| FTBL Picking up a recent thread on Brando, the SEC Network, Musburger's contract, etc.: SI reports on ch

[TerryP]

(In case you missed the earlier discussion, here's a quick link to the Brando leaving CBS thread.)

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SI's Richard Deitsch reports on the media circus with college football, NFL TV packages, etc.

There's more information about changes in that article. Here's what's pertinent to college football viewers.

Brando to the SEC Network? Not so fast...

Tim Brando announced last week that he was leaving CBS Sports after working for the network for 18 years. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle's David Barron, Brando said, "I feel confident that something good is going to happen and that my future is bright, but in order for that to happen, I have to be someone who is available. They have to know that I am a free agent," he said. "For those that are out there and making plans and shuffling the deck, they need to know that I would like to put my name in the shuffle and let's see where (the cards) fall." I like Brando. He's a smart, well-prepared broadcaster and no doubt he'll land somewhere.

Musburger to the SEC Network?

As first reported by James Andrew Miller, Musburger has been offered the job of lead college football announcer for the upcoming SEC Network, which debuts at the end of August. It is unclear whether Musburger will take that offer, as some sources I spoke with noted he is unhappy with how the process is shaking out. What seems clear is that Musburger is being pulled from the lead announcer spot for ABC's Saturday Night Football, which is ESPN's top game each week. (Musburger, via ESPN PR, turned down an interview request from SI.com. "He isn't doing any interviews on the subject," said an ESPN spokesperson.)

As I've written previously, I think Musburger's performance during Florida State's win over Auburn in the BCS title game, as well as his performance over the last couple of years has earned him at least one of those playoff games. That, alas, is unlikely to happen.

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Here's a little more detail on some of the behind the scenes moves:

College GameDay host Chris Fowler is the leading candidate to call ABC's Saturday Night Football game as well as next year's national championship game with Kirk Herbstreit. (The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre speculated on Fowler getting the top job last month). He and Herbstreit would also call one of the semifinal games under this scenario. Fowler's contract expires after the World Cup in July -- a key leverage point for Fowler -- and it was not hard to read between the lines what he wanted when I spoke to him a couple of months ago on his ESPN future. "I don't think it is anything secret internally what I want the next for me to be at ESPN," Fowler said. "I don't think that is a mystery given the landscape.

It's why GameDay is a unique standalone thing for me. It doesn't act or feel like a studio show. But the live events are the most inspiring, unexplored thing for me. I really have a passion to document live events as they happen. Hosting is wonderful and remains really satisfying but the joy for me is calling big matches"

There are a couple of catches: Some in ESPN management do not want Fowler to host both GameDay and call a college football game the same night. Herbstreit performs the double as an analyst, but Fowler's responsibility on GameDay are much more demanding than Herbstreit's.

Also, there is the business element. College GameDay is a profitable and marketing behemoth -- one of the most successful things ESPN has ever done -- and there are some who believe changing the talent setup poses significant risks.

• Rece Davis, who currently calls ESPN's Thursday Night Football, is also a candidate for the Musburger spot. His contract is coming up as well, so he has leverage with the network given that he has been an A-plus level performer (and considered a loyal company guy) for many years. If Fowler leaves College GameDay for the ABC announcing role only, Davis is a lock to take over College GameDay. If Fowler does both GameDay and the lead game with Herbstreit, I'd expect Davis to stay with Thursday Night Football. Worth noting is there is also a faction who believe Davis or Joe Tessitore is the better pure college football gamecaller than Fowler. The good news for ESPN is all candidates are excellent and Herbstreit will help ease any transition given his professionalism and preparation.

• Tessitore has been slotted to host the SEC Nation pregame show on the SEC Network but he could be part of the Thursday Night Football equation should Davis switch to GameDay.

• Fowler would almost assuredly continue as the network's number one announcer for tennis, a job he enjoys and continues to improve at weekly.

• The crossover idea of Mike Tirico becoming ESPN's lead Saturday night college football gamecaller as well as continuing on Monday Night Football ultimately was rejected, at least based on people I spoke with last week. Miller reported that ESPN's NFL executives thought Tirico needed to be at MNF meetings over the weekend.

• Longtime analyst Todd Blackledge is a serious candidate as an analyst for the non-Herbstreit playoff semifinal.

• One last thing worth watching: Which ESPN decision-maker will ultimately make the call? Will Skipper get directly involved, will it be Wildhack's call, or will it be a collaborative decision? Given the viewership numbers of a potential college football playoff series, Skipper is likely to play a significant role.

Obviously, I'd love to get direct insight from Wildhack but he declined to comment. Asked for an interview this week from SI.com, an ESPN spokesperson said. "We are in the midst of a negotiation so John is declining the interview. We hope to keep Brent on our college coverage."

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