football season this fall? Might it be delayed or shortened?

ESPN analyst Chris Fowler shared a video to his Instagram account Saturday detailing what he believes are three scenarios that could play out, but there’s one in particular he believes is gaining more and more momentum.

“The first scenario is the season starts on time and the season isn’t altered much,” Fowler said. “Time is running out, though, unless you think 4-6 weeks is a whole lot of time. Because I’m told by the end of May, there has to be clarity and if you are going to have college campuses open — which you will have to bring the players back — that’s about the deadline to get things going on time.”

Fowler then added two more possibilities that he thought were more likely.

“Scenario 2, the season starts late and maybe gets shortened a bit,” Fowler said. “Maybe you get going in November and you go through January and have to reshuffle the Playoff. To me, that sounds problematic. People are worried about a second wave of this virus coming back when the temperatures up north turn colder. You want to start a season then have to shut it down? To me, that would be disastrous.”

Then, he honed in on the scenario he believes makes the most sense and is starting to gain more and more traction — albeit very unconventional. Then again extraordinary times sometimes call for, even necessitate, extraordinary measures.

“It’s gaining momentum — which may sound preposterous on the surface but I think a lot of reasonable people feel like it might be the most prudent course of action, and that is football in the spring.”

“Beginning some point in February, getting into March, April, May, maybe have the postseason in June,” Fowler said. “That would have to be reshuffled a bit. It would be bizarre. It would wreak havoc on some other sports in that time of year. But to avoid the financial disaster of having no football in the academic year, I think it might be a fallback position.”

Ohio State is scheduled to begin the season on September 5 against in-state foe Bowling Green. We’ll all just have to be patient to see how this all plays out.

 

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