ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime
Encyclopedia
ESPN College Football Primetime is a live game presentation of Division 1-A college football
on ESPN
. In the past, the presenting sponsors have been Polaroid
and AT&T
. The current presenting sponsor is Hampton Hotels
. The game telecast airs every Saturday night at 7:45pm ET
during the college football
regular season. The game is preceded by a 45 minute long College Football Scoreboard with Rece Davis
, Lou Holtz
and Mark May
, all of whom also appear on the halftime report. This game telecast is also presented in high-definition
on ESPN HD.
, ACC
, Big Ten
and the Big East
. In recent years, it has primarily featured the SEC as the second-choice game to CBS' national coverage earlier in the day. Games from the other conferences typically could air either on ESPN/ESPN2 or ABC, but the SEC does not offer such flexibility. This game is often seen as the ESPN
Game of the Week along with the Thursday night telecast.
Some notable voices of ESPN College Football Primetime over the years have been Ron Franklin
, Mike Gottfried
and Adrian Karsten
, but all have gone on to different assignments, except for Karsten, who died in 2005. The current commentators for the ESPN version are Brad Nessler
on play-by-play, Todd Blackledge
as analyst and Erin Andrews
as field reporter.
On October 14, 2006, ESPN College Football Primetime aired on five different networks as part of ESPN Full Circle
. The networks included ESPN
, ESPN2
, ESPNU
, ESPN 360 and Mobile ESPN
.
On August 30, 2008, the ESPN2 team of Mark Jones and Bob Davie commentated the Illinois-Missouri game. A week later (September 6, 2008), the ABC team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit commentated the Miami–Florida game.
Ron Franklin worked the November 22, 2008 game with Ed Cunningham
as they commentated the Florida State–Maryland game. This marked the first time since 2005 that Franklin called an ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime game.
was calling along with Bob Davie, sideline reporter Holly Rowe
lauded Purdue
defensive coordinator Brock Spack
for using all three timeouts on defense despite trailing by four touchdowns late in the game. "If the coaches are giving up," Rowe added, "what does that say to the players?" Franklin responded: "Holly, it's not giving up. It's 49-21, sweetheart."
In response to that, Mo Davenport, senior coordinating producer for college football said, "It was an inappropriate comment, and we've communicated that to Ron. There's never a reason to say something so mean-spirited. Ron apologized. We dealt with it internally."
Many believe this was the cause for Franklin's demotion from the ESPN
primetime game to the ESPN2
primetime game.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. In the past, the presenting sponsors have been Polaroid
Polaroid Corporation
Polaroid Corporation is an American-based international consumer electronics and eyewear company, originally founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land. It is most famous for its instant film cameras, which reached the market in 1948, and continued to be the company's flagship product line until the February...
and AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. The current presenting sponsor is Hampton Hotels
Hampton Inn
'Hampton Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton are the names of a brand of hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide. Most Hampton hotels are independently owned and operated by franchisees, though a few are owned and/or managed by the Hilton Hotels Corporation...
. The game telecast airs every Saturday night at 7:45pm ET
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
during the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
regular season. The game is preceded by a 45 minute long College Football Scoreboard with Rece Davis
Rece Davis
Rece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
, Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
and Mark May
Mark May
Mark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
, all of whom also appear on the halftime report. This game telecast is also presented in high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
on ESPN HD.
History
Since debuting in 1984, it has broadcast games from numerous conferences including the SECSoutheastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
. In recent years, it has primarily featured the SEC as the second-choice game to CBS' national coverage earlier in the day. Games from the other conferences typically could air either on ESPN/ESPN2 or ABC, but the SEC does not offer such flexibility. This game is often seen as the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Game of the Week along with the Thursday night telecast.
Some notable voices of ESPN College Football Primetime over the years have been Ron Franklin
Ron Franklin
Ron Franklin is an American sportscaster, most notably with ESPN, where he was employed from 1987-2011. He was fired by ESPN on January 4, 2011 after allegedly making sexist comments to and then berating a colleague.He is married with one child...
, Mike Gottfried
Mike Gottfried
-External links:*...
and Adrian Karsten
Adrian Karsten
Adrian Karsten was a college football sideline reporter for ESPN known for wearing his trademark suspenders. He attended Northwestern University and graduated in 1982...
, but all have gone on to different assignments, except for Karsten, who died in 2005. The current commentators for the ESPN version are Brad Nessler
Brad Nessler
Bradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'...
on play-by-play, Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
as analyst and Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews
Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network...
as field reporter.
On October 14, 2006, ESPN College Football Primetime aired on five different networks as part of ESPN Full Circle
ESPN Full Circle
ESPN Full Circle is the branding used for multi-network simulcasts of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and serviceswith each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features or functions...
. The networks included ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
, ESPN 360 and Mobile ESPN
Mobile ESPN
ESPN MVP is a cellular phone-based sports information service offered by ESPN and Verizon Wireless. It has been carried on the Verizon Wireless Network after it was relaunched in May 2007 as the ESPN MVP. Previously known as Mobile ESPN, it was an Mobile Virtual Network Operator run by Disney using...
.
On August 30, 2008, the ESPN2 team of Mark Jones and Bob Davie commentated the Illinois-Missouri game. A week later (September 6, 2008), the ABC team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit commentated the Miami–Florida game.
Ron Franklin worked the November 22, 2008 game with Ed Cunningham
Ed Cunningham
Ed Cunningham is a former professional American football player who played center for five seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to his professional career, Cunningham played center for the University of Washington Huskies, helping them win a National Championship in 1991...
as they commentated the Florida State–Maryland game. This marked the first time since 2005 that Franklin called an ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime game.
Franklin-Rowe Incident
On October 1, 2005, in a game that Ron FranklinRon Franklin
Ron Franklin is an American sportscaster, most notably with ESPN, where he was employed from 1987-2011. He was fired by ESPN on January 4, 2011 after allegedly making sexist comments to and then berating a colleague.He is married with one child...
was calling along with Bob Davie, sideline reporter Holly Rowe
Holly Rowe
Holly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :...
lauded Purdue
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
defensive coordinator Brock Spack
Brock Spack
Brock Spack is the head coach of Illinois State University football. He was appointed to the position in December 2008. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator at Purdue University under Joe Tiller.-References:...
for using all three timeouts on defense despite trailing by four touchdowns late in the game. "If the coaches are giving up," Rowe added, "what does that say to the players?" Franklin responded: "Holly, it's not giving up. It's 49-21, sweetheart."
In response to that, Mo Davenport, senior coordinating producer for college football said, "It was an inappropriate comment, and we've communicated that to Ron. There's never a reason to say something so mean-spirited. Ron apologized. We dealt with it internally."
Many believe this was the cause for Franklin's demotion from the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
primetime game to the ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
primetime game.
Current
- Todd BlackledgeTodd BlackledgeTodd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
: (analyst, 2006–present) - Brad NesslerBrad NesslerBradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'...
: (play-by-play, 2009–present) - Holly RoweHolly RoweHolly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :...
: (field reporter, 2005–08, 2010–present)
Former
- Erin AndrewsErin AndrewsErin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network...
: (field reporter, 2004, 2009) - Bob Davie: (ESPN analyst, 2005; also commentator for the August 30, 2008 game)
- Ron FranklinRon FranklinRon Franklin is an American sportscaster, most notably with ESPN, where he was employed from 1987-2011. He was fired by ESPN on January 4, 2011 after allegedly making sexist comments to and then berating a colleague.He is married with one child...
: (play-by-play, 1990–2005; also commentator for the November 22, 2008 game) - Mike GottfriedMike Gottfried-External links:*...
: (analyst, 1990–2004) - Adrian KarstenAdrian KarstenAdrian Karsten was a college football sideline reporter for ESPN known for wearing his trademark suspenders. He attended Northwestern University and graduated in 1982...
: (field reporter, 1990–2003) (D) - Mike PatrickMike PatrickMike Patrick is an American sportscaster.-Career:Patrick began his broadcasting career in the fall of 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pa. In 1970, he was named Sports Director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts...
: (play-by-play, 2006–08) - Holly RoweHolly RoweHolly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :...
: (field reporter, 2005–08)
- (D) - deceased
By year
| Game | Play- by- play | Analyst(s) | Field reporter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Ron Franklin Ron Franklin Ron Franklin is an American sportscaster, most notably with ESPN, where he was employed from 1987-2011. He was fired by ESPN on January 4, 2011 after allegedly making sexist comments to and then berating a colleague.He is married with one child... |
Mike Gottfried Mike Gottfried -External links:*... |
Adrian Karsten Adrian Karsten Adrian Karsten was a college football sideline reporter for ESPN known for wearing his trademark suspenders. He attended Northwestern University and graduated in 1982... |
| 1991 | |||
| 1992 | |||
| 1993 | |||
| 1994 | |||
| 1995 | |||
| 1996 | |||
| 1997 | |||
| 1998 | |||
| 1999 | |||
| 2000 | |||
| 2001 | |||
| 2002 | |||
| 2003 | |||
| 2004 | Erin Andrews Erin Andrews Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network... |
||
| 2005 | Bob Davie | Holly Rowe Holly Rowe Holly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :... |
|
| 2006 | Mike Patrick Mike Patrick Mike Patrick is an American sportscaster.-Career:Patrick began his broadcasting career in the fall of 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pa. In 1970, he was named Sports Director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts... |
Todd Blackledge Todd Blackledge Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers... |
|
| 2007 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2009 | Brad Nessler Brad Nessler Bradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'... |
Erin Andrews Erin Andrews Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network... |
|
| 2010 | Holly Rowe Holly Rowe Holly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :... |
Game features
- Starting Lineups: The starting lineups are presented during the first possession of each team's offense and defense.
- Impact Players: Following the starting lineups, Patrick and Blackledge run down the top two or three impact players on each teams side of the ball.
- Halftime Report: The College Football FinalCollege Football FinalCollege Football Final is a one hour program totally devoted to college football and airs every Saturday night during the college football season. The official name is College Football Final driven by Pontiac. It was previously named College Gameday Final until 2006...
crew of Rece DavisRece DavisRece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
, Lou HoltzLou HoltzLouis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
and Mark MayMark MayMark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
present the halftime report, which features analysis of the first half, highlights of earlier games and a look at other happenings in the sports world. - SportsCenter In-game: This segment appears during various time in the game, when Rece DavisRece DavisRece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
gives up to the minute highlights when something big happens in another game. - Primetime Pulse: Two or three times during the game, Rece DavisRece DavisRece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
shows a screen with live coverage of the ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
primetime game, the ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
primetime game and the ESPN2ESPN2ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
primetime game. - Todd's Taste of the Town: Usually shown in the second or third quarter, game analyst Todd Blackledge highlights a local eatery.
See also
- College GameDay
- College Football Scoreboard
- College Football FinalCollege Football FinalCollege Football Final is a one hour program totally devoted to college football and airs every Saturday night during the college football season. The official name is College Football Final driven by Pontiac. It was previously named College Gameday Final until 2006...
- ESPN College Football Thursday PrimetimeESPN College Football Thursday PrimetimeESPN College Football Primetime is a live game presentation of Division 1-A college football on ESPN. In the past, the presenting sponsor was Cooper Tires, but since the 2006 season, the current presenting sponsor is Applebee's. The game telecast airs every Thursday night at 7:45pm ET during the...
- ESPN2 College Football Saturday PrimetimeESPN2 College Football Saturday PrimetimeESPN2 College Football Primetime is a live game presentation of Division 1-A college football on ESPN2. In the past, the primary sponsors have been Polaroid, AT&T and GoDaddy.com. Like its ESPN counterpart, the current presenting sponsor of this version is Hampton Hotels. The game telecast airs...
- Saturday Night Football