Fang's Bites

Beano Cook Is Probably Older Than You and Me Combined

ESPN put out a press release wishing a Happy 80th Birthday to college football analyst Beano Cook. Beano has been with the network dating back to 1986 and while he doesn’t appear on TV like he used to, he’ll be making the rounds on various ESPN Radio stations across the country during the college football season plus he’ll be a regular guest on Ivan Maisel’s podcast. An original member of College GameDay, Beano is not only known for his quick wit, but sometimes amazingly horrible predictions like stating Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus would win two Heisman Trophies when he would eventually win none.

But despite that prognostication, Beano remains a big part of ESPN’s history especially in the early days. Here’s ESPN’s blurb on Beano.

Happy Birthday Beano Cook: College Football Analyst Turns 80 on First Day of Season

The stars have aligned for Beano Cook and college football this year. The popular college football analyst – known for his quick wit and mixing humor, history and topics of the day into his commentary – will celebrate his 80th birthday with the kickoff of the college football season Thursday, Sept. 1.

Cook, who joined ESPN in 1986, celebrated his 25th season with the network this year. He will serve as a regular guest on ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel’s podcast and participate in fan chat sessions alongside Howie Schwab. Cook will also appear across multiple ESPN Radio affiliates throughout the college football season.

In addition, Cook was a commentator in the first three years of College GameDay, which is entering its 25th season. He worked with show host Tim Brando in 1987-88 and Bob Carpenter in 1989.

Cook will always be remembered for his sense of humor. Over the years, he gave many memorable quips, such as:

• You’ll never have a 16-team playoff in college football. The most that could happen would be four teams in the next century. But after that, I’m dead, so who cares? (1992)
• Colleges spend more money on the promotion of the Heisman than the Pentagon spends on toilets. (1990)
• The good news is Desmond Howard won the Heisman. The bad news is he might be drafted by the Colts. (1991)
• I’d like to do the last scoreboard show and then go. I don’t want to die in the middle of the football season. I have to know who’s No. 1 in the last polls. (1988)
• The three things that mean the most to me in life are: my parents, Casablanca and college football – not necessarily in that order. (1987)
• You only have to bat a thousand in two things – flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go four for five. (1988)
• Argentina invaded the Falklands because they had ESPN and the Argentines wanted to get the late scores. (1986)
• ESPN is like your family, it’s always there. The networks are like your mother-in-law. They are there on the weekends. (1988)
• When they list the great things of the 20^th Century, they’ll say, penicillin, Sophia Loren, jet travel and ESPN. (1992)
• Known for his fear of flying, he would often point out that the first word you see at an airport is “terminal.”
• Perhaps his best known one liner came in 1981 in response to the returning hostages from Iran being given lifetime passes to Major League Baseball games – Haven’t they suffered enough?

There you have it. Now we’re done for the night.

CBS Sports Network Begins 2011 College Football Schedule on Thursday

College football begins in earnest on Thursday night and CBS Sports Network will start its season with a two New England rivals, Holy Cross taking on the University of Massachusetts live from Worcester, MA. And on Saturday, CBS Sports Network carries Delaware at Navy from Annapolis, MD. Both games will be live. We have the CBS Sports Network press release with the announcing assignments.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK KICKS OFF COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON WITH UMASS AT HOLY CROSS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

CBS Sports Network kicks off its ninth season of live college football coverage on Thursday, Sept. 1 (8:00 PM, ET) as University of Massachusetts takes on Holy Cross. Play-by-play announcer James Bates and analyst Aaron Taylor call the game, with Brooke Collins reporting from the sidelines.

The Network provides live, pre- and post-game coverage beginning with INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL (7:00-8:00 PM, ET). Adam Zucker anchors and is joined by analysts Brian Jones and Rich Rodriguez.

On Saturday, Sept. 3 (3:30 PM, ET), the Network’s coverage of Service Academy football kicks off with Delaware at Navy from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Tim Brant and analyst Randy Cross announce, along with Kaylee Hartung reporting. INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL airs live, pre- and post-game, featuring Zucker and Jones.

College football coverage airs every day this fall on CBS Sports Network highlighted by THE TIM BRANDO SHOW, which debuts Thursday, Sept. 1 (10:00 AM, ET). The three-hour live weekday show covers the world of sports with a focus on college athletics, featuring an array of compelling guests, topics and commentary.

I think that will do for tonight.

NFL on Fox Crew Previews The 2011-12 Season

On Wednesday, lead NFL on Fox analyst Troy Aikman along with Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan of Fox NFL Sunday took part in a media conference call to talk about the upcoming NFL season. In addition, Fox Sports Media Group President Eric Shanks and Fox Sports El Jefe del Mundo David Hill were also in attendance. Here are some of the highlights of what was said.

2011 NFL ON FOX PRESS CALL QUOTES

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ADDITIONAL QUOTES FROM TODAY’S CALL AVAILABLE ON @NFLONFOX

NFL on FOX lead analyst and Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, two-time Super Bowl-winning coach and FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Jimmy Johnson and future Hall-of-Famer and FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan along with FOX Sports Media Group Co-President Eric Shanks and Chairman David Hill previewed FOX Sports’ NFL coverage and the 2011 season on a press call Wednesday afternoon.

JOHNSON ON THE CHALLENGES OF TRYING TO REPEAT AS SUPER BOWL CHAMPION: “The downfall of successful organizations is that it’s about the individual and not the team and organization. You know the pitfalls before you go into the season and hopefully you can avoid that. Everybody says, ‘what about me? Give me more money. Give me more accolades. Give me more publicity. Give me more of everything. That hurts the team concept.”

AIKMAN ON THE COWBOYS DYNASTY HE PLAYED FOR: “The players we had in Dallas were for the most part not as selfish as people outside of our organization may have thought. None of our players had enjoyed any level of success without the others. Michael Irvin was drafted the year ahead of me, then I came in and Emmitt was the following year. We were able to recognize that we had success because of each other.”

STRAHAN ON THE PERCEPTION THAT LIONS DT NDAMUKONG SUH IS A DIRTY PLAYER:  “I don’t think Suh is a dirty player at all.  He’s talented, he’s aggressive and he’s had some penalties but that doesn’t make him dirty.  He’s just a guy that sets the tone for not only the defense, but for that team. Detroit could intimidate some people. Before, a lot of teams looked at Detroit as just a team to get in and get out without anybody getting hurt and get your victory and now you know you’re in for a fight.  A guy like Suh is one of the reasons for that. He has the motor and the mindset that you wish Albert Haynesworth had.  You know the talent is limitless but you just have to have the heart and the right attitude to use it to the best of your abilities and that’s what Suh does.”

JOHNSON ON THE STRENGTH OF THE NFC SOUTH: “The division is so competitive. The Saints and the Falcons both will be extremely strong.  If you look at the entire league, what we’re going to find out in the early part of the season is that because we didn’t have offseason programs and mini-camps, the veteran teams and the teams that retained their coaches will be much stronger than some of the other teams early in the season.  Veteran teams, especially the Saints and the Falcons will be much better.  It’s a two team race in the NFC South as far as I’m concerned.”

AIKMAN ON PEYTON MANNING & HIS NECK INJURY: “Knowing Peyton, my guess is he’ll play Week 1. I don’t know that anybody ever expects Peyton Manning not to come out and play at an awfully high level.  I think the consecutive game streak, as much as he has accomplished, is probably more meaningful to him than anything outside of winning a Super Bowl.  So I would guess he’ll play and I think he’ll play really well.”

STRAHAN ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAMS DE CHRIS LONG: “I think the world of Chris Long. Steve Spagnuolo is a good coach for Chris because he’s the type of coach that gives his players the ability to make a play.  You have to overcome your coaching, as they say.  Things aren’t always going to work out like they would in a play book and Spag’s gives you the opportunity to kind of ‘fudge’ on it a little bit as long as you can make something happen.  Chris’ first year was a little mechanical but so is everyone’s because you’re trying to learn how to play in this league.  He is surrounded by great veteran leaders in the locker room and more familiar with the defensive end system that Spag’s has set up.  Chris is in the right position with the right type of coach to have a big season.”

AIKMAN ON STARTING ROOKIE QBS EARLY: “Every situation is a little different as every player is a little bit different. Playing quarterback today is harder than it’s ever been. Yet, we’re seeing more young quarterbacks having success than ever before. When I came into the league in 1989, the only guy who had any measurable success as a rookie was Dan Marino. Since that time, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez all had success. The bar is so high for these young quarterbacks because teams are being asked to make a decision on whether a player can become a franchise quarterback much sooner in their careers than they ever had to make them before.”

SHANKS ON USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ON-AIR ELEMENTS: “We’ve talked about it a lot. Should Twitter essentially be a sideline reporter? Can you implement a system where reporters covering a different angle are tweeting during the game? We’re going to monitor it and see over the first few weeks what it would’ve added something to the broadcast before we implement it.”

AIKMAN ON USING INFORMATION ON TWITTER DURING A BROADCAST, LIKE WHEN PLAYERS QUESTIONED JAY CUTLER’S INJURY DURING NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: “There’s no way as an analyst you can weigh on the status of a player or how severe the injury is. As soon as you do that, it comes out the next day that he has a torn ACL. Based on the reaction, I thought it spoke to his popularity or lack of, amongst the other players in the league. There are plenty of players that could’ve happened to and I don’t think a lot would’ve been said. For anyone to say he should’ve been back in the game, I still don’t know what his knee felt like or what he could’ve done. Even if Twitter is blowing up saying he should be playing, it’s not my place to reference it.”

And that will do it for this post. I thought I was done tonight, but I have another press release to post. Keep it here.

Golf Channel’s Tournaments For Labor Day Weekend

Golf Channel will have three tournaments to air this weekend including the PGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, MA which is about 40 minutes away from me. It’ll be the second leg of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup. And there will be a second PGA Tour stop as well. We have everything you need to know below.

GOLF CHANNEL LIVE TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES AND BROADCAST NOTES (Sept. 1-5): DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP, MYLAN CLASSIC AND OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS

NBC Sports Group Begins PGA TOUR Playoff Coverage With the Deutsche Bank Championship
Arnold Palmer Welcomes Strong Field to Pennsylvania for the Mylan Classic
Westwood, McIlroy, Kaymer, Clarke, Oosthuizen and Montgomerie Headline Omega European Masters

Deutsche Bank Championship
Dates: Sept. 2-5
Venue: TPC Boston, Norton, Mass.

Airtimes (Eastern):
Friday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 9:30-11:30 p.m. (NBC Replay)
Monday 12-2 p.m. (Live) / 8-10 p.m. (NBC Replay)

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team
Terry Gannon (Play by Play)
Frank Nobilo (Analyst)
Gary Koch (Tower)
Peter Jacobsen (Tower)
Jimmy Roberts (Tower)
Roger Maltbie (On Course)
Mark Rolfing (On Course)
Dottie Pepper (On Course)
Steve Sands (Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:

• NBC Sports Group Takes Reigns for PGA TOUR Playoffs – NBC Sports Group will televise more than 55 hours of the final three PGA TOUR Playoff events – Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship and the TOUR Championship. All NBC Sports golf coverage has been rebranded “Golf Channel on NBC.”
• Four Rounds of Coverage – In addition to exclusive Friday and Saturday coverage this week, Golf Channel will air early coverage on Sunday and Monday leading into “Golf Channel on NBC” coverage. Golf Channel also will re-air NBC’s coverage in prime time, Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET and Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
• Trackman Returns to Golf Channel coverage– Trackman, a golf radar technology that measures spin rate, club speed, smash factor, carry and launch will be featured during the opening rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship as a part of Golf Channel’s new “AT&T Tech Center” feature.
• Deutsche Bank Championship Features Field of 99 – Nearly half the field of 99 players competing this week is in danger of being eliminated from Playoff contention. The top 70 will advance to the BMW Championship in two weeks.

Mylan Classic
Dates: Sept. 1-4
Venue: Southpointe Golf Club, Canonsburg, Pa.

Airtimes (Eastern):
Thursday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / Midnight-2 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Tape Delay) / Midnight-2 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Tape Delay) / Midnight-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 7-9:30 p.m. (Tape Delay) / Midnight-2 a.m. (Replay)

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team
Jerry Foltz (Play by Play)
Craig Perks (Analyst)
Mark Lye (Tower)
Kay Cockerill (Tower)
Tripp Isenhour (On Course)

Broadcast Notes:

• Headlining the Field: Headlining the field will be John Daly, Rocco Mediate, J.J. Killeen, Mathew Goggin, James Nitties, Danny Lee and Russell Knox.
• Arnold Palmer Honorary Chairman: Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer will serve as honorary chairman of the tournament. Palmer is scheduled to join the broadcast team during tournament coverage.
• Look Who’s In the Truck – J.J. Killeen. Following his round on Friday, J.J. Killeen will visit Golf Channel’s production trucks and will direct the live tournament broadcast for a few segments. Killeen will direct camera shots and will oversee camera operators throughout the course during the segments.
• Featured Groupings: Golf Channel’s featured grouping during Thursday’s tournament coverage will be John Daly, J.J. Killeen and Steve Wheatcroft. Friday’s featured grouping will be Rocco Mediate, Colt Knost and James Nitties.

Omega European Masters
Dates: Sept. 1-4
Venue: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Airtimes (Eastern):
Thursday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 7-11 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 7-11 a.m. (Live)

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team
Tom Abbott (Studio Host)
Dominik Holyer (Play by Play)
Ken Brown (Analyst)
Julian Tutt (On Course)

Broadcast Notes:

• Headlining the Field: Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen, Colin Montgomerie, Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Angel Cabrera, Jose Maria Olazabal, Todd Hamilton, Thomas Bjorn and Michael Campbell.

And we’ll close up shop for the night.

NFL Network Ends The 2011 NFL Preseason With Live Games

This week on NFL Network will conclude the NFL preseason. The network will have three live games and finish the rest of the preseason with taped games over the weekend. Then it’s time to get ready for the regular season. Here’s the schedule.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (8/31 – 9/6)
COLTS-BENGALS, BRONCOS-CARDINALS & RAIDERS-SEAHAWKS LIVE ON NFL NETWORK

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald Appears on NFL Total Access TONIGHT at 11:00 PM ET
Packers DB Charles Woodson (Monday) & Saints Head Coach Sean Payton (Tuesday) on NFL Total Access
America’s Game: 2010 Green Bay Packers Debuts Wednesday, September 7 at 9:00 PM ET
Former Redskins LB LaVar Arrington on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ Available on NFL.com

NFL Network is Only Network to Show Live NFL Games Nationally This Week: Colts-Bengals & Broncos-Cardinals Thursday Beginning at 7:00 PM ET; Raiders-Seahawks Friday at 10:30 PM ET
With the kickoff of the 2011 NFL regular season eight days away, NFL Network has the final week of the preseason covered with three games live in primetime and re-airs of all 16 Week 4 games.

On Thursday, September 1, NFL Network features a pair of live games, starting at 7:00 PM ET when the Indianapolis Colts travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Recently signed quarterback Kerry Collins makes his debut for the Colts in the final game before the regular season kicks off.

Following Colts-Bengals at 10:00 PM ET, the Arizona Cardinals host the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Broncos quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn battle for Denver’s No. 2 quarterback role against the Cardinals.

On Friday, September 2 at 10:30 PM ET, the 2011 preseason concludes when the Oakland Raiders travel to face the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

Prior to the game between the Raiders and Seahawks on Friday, NFL Network features four complete game re-airs, starting at 10:00 AM ET with the Jacksonville Jaguars hosting the St. Louis Rams. At 1:00 PM ET, the Titans play the Saints, followed by the Eagles at the Jets at 4:00 PM ET, and the Cowboys at Dolphins at 8:00 PM ET.

NFL Network’s Week 4 coverage continues with seven games on Saturday, September 3 and eight games on Sunday, September 4. Games start on both days at 7:00 AM ET.

The following broadcast teams will be calling each Week 4 matchup on NFL Network:

Game	Play-by-Play	Analyst	Sideline
Lions at Bills	Ray Bentley	Steve Tasker	Mike Catalana
Colts at Bengals	Mike Herrmann	Don Fischer
Ravens at Falcons	Vince Cellini	Charles Davis	Laura Okmin
Giants at Patriots	Don Criqui	Randy Cross	Steve Burton
Rams at Jaguars	Paul Burmeister	Tony Boselli	Brent Martineau
Buccaneers at Redskins	Kenny Albert	Joe Theismann	Rick Walker
Eagles at Jets	Ian Eagle	Greg Buttle	Otis Livingston
Cowboys at Dolphins	Dick Stockton	Bob Griese/Nat Moore	Kim Bokamper
Chiefs at Packers	Kevin Harlan	Rich Gannon/Larry McCarren	Jessie Garcia
Browns at Bears	Sam Rosen	Erik Kramer	Lou Canellis
Texans at Vikings	Ari Wolfe	Mike Mayock	Randy Shaver
Titans at Saints	Tim Brando	Solomon Wilcots	Mike Nabors
Steelers at Panthers	Mike Morgan	Mike Rucker	Pete Yanity
Broncos at Cardinals	Rich Cellini	Glenn Parker	Jody Jackson
49ers at Chargers	Dennis O’Donnell	Tim Ryan	Kim Coyle
Raiders at Seahawks	Curt Menefee	Warren Moon

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald on NFL Total Access TONIGHT at 7:00 PM ET; Interviews with Packers DB Charles Woodson (Monday) & Saints Head Coach Sean Payton (Tuesday)
Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald, appears via Cardinals Cam on NFL Total Access tonight at 7:00 PM ET. Heading into the team’s final preseason game against the Denver Broncos live on NFL Network, Fitzgerald talks about new quarterback Kevin Kolb, competing in the NFC West and more.

Prior to the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers kickoff the 2011 NFL regular season, prominent members of each team appear on NFL Total Access. On Monday, September 5, Packers defensive back Charles Woodson appears via Packers Cam. On Tuesday, September 6, Saints head coach Sean Payton appears via Saints Cam.

Below are video links and quotes from NFL Total Access this week:

- NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin’s interview with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d821cf55b/Revis-I-m-coming-back-strong

Darrelle Revis on…

This season compared to last season:
“I pulled the hamstring against Randy [Moss], and then I came back too early [last season]. I wasn’t 100 percent, but that’s no excuse; I wanted to be out on the field and play. I picked up the second half of the season and finished strong, but this year is kind of like a revenge thing: I’m coming back and I’m coming back strong.”

If making the Super Bowl this season is necessary:
“For us I think it’s a must. Like you said, we’ve been to two AFC Championship Games in the past two years and felt like we really didn’t play a complete game in both of those games. So this year if we get back there, we need to make sure we really focus in on that game and don’t think the next game ahead which would be the Super Bowl; just focus on the four quarters because that’s what gets you in the Super Bowl.”

- Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday discusses quarterback Peyton Manning and the Colts’ offense:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d821d0a04/Will-Peyton-play-in-the-opener

Jeff Saturday on…

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s progress:
“I know from years past, Peyton is a very precise guy; he likes to be out there, he likes to see what he’s going to see each and every week. He likes to go through it in his mind and go through each progression his own way. But the reality is, we’re running out of time for that and whenever he decides he’s ready, he’ll be out on the field and ready to go.”

- Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath talks about his former team, the New York Jets:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-preseason/09000d5d821d79e1/Broadway-quarterbacks

Joe Namath on…

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and the possibility of him bringing the Jets a Super Bowl:
“I know Mark can play; he showed that the last couple of seasons when it came to playoff time. He’s won some big games for the team, but we both know it’s a team game. Knowing that Mark is developing nicely, he’s going to be better this year than he was the last two seasons, [but] how’s the rest of the team? That’s what matters.”

America’s Game: 2010 Green Bay Packers Debuts Wednesday, September 7 at 9:00 PM ET; Complete Game Re-Air of Super Bowl XLV on Monday, September 5 at 8:00 PM ET
One day before the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers kickoff the 2011 NFL regular season, celebrate the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title with the debut of America’s Game: 2010 Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, September 7 at 9:00 PM ET. Re-live the 2010 season through the words of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerback Charles Woodson and head coach Mike McCarthy in the latest installment of the NFL Films-produced, Emmy Award-winning series.

Featuring exclusive video and sound of the Packers during team meetings, practices, games and inside the locker room, America’s Game offers an all-access look at the Super Bowl champions. The show is narrated by the Emmy-nominated actor of Mad Men, John Slattery.

Below is a segment from America’s Game: 2010 Green Bay Packers, in which Rodgers details his experience on the day of the 2005 NFL Draft:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-americas-game/09000d5d821da83e/America-s-Game-Rodgers-draft-day-memories

For the first time since February 6, Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will be shown in its entirety Monday, September 5 at 8:00 PM ET. Powered by a 304 passing yards and three touchdown performance by Super Bowl MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers captured the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title.

Former Redskins LB LaVar Arrington & NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi Featured Guests on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ Available for Download on NFL.com/iTunes
The latest edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ is available for download on NFL.com and iTunes. Due to every preseason game on NFL Network, this edition of the podcast will not be shown on NFL Network.

With the start of the regular season just a week away, NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi calls in to the podcast to discuss the biggest storylines in the National Football League. Lombardi talks about the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints at the top of the NFC, the implications of New England’s loss to Detroit last week, the challenges facing the Philadelphia Eagles and much more.

Former linebacker for the Washington Redskins, LaVar Arrington, joins the podcast to talk about the current team. What does he think about the quarterback competition between John Beck and Rex Grossman? What did he take away from the team’s game against the Baltimore Ravens? What are his thoughts on Washington’s rushing attack? Arrington provides answers to all of these questions, as well as inside analysis only a former player can provide.

Below are quotes from this edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast:’

- “I still think defensively, they’re about a player short because if John Abraham doesn’t get pressure, they don’t have pressure to get. That’s going to be the fly in the ointment there.” – Michael Lombardi on the Atlanta Falcons

- “It’s the best thing that happened to the Patriots. You need a little setback in the preseason; you can’t have everything going smoothly. You have to find out [about your team], and [Bill Belichick] found out about his team and he has bad tape to show them.” – Michael Lombardi on the New England Patriots’ loss to the Detroit Lions

- “I’m not sold on either [John Beck or Rex Grossman]. But I will say this: as harsh a critic as I have been with the whole quarterback situation and some of the other things that have surrounded this football team, it seems as though the guys are responding to Mike Shanahan.” – LaVar Arrington on the Washington Redskins entering the 2011 season

- “The reasoning that was given as to why [Donovan] McNabb wasn’t going to be a great fit for this team was the fact that he did not run the offense the way that they wanted him to run it. … What it comes across as is there is a guy that has to run this offense that is more – I don’t want to say robotic – but very, very locked in and precise to exactly how Kyle and Mike [Shanahan] want their offense to be ran. I think they’d take a lesser of a player and put him in that position to run their offense if he’s going to do it precisely the way that they want it to be done.” – LaVar Arrington on the Donovan McNabb situation last season

To download this edition of the podcast, visit:
http://richeisen.nfl.com/2011/08/30/rich-eisen-podcast-lavar-arrington-michael-lombardi-kara-henderson-and-the-worm/

Season Debut of NFL.com Fantasy Live & Around the League Live on Monday, September 5 Beginning at 4:00 PM ET
Get ready for Week One of the 2011 NFL regular season with the season debuts of NFL.com Fantasy Live and Around the League Live on Monday, September 5 on NFL Network.

At 4:00 PM ET, NFL.com Fantasy Live provides viewers all of the latest news and analysis concerning the top fantasy players, as well as advice on who to start and who to sit. Analysts Michael Fabiano, Elliot Harrison, Adam Rank, Dave Dameshek and Matt “Money” Smith have fantasy football covered from all angles and offer all of the information needed to dominate your league. Throughout the season, NFL.com Fantasy Live will air Tuesday through Friday at 2:00 PM ET.

At 5:00 PM ET, hosts Paul Burmeister and Lindsay Soto give fans inside access to all 32 teams on Around the League Live. Fran Charles hosts from Tuesday, September 6 through Friday, September 9. Each day this week, Around the League Live airs at 5:00 PM ET, with the exception of Thursday, September 8 at 2:00 PM ET.

Airing Monday through Friday, Around the League Lives provides interviews with players and coaches via exclusive Team Cams, press conferences and news reports from NFL Network reporters stationed across the country, bringing viewers the information they crave.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats Host Montreal Alouettes Live on NFL Network Monday, September 5 at 1:00 PM ET
NFL Network provides live Canadian Football League action when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-4) host the Montreal Alouettes (5-3) in an East Division matchup on Monday, September 5 at 1:00 PM ET.

At 3:30 AM ET, the game between the Edmonton Eskimos (5-3) and Calgary Stampeders (6-2) will be shown on tape delay.

Both Hamilton and Montreal will be looking to rebound from losses in the previous week in a game featuring two of the league’s top three quarterbacks in Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo (2,464 yards) and Hamilton’s Kevin Glenn (2,110 yards).

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, August 31
11:00 PM – NFL Total Access
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos

Thursday, September 1
6:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens
9:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions
12 NOON – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
3:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
6:00 PM – NFL Total Access
7:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – LIVE
10:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals – LIVE 
1:00 AM – NFL Total Access
2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers

Friday, September 2
10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars
1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
10:30 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – LIVE
1:30 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals

Saturday, September 3
7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills
10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins
1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons
4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at New England Patriots
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers
2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills

Sunday, September 4
7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears
10:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
1:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers
4:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks

Monday, September 5
6:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Super Bowls
7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers
10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
1:00 PM – Canadian Football League: Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats – LIVE 
4:00 PM – NFL.com Fantasy Live
4:30 PM – 2010 Green Bay Packers
5:00 PM – Around the League Live
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classic: Super Bowl XLV – Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
11:00 PM – NFL Total Access
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL.com Fantasy Live
12:30 AM – Super Bowl Classic: Super Bowl XLV – Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
3:30 AM – Canadian Football League: Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders [Tape Delay]

Tuesday, September 6
8:00 AM – 2010 Green Bay Packers
8:30 AM – NFL.com Fantasy Live
9:00 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #100-91
10:00 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #90-81
11:00 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #80-71
12 NOON – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #70-61
1:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #60-51
2:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #50-41
3:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #40-31
4:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #30-21
5:00 PM – Around the League Live
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #20-11
9:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #10-6
10:00 PM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #5-1
11:00 PM – NFL Total Access
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL.com Fantasy Live
12:30 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #20-11
1:00 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #10-6
2:00 AM – The Top 100: Players of 2011: #5-1

That will do it.

Fox College Football Game of the Week With Gus Johnson Begins Saturday

The inaugural season of Fox College Football Game of the Week kicks off Saturday on FX. Gus Johnson along with Charles Davis and Tim Brewster will be on hand for the first of 14 regular season games on the network. In addition, there will be games on other Fox networks including Fox Sports Net and Fox College Sports. We have the announcing assignments and networks that will air the games.

Let’s take a look at the Fox press release on the opening weekend of college football on the Fox Sports Media Group.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

FSMG College Football Coverage Kicks-Off:
Tulsa at Oklahoma – FX Game of the Week Saturday at 8:00 PM ET

FOX SPORTS MEDIA GROUP KICKS-OFF 2011-12 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – FX kicks-off its inaugural FOX College Football game of the week schedule with the USA Today Coaches’ Poll preseason No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners hosting the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday, Sep. 3 (8:00 PM ET). College football on FOX lead play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson is joined by analyst Charles Davis and sideline analyst Tim Brewster to call all of the action from Norman, OK.

FSN begins with the Mississippi State Bulldogs traveling to Memphis to take on the Tigers on Thursday, Sep. 1 (8:00 PM ET).  On Saturday, Sep. 3 (12:00 PM ET) Missouri hosts Miami (OH) and FOX College Sports joins the party at 7:00 PM ET with Oklahoma State hosting Louisiana Lafayette.

Full weekend schedule below:

DATE	TIME	GAME	OUTLET	Play by play	Analyst	Sideline
Thursday, Sep. 1	8:00 PM	Miss St. at Memphis	FSN (National)	Ron Thulin	JC Pearson	Jim Knox
Saturday, Sep. 3	12:00 PM	Miami (OH) at Missouri	FSN (National)	Bill Land	Dave Lapham	Jim Knox
Saturday, Sep. 3	3:30 PM	UCLA at Houston	FSN (National)	Craig Bolerjack	Joel Klatt	Petros Papadakis
Saturday, Sep. 3	7:00 PM	Louisiana?Lafayette at OSU	FCS Central	Steve Physioc	Yogi Roth	Desmond Purnell
Saturday, Sep. 3	8:00 PM	Tulsa at Oklahoma	FX	Gus Johnson	Charles Davis	Tim Brewster
Saturday, Sep. 3	10:00 PM	Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss	FSN (National)	Ron Thulin	JC Pearson	Jeremy Bloom
Sunday, Sep. 4	7:30 PM	SMU at Texas A&M	FSN (National)	Joel Meyers	Joel Klatt	Jim Knox

And that will do it.

MLB on Fox Has Another Trio of Games For The Country

Fans won’t see all three, but one of the trio of games being offered by the Fox Television Network. Most of the country, almost ¾ of the country will see a potential postseason matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox live from Fenway Park.

With this being another off week for Joe Buck on Fox Saturday Baseball, it means he’ll have called a total of 12 out of a possible 23 games. I wonder if we’ll see him on the final weekend.

Here’s Fox’s press release.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL Heads into September Home Stretch at 4:00 PM ET
David Price and Orlando Hudson Visit “The Cheap Seats” with David Wells

FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK ENTERS THE STRETCH DRIVE – The final month push for a playoff spot is on as FOX Sports presents three exciting matchups on Saturday, Sep. 3 (4:00 PM ET). The Red Sox try to maintain their slim lead in the AL East as they host the AL West-leading Rangers. Recent acquisition Erik Bedard is scheduled to take the hill and face Texas’ hard-hitting lineup lead by John Hamilton and the AL’s 2^nd-leading hitter, Michael Young. In St. Louis, the Cardinals look to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot as they host the Reds. Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers aim to increase their lead on the White Sox when they come to Detroit.

The MLB on FOX pregame show originates live from Fenway Park in Boston, MA with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins Dick Stockton and Tim McCarver as a field reporter.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox, Dick Stockton & Tim McCarver, going to 71% of USA
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers:  Colby Lewis, RHP (11-9, 4.19 ERA) vs. Erik Bedard, LHP (4-9, 3.45 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals, Kenny Albert & Mark Grace, going to 17% of USA
Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: Homer Bailey, RHP (7-6, 4.35 ERA) vs. TBA

Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers, Matt Vasgersian &Mitch Williams, going to 11% of USA
Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis
Probable Pitchers: Gavin Floyd, RHP (12-10, 4.36 ERA) vs. Brad Penny, RHP (9-10, 5.07 ERA)

RINGOLSBY: GIBSON’S CONFIDENCE INFUSES D-BACKS DOWN THE STRETCH – Coming into the season, many thought another NL West crown was a forgone conclusion the World Series Champion Giants. However, the Diamondbacks have surprised many and hold a six-game lead. FOXSports.com writer Tracy Ringolsby gives a lion’s share of the credit to D-Backs manager, Kirk Gibson. “It was four weeks ago,” Ringolsby writes. “The Arizona Diamondbacks had just won back-to-back games to open a series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park to move into a tie for the National League West lead with the defending World Series champions. Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall sat across the desk from Kirk Gibson in the visiting manager’s office. ‘I told him, ‘Wait until the talent (in the farm system) comes up,’ Hall said. ‘Gibby looked at me and said, `We have talent. It’s called heart.’ ‘The Diamondbacks also have a growing confidence and a growing lead in the division.” 

To read Ringolsby’s full column, visit http://bit.ly/onSPYN

DAVID PRICE & ORLANDO HUDSON JOIN DAVID WELL IN THE CHEAP SEATS – Each Wednesday (1:00 PM ET), former MLB All-Star pitcher David Wells hosts The Cheap Seats on FOXSports.com, an informative interview show where Wells talks to the current MLB players. This week, Wells chats with Rays’ P David Price and Padres’ 2B Orlando Hudson. Wells and Price discuss Price’s dominant, 14K performance against the Blue Jays last week and the Rays’ playoff chances. Hudson joins the show to discuss his well-traveled career.

To watch the show click here: http://msn.foxsports.com/video/shows/cheapseats

That’s all.

The New Fox NFL Sunday Open

This was unveiled today by Fox Sports. It’s the new open for Fox NFL Sunday complete with Cleatus the Robot, who by the way is on Twitter. I kid you not. Anyway, this is the opening complete with the iconic NFL on Fox music.

I hope you enjoyed that.

Some Really Quick Wednesday Links

I’m going to try to do some Wednesday linkage here. Also have a lot of end of the month/beginning of the month crap to do at work some I’m balancing the two off.

Here are the links that I have for now.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand looks at NBC’s plans to provide live online coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.

At MediaPost, Erik Sass looks at the New York Giants integrating Twitter into its NFL preseason broadcasts.

David Goetzl at MediaPost notes that Fox has had a 51% majority stake in Big Ten Network since last year.

The Associated Press reports that Versus is adding a whole host of original programming to its weeknight lineup.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter also writes about Versus’ new original programming.

Lacey Rose and Lesley Goldberg at the Reporter report that HBO has given the green light for a drama based on boxer Mike Tyson.

George Winslow at Broadcasting & Cable writes that Turner Sports is expanding the exclusive content offerings at NCAA.com.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says CBS Sports Network will air a documentary on the first black college football game played in New York.

To Adweek where Anthony Crupi chronicles how NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus lured former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol back to the company just mere months after he left.

Bill Cromwell at Media Life Magazine discusses how NBC is going to provide everything from track & field to archery live at 2012 London Olympics.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid looks at the sad tenure of Fred Hickman’s days at ESPN.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has the video preview of NFL Films’ documentary on Patriots coach  Bill Belichick.

On this final day for SportsNewser, let me link to a few stories. Marcus Vanderberg writes that former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand will be joining the school’s football broadcasts on radio. You may recall LeGrand was paralyzed last year and hopes to make a full recovery.

Cam Martin of SportsNewser says fans will vote on the next nominee for the Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Broadcaster Award.

Back to Marcus, he writes that Southwest Airlines will stream live MLB games to its passengers thanks to its in-flight internet provider. Now back to me.

Now back to SportsNewser where Marcus looks at Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl picks.

Ok, that’s it for the SportsNewer links. The site will be missed.

Nat Ives of Advertising Age notes that a month-long sponsorship starting tomorrow, will allow the New York Times to open up five sections (including sports) in its iPad app from behind the dreaded paywall.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell couldn’t be more thrilled to be getting his own weekly show on Versus.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette talks about ESPN releasing its Big East and Big Monday basketball schedules.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog talks with former Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic original Russ Thaler about his new gig with Versus/NBC Sports Network.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner notes that the U.S. Open will be well covered on TV and online.

Josh Robbins from the Orlando Sentinel says the Magic’s Gilbert Arenas has shut down his Twitter account.

Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman notes that a pair of Eastern transplants top the local sports radio ratings.

Mel says NFL preseason again led the local TV ratings.

John Kiesewetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer has a preview of tonight’s HBO/NFL Films 10 year retrospective on Hard Knocks.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that ESPN’s Jon Gruden isn’t a fan of the new NFL replay rule.

Bob says the digital Sporting News Today has ceased publication.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says the city’s high school football and basketball championships are moving to a new TV home.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says all of the Dodgers’ announcers are coming back for 2012.

Ed Tait and John White of the Winnipeg Free Press says the new Jets have signed a 10 year deal with TSN for both TV and radio.

Sports Media Watch says Hurricane Irene coverage on many local ABC stations cut into NASCAR’s ratings on Saturday.

Deadspin shows a picture of HBO’s Bryant Gumbel being “beaten up” by UFC’s Chuck Liddell and Fox’s Jay Glazer.

Joe Favorito says the hiring of former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl by a grocery company is a good marketing move.

And we’ll end it there for today.

Fox To Use English Premiere League, UFC and College Football To Fill Holes During Regional NFL Coverage

The rumors about Fox Sports airing English Premier League games during NFL season are indeed true. On three Sundays, Fox will air EPL games either at 2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to fill holes when it has regional NFL coverage. The games will go opposite games on CBS, but Fox is not concerned about the ratings here, it wants to be able to fill programming holes that would otherwise go to local stations.

In addition, Fox will air a one-hour special on the UFC in anticipation of its November 12th debut on the network. And Fox will air a special on college football previewing the conference championship games it will be airing the following weekend.

And Fox also announces it will carry a live English Premier League game on Super Bowl Sunday. That matchup has yet to be announced.

We have Fox’s press release below.

FOX SPORTS MAKES SINGLEHEADER SUNDAYS SIZZLE

Barclays Premier League, College Football & UFC Specials Compliment NFL Lineup
Historic “Game Before the Game” on Super Bowl Sunday is First-Ever
Live Barclays Premier League Regular Season Match on US Broadcast Television

New York, NY – This fall, as the weather cools, FOX Sports turns up the heat on NFL singleheader Sundays with a big-event lineup that includes the hottest matches in Barclays Premier League soccer, an exclusive Ultimate Fighting Championship special and an in-depth college football championship preview.  All events air either immediately before or after the NFL ON FOX game assigned to a given market that day.

“FOX Sports is the destination for championship sports programming and events,” said Bill Wanger, FOX Sports Media Group EVP, Programming & Research.  “We’re excited to bring viewers historic coverage of the first-ever live Barclays Premier League regular season match to air on network television next February.  These unique events and specials are a terrific compliment to the day’s NFL on FOX coverage.”

FOX Sports’ regular season Barclays Premier League (BPL) coverage, a first for US broadcast television, kicks off Sunday, Sept.18 with a tape-delay match featuring Manchester United vs. Chelsea.  It is the first of four marquis events showcasing some of the world’s most storied soccer clubs. In addition to the Sept. 18 match, FOX Sports airs BPL contests on Oct. 2 when Tottenham takes on Arsenal (tape-delay) and Nov. 20 when Chelsea makes its second appearance, this time against Liverpool (tape-delay).  All three tape-delay games, which air either from 2:00-4:00 PM ET or 4:30-6:30 PM ET, will have aired live earlier in the day on FOX Soccer.  FOX Sports’ BPL coverage culminates with broadcast television’s first-ever live Barclays Premier League match on Super Bowl Sunday.  The “Game Before the Game,” which has set viewership records for FOX Soccer the past two years, airs live on FOX Sunday, Feb.5 beginning at 10:30 AM ET.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, in anticipation of the UFC’s landmark live primetime FOX debut in November, FOX Sports offers UFC PRIMETIME, an intense, one-hour, behind-the-scenes look at the fighters’ preparation leading up to the Nov. 12 main event.  FOX Sports recently announced a multi-year, multi-platform rights agreement that features programming on several FOX networks including FX and FUEL TV.  Featured programming includes live fights, pre and post shows, countdown shows, and a variety of UFC-produced original programs.

College football fans know that they’ll be watching history on FOX when teams square off in the inaugural Pac-12 and Big Ten Football Championship games.  Leading up to the big games, FOX Sports airs the COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL Sunday, Nov. 27.  This hour-long preview highlights the match-ups and key players for those games and all the upcoming college football championship games. The Pac-12 Championship Game airs in primetime on FOX, Friday, Dec. 2 followed by the Big Ten Championship airing in primetime on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Following is a list of the additional scheduled events. NFL game assignments determining what time these specials air regionally are announced two weeks prior to game day.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
2:00 – 4:00 PM ET (Pre-NFL) OR
4:30 – 6:30 PM ET (Post NFL – including post-game show)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 2, 2011
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
2:00 – 4:00 PM ET (Pre-NFL) OR
4:30 – 6:30 PM ET (Post NFL – including post-game show)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 30, 2011
UFC PRIMETIME
3:00 – 4:00 PM ET (Pre-NFL) OR
4:30 – 5:30 PM ET (Post NFL – including post-game show)

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2011
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
2:00 – 4:00 PM ET (Pre-NFL) OR
4:30 – 6:30 PM ET (Post NFL – including post-game show)

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2011
COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL
3:00 – 4:00 PM ET (Pre-NFL) OR
4:30 – 5:30 PM ET (Post NFL – including post-game show)

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2012
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER (LIVE)
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET / 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM PT

That will do it.

ESPN Announces 2012 Big Monday Women’s Basketball Schedule

Might as well complete the sequence as ESPN continues to pump out college basketball schedules. This is for the women’s side of Big Monday which usually airs on ESPN2. There will be 12 games shown on ESPN2 including three doubleheaders in February and one tripleheader on President’s Day. UConn will be shown four times which is the most of any team. Defending national champion Texas A&M gets one appearance on Big Monday.

We have the schedule below.

ESPN Releases Jam-Packed 2012 Women’s Big Monday Schedule

Schedule includes three 2011 Final Four participants

ESPN2’s Big Monday primetime Game of the Week women’s basketball series, in its sixth season, features seven consecutive weeks, 12 games and four doubleheaders in February. The ESPN2 series showcases the best programs in Division I women’s basketball and tips off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan 16, at 7 p.m. ET with North Carolina at Connecticut.

For the first time the schedule will include includes an afternoon game on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 20, a BIG EAST tilt featuring Notre Dame at Louisville at 2 p.m. on ESPN. All games on ESPN and ESPN2 will be simulcast on ESPN3.com.

Schedule Highlights

• The month of February features four straight weeks of doubleheaders at 7 & 9 p.m., beginning on February 6 with North Carolina at Duke
• All 14 teams in the Big Monday schedule are 2011 NCAA Championship participants
• 12 teams are ranked in an early preseason poll by ESPN.com columnist Charlie Creme
• ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC programs will makeup this year’s schedule
• The schedule highlights Final Four teams Connecticut and Notre Dame, along with NCAA Champion Texas A&M
• Connecticut has the most appearances with four, followed by Notre Dame with three
• Three SEC teams – Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, combine for five appearances

ESPN Women’s Basketball Big Monday Schedule
(Schedule subject to change; all times are Eastern)

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Jan 16	7 p.m.	North Carolina at Connecticut	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Jan 23	7 p.m.	Tennessee at Notre Dame	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Jan 30	7 p.m.	Connecticut at Duke	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Feb 6	7 p.m.	North Carolina at Duke	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Oklahoma at Baylor	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Feb 13	7 p.m.	Play 4 Kay: Kentucky at Tennessee	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Play 4 Kay: Connecticut at Oklahoma	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Feb 20	2 p.m.	Notre Dame at Louisville	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Ohio State at Penn State	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Vanderbilt at Kentucky	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Feb 27	7 p.m.	Baylor at Texas A&M	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Notre Dame at Connecticut	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

For full coverage, video highlights and live updates, go to espnW.com and ESPN.com’s women’s basketball site.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU & ESPN3.com’s regular-season basketball schedule will be announced at a later date.

And we’re done here.

ESPN Announces 2012 Big East Big Monday & Entire Big East Conference Men’s Basketball Schedule

Continuing a partnership that dates back to 1979, ESPN and the Big East Conference have announced the 2012 Big Monday and the entire 2011-12 men’s basketball schedule on the network’s various platforms. With ESPN having the rights to all of the men’s basketball games, games will be seen either on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or the ESPN-owned Big East Network which syndicates games across the country to regional sports networks and over the air TV stations. This schedule covers just the main ESPN platforms. The Big East Network schedule will be announced at a later date. ESPN has the rights to at least 70 conference games and the entire Big East Conference Tournament.

In the meantime, we have the Big Monday and the ESPN TV schedules.

ESPN’s BIG EAST Men’s College Basketball Television Schedule

ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference announced its 2011-12 men’s college basketball television schedule for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com. Overall, the networks will combine to televise a minimum of 70 conference games plus an extensive schedule of non-conference matchups. Additional conference games may be added to the schedule.

A schedule for ESPN Regional Television’s produced and syndicated telecasts is to be determined. ESPN3.com will provide a simulcast of every ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television telecast.

Conference action will tip off on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 7 p.m. with Notre Dame at Pittsburgh on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. It will mark the first of four consecutive ESPN2 BIG EAST telecasts.

The schedule will be highlighted by the popular weekly Big Monday series beginning with a doubleheader of top teams Jan. 16: Louisville at Marquette at 3:30 p.m. ET and Pittsburgh at Syracuse at 7:30 p.m. Five of the eight matchups will feature a showdown between teams ranked in ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early men’s preseason top 25 poll.

BIG EAST Big Monday Schedule (all games on ESPN):

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Jan. 16	3:30 p.m.	No. 9 Louisville at No. 13 Marquette
Jan. 16	7:30 p.m.	No. 17 Pittsburgh at No. 4 Syracuse
Jan. 23	7 p.m.	No. 4 Syracuse at No. 19 Cincinnati
Jan. 30	7 p.m.	No. 17 Pittsburgh at West Virginia
Feb. 6	7 p.m.	No. 6 Connecticut at No. 9 Louisville
Feb. 13	7 p.m.	No. 4 Syracuse at No. 9 Louisville
Feb. 20	7 p.m.	No. 6 Connecticut at Villanova
Feb. 27	7 p.m.	Notre Dame at Georgetown

Additional highlights:

• The Saturday lineup features two Saturday Primetime telecasts and stops by College GameDay: Louisville at Pittsburgh Jan. 21 and Syracuse at Connecticut Feb. 25. Both games will tip off at 9 p.m. on ESPN. GameDay is hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight. The two-hour Saturday morning edition is aired on ESPNU at 10 a.m. and continuing at 11 a.m. on ESPN while the one-hour evening edition at 8 p.m. is on ESPN.
• The schedule includes 63 appearances by the six teams ranked in Katz’s early preseason top 25 poll (No. 4 Syracuse, No. 6 Connecticut, No. 9 Louisville, No. 13 Marquette, No. 17 Pittsburgh and No. 19 Cincinnati), including 14 games pitting ranked teams against each other.
• For the first time ever, ESPNU will televise four Monday night BIG EAST games, all at 9 p.m.: Cincinnati at Georgetown (Jan. 9); Notre Dame at Rutgers (Jan. 16); Marquette at DePaul (Feb. 6); and DePaul at St. John’s (Feb. 20).

• In March, ESPN will once again televise all 15 games of the BIG EAST Championship Presented by American Eagle Outfitters across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU 2011-12 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Schedule
Dates, times and television listings subject to change

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Tue, Dec 27	7 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Notre Dame	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Wed, Dec 28	7 p.m.	Georgetown at Louisville	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Fri, Dec 30	9 p.m.	West Virginia at Seton Hall	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Dec 31	2 p.m.	Providence at Georgetown	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Jan 1	1 p.m.	Villanova at Marquette	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 3	7 p.m.	Louisville at St. John’s	ESPNU
Wed, Jan 4	7 p.m.	Marquette at Georgetown	ESPNU
Thu, Jan 5	7 p.m.	Pittsburgh at DePaul	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 7	4 p.m.	Notre Dame at Louisville	ESPNU
Mon, Jan 9	7 p.m.	West Virginia at Connecticut	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Cincinnati at Georgetown	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 10	7 p.m.	Louisville at Providence	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 11	7 p.m.	Syracuse at Villanova	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	St. John’s at Marquette	ESPNU
Sat, Jan 14	11 a.m.	Connecticut at Notre Dame	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	2 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Marquette	ESPNU
Mon, Jan 16	3:30 p.m.	Louisville at Marquette	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Syracuse	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Notre Dame at Rutgers	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 17	7 p.m.	Georgetown at DePaul	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 18	7 p.m.	Cincinnati at Connecticut	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Seton Hall at Villanova	ESPNU
Sat, Jan 21	1 p.m.	Villanova at St. John’s	ESPNU
	3 p.m.	Cincinnati at West Virginia	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	Syracuse at Notre Dame	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Louisville at Pittsburgh	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Jan 23	7 p.m.	Syracuse at Cincinnati	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 25	7 p.m.	Villanova at Louisville	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	West Virginia at St. John’s	ESPNU
Sat, Jan 28	Noon	Marquette at Villanova	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	1 p.m.	West Virginia at Syracuse	ESPNU
	4 p.m.	Georgetown at Pittsburgh	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Mon, Jan 30	7 p.m.	Pittsburgh at West Virginia	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 1	7 p.m.	Connecticut at Georgetown	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Rutgers at Providence	ESPNU
Sat, Feb 4	11 a.m.	South Florida at Georgetown	ESPNU
	Noon	Syracuse at St. John’s	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 5	2 p.m.	Villanova at Pittsburgh	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Feb 6	7 p.m.	Connecticut at Louisville	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Marquette at DePaul	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 8	7 p.m.	Georgetown at Syracuse	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Cincinnati at St. John’s	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Seton Hall at Rutgers	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Notre Dame at West Virginia	ESPNU
Sat, Feb 11	Noon	Louisville at West Virginia	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	3 p.m.	Cincinnati at Marquette	ESPNU
Sun, Feb 12	1 p.m.	St. John’s at Georgetown	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Feb 13	7 p.m.	Syracuse at Louisville	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 15	7 p.m.	Villanova at South Florida	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Rutgers at Notre Dame	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Providence at Cincinnati	ESPNU
Thu, Feb 16	9 p.m.	West Virginia at Pittsburgh	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 18	Noon	Marquette at Connecticut	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 or 9 p.m.	Notre Dame at Villanova	ESPNU
Sun, Feb 19	1 p.m.	Syracuse at Rutgers	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	South Florida at Pittsburgh	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Mon, Feb 20	7 p.m.	Connecticut at Villanova	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	DePaul at St. John’s	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 22	7 p.m.	West Virginia at Notre Dame	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 23	9 p.m.	Louisville at Cincinnati	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Fri, Feb 24	9 p.m.	Marquette at West Virginia	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 25	Noon	Notre Dame at St. John’s	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	5 p.m.	Rutgers at Seton Hall	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Syracuse at Connecticut	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Feb 27	7 p.m.	Notre Dame at Georgetown	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 29	7 p.m.	Marquette at Cincinnati	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	St. John’s at Pittsburgh	ESPNU
Thu, Mar 1	9 p.m.	Villanova at Rutgers	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Mar 3	Noon	Pittsburgh at Connecticut	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	2 p.m.	Cincinnati at Villanova	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

 

There you have it.

Versus To Air New Original Programming With Liam McHugh, Russ Thaler, Mike Florio and Darren Rovell As Hosts

This just in from the NBC Sports Group and I thank the fine people at its PR department for sending this press release to me. We’ve been hearing drips and drabs about Versus’ new original programming that will premiere in September. We heard about Liam McHugh hosting a college football studio show on Monday afternoons, a show headed by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and a Sports Business show to be helmed by CNBC’s Darren Rovell, plus last week, it was announced the first NFL Films-produced show, NFL Turning Point would premiere after Week 1 of the regular season.

Now, we have the official announcement of the lineups and the daily schedules of the programming. This is a huge upgrade from Versus’ other attempts to get a signature show. Under the “SportsTalk” banner, Versus will have College Football Talk and Pro Football Talk, hosted by Liam McHugh and Mike Florio, respectively, airing back to back Mondays starting at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Then from Tuesday through Thursday at 6 p.m. Eastern, you’ll have NBC SportsTalk hosted by Russ Thaler, formerly of Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, discussing various topics utilizing the men and women working under the NBC Sports Group. Wednesdays will be devoted to hockey in the second half of the NHL season.

Friday’s edition of NBC SportsTalk will be devoted to football and Florio and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King will join Thaler to talk about all things NFL.

And following NBC SportsTalk on Friday evenings will be the Darren Rovell-hosted show, CNBC SportsBiz: Game On. You got all that? Don’t worry, I have everything listed below.

NBC SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW NIGHTLY STUDIO SHOWS FOR VERSUS

NBC SportsTalk Airs Weeknights Live at 6 p.m. ET
CNBC Sports Biz: Game On with Darren Rovell Airs Fridays at 7 p.m.
Friday Night’s Live Football Show Features Peter King and Mike Florio
NBC SportsTalk to be Hosted by Comcast SportsNet’s Russ Thaler and Include Talent from all NBC Sports Group Platforms

NEW YORK (August 31, 2011) — The NBC Sports Group today announced a block of new live studio shows for VERSUS airing on weeknights from 6-7 p.m. ET under the banner of NBC SportsTalk, NBC’s successful digital franchise on NBCSports.com that includes ProFootballTalk, HardballTalk, ProBasketballTalk, ProHockeyTalk, CollegeFootballTalk, InsidetheIrish and ProGolfTalk.

In addition to the new 6 p.m. shows, VERSUS, which will be re-branded the NBC Sports Network on January 2, will also launch a sports-business show with CNBC’s Darren Rovell, titled CNBC Sports Biz: Game On, on Friday nights at 7 p.m. ET. VERSUS’ weeknight studio block launches on Thursday, September 8, leading into NBC’s NFL Kickoff coverage, featuring the first NFL game of the season between the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers.

“NBC SportsTalk is the type of nightly, relevant programming that viewers can expect to see as we continue the re-branding process from VERSUS to the NBC Sports Network,” said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and VERSUS. “The live nightly shows also give us the opportunity to tap into our stable of top talent across all of our platforms to provide a unique perspective for sports fans.”

The live block of shows will focus on the sports world’s most relevant topics each night and will include NBC Sports Group talent who will not only report on sports news, but will break down the significance of that news for viewers. Mondays (ProFootballTalk with Mike Florio) and Fridays at 6 p.m. will be devoted to football, while the rest of the shows during the week will focus on the most topical sports stories.

NBC SportsTalk will be hosted by former Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic anchor Russ Thaler. He will be joined by talent from across all NBC Sports Group platforms, including Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Football Night in America and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com for the special NFL-themed show on Friday nights.

CNBC Sports Biz: Game On – Rovell’s sports business show on Friday nights will focus on the $200 billion business of professional sports, including ownership, labor, media, sponsorship, marketing, merchandise, facilities and executives.  The 30-minute show will feature segments such as: “Power Player,” where Rovell interviews sports business newsmakers; “The Scoreboard,” in which Rovell and his sideline reporter, Erin Sharoni, review the sports business winners and losers of the week; “Heavy Hitters,” in which Rovell calls up insiders to break down how one aspect of the business works.  Rovell’s more than 115,000 Twitter followers will also play an active role in the show. 

NBC SportsTalk – The 6 p.m. nightly shows will focus on various topics throughout the week with certain nights and times devoted to a single sport:

• MONDAY: Immediately following VERSUS’ newly announced College Football Talk show from 5-6 p.m. ET, the network begins the week with ProFootballTalk with Mike Florio. One of the NFL’s most influential voices, Florio will join Thaler in the studio for the hour to break down all the football news from the weekend. Once the NHL season begins, NBC SportsTalk will air from 6-6:30 p.m. ET, making way for NHL Live, the new half-hour pre-game show which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

• TUESDAY-THURSDAY: On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, NBC SportsTalk will break down the topics that are dominating the sports world and will enlist talent from all NBC Sports Group platforms to join Thaler, including commentators and reporters from NBC Sports, NBCSports.com, VERSUS, Golf Channel and NBC Sports Group’s 11 regional sports networks. On select Wednesday nights throughout the NHL season, the second half of the show will be dedicated solely to hockey.

• FRIDAY: NBC SportsTalk will wrap up the week with in-depth coverage of NFL news and will welcome one of sports’ most knowledgeable and respected NFL insiders, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and “Football Night in America,” to join Florio and Thaler. Additionally, Gregg Rosenthal of Rotoworld and ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com will contribute a fantasy segment each Friday.

NEW VERSUS ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING THIS FALL (all times ET):

Monday, 5-6 p.m.: College Football Talk hosted by Liam McHugh with Ross Tucker and Roland Williams
Monday, 6-7 p.m.: NBC SportsTalk/ProFootballTalk with Mike Florio (6-6:30 p.m. beginning October 10)
Monday, 6:30-7 p.m.: NHL Live (beginning October 10)
Tuesday, 6-7 p.m.: NBC SportsTalk hosted by Russ Thaler
Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.: NBC SportsTalk hosted by Russ Thaler
Thursday, 6-7 p.m.: NBC SportsTalk hosted by Russ Thaler
Thursday, 10-11 p.m.: NFL Turning Point
Friday, 6-7 p.m.: NBC SportsTalk hosted by Russ Thaler with Mike Florio and Peter King
Friday, 7-7:30 p.m.: CNBC Sports Biz: Game On hosted by Darren Rovell

There you have it.

MLB Network Announces Games For Labor Day & Day After Labor Day

Continuing its policy of announcing its live game schedule for the final two months of the regular season to assure the best possible matchups, MLB Network has just announced what it will air for the Labor Day holiday doubleheader and the Tuesday Night game the following night.

On Labor Day, September 5, MLB Network will carry the Baltimore Orioles visiting the New York Yankees at 1 p.m. Eastern and then in the nightcap, the channel will air Atlanta at Philadelphia in a National League East battle at 7 p.m. ET.

And MLB Network will pick up the second game of the Braves-Phillies series on Tuesday Night Baseball. Of course, the games are subject to blackout in the home markets so fans in the affected areas will receive alternate contests.

Here’s the announcement from MLB Network.

BRAVES AT PHILLIES, ORIOLES AT YANKEES FEATURED IN LABOR DAY DOUBLEHEADER ON MLB NETWORK

Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz to Call N.L. East Matchup Between Phillies and Braves on Tuesday, September 6

Secaucus, N.J., August 31, 2011 – The path to the Postseason is underway on MLB Network, including matchups between division leaders and second-place teams on September 5 and 6.  On Labor Day, Monday, September 5, MLB Network will feature a doubleheader starting with the New York Yankees hosting the Baltimore Orioles at 1:00 p.m. ET.  The Yankees, led by A.L. MVP candidate Curtis Granderson, currently trail the Boston Red Sox by a half-game in the A.L. East.  MLB Tonight will follow the game and lead into the N.L. East first-place Philadelphia Phillies taking on the second-place Atlanta Braves at 7:00 p.m. ET, live from Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies, who are looking to capture their fifth straight division title, currently lead the Braves by seven and a half games in the division.

The Phillies will once again face the Braves on Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET with MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian and former Braves Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz calling the game.  Viewers in the Phillies and Braves television territories will see right-hander Stephen Strasburg make his scheduled Major League return for the Washington Nationals when they match up against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:00 p.m. ET. Following the game, MLB Network will provide analysis of Strasburg’s start on MLB Tonight, including reports from Nationals Park. MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning nightly studio show, provides complete coverage of the Postseason races, featuring updates, highlights, analysis and look-ins at live games in progress.

MLB Network’s game schedule for August 31 – September 6 is available here. Games will be blacked out in each team’s home television territory unless otherwise announced. Viewers in areas subject to blackouts will be provided with an alternate game telecast or other programming. MLB Network’s complete programming lineup is available here.

That’s it.

NFL Network Is The Only Network To Have National Preseason Games This Week

With the other NFL TV partners finished with their preseason schedules, it’s up to NFL Network to take care of your football jones this week. NFL Network will have three live games, a Thursday night doubleheader and then a live game on Friday night and that will be it until the following Thursday when the regular season begins in Green Bay, WI.

NFL Network will carry Indianapolis at Cincinnati and Denver at Arizona on Thursday. This will be followed by Oakland at Seattle on Friday. The network will also carry a bunch of taped games in addition to the live contests.

Here’s the press release from the NFL.

Preseason Concludes With Three National TV Games and Final Roster Cuts

Colts at Bengals, Broncos at Cardinals and Raiders at Seahawks will air live on NFL Network

It’s the final week of the preseason and young players around the league know this is their time to shine.

With final NFL roster cuts to 53 players this Saturday, this week’s games are a last chance for many players to make their team’s roster. The starters are basically set throughout the league as are the key backup positions. It’s the “bubble” players who are out to impress.

“The young guys in the NFL, they know this is their game,” says ESPN analyst and former NFL head coach HERM EDWARDS. “It’s real important for a young player and a rookie trying to make a team.”

For many of these young players, they know this is their last opportunity to make the final 53.

The final week of the preseason features three games on national TV as NFL Network delivers all the action.

Thursday night, September 1, will showcase a doubleheader. The Indianapolis Colts will visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the early matchup (7:00 PM ET) and the Arizona Cardinals will host the Denver Broncos in the nightcap (10:00 PM ET). On Friday, NFL Network will bring fans live coverage when the Seattle Seahawks welcome the Oakland Raiders to town (10:30 PM ET).

DATE	GAME	TIME (ET)	NETWORK
Thursday, September 1	Indianapolis at Cincinnati	7:00 PM	NFLN
	Denver at Arizona	10:00 PM	NFLN
Friday, September 2	Oakland at Seattle	10:30 PM	NFLN

And we’re done.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Cycling
Vuelta a España, Stage 11 — Universal Sports, 10 a.m.

MLB
American League
Kansas City at Detroit — Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago White Sox — Fox Sports North/WGN America, 2 p.m.
New York Yankees at Boston — ESPN/YES/NESN, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet California/STO, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore — Sportsnet One/MASN2, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Texas — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Seattle — Fox Sports West/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers — Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 3 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at San Francisco — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 3:45 p.m.
Florida at New York Mets — Fox Sports Florida/SNY, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Cincinnati — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta — MASN/Peachtree TV, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Arizona — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.

The Rundown Live — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
MLB Tonight Live — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants — Showtime, 10 p.m.

NASCAR
Inside NASCAR — Showtime, 9 p.m.

NFL
Hard Knocks: A Decade of NFL Training Camps — HBO, 10 p.m.

Tennis
Breakfast at the Open — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m.

U.S. Open, Men’s 1st round and Women’s 2nd round — Tennis Channel, 11 a.m./ESPN2, 1 p.m.
Primetime at the Open — ESPN2, 7 p.m.

U.S. Open Tonight — Tennis Channel, 11 p.m.

Track & Field
IAAF World Championships, Daegu, South Korea
Daytime Session #6 — Universal Sports, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
Dan Patrick Show — DirecTV Audience Network/Fox Sports Net, 9 a.m.
Big Brother 13 — CBS, 8 p.m.
America’s Got Talent — NBC, 9 p.m.
Law & Order: UK — BBC America, 9 p.m.
Damages — DirecTV Audience Network, 10 p.m.
Primetime Nightline — ABC, 10 p.m.
The Hour — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Rescue Me — FX, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight

Golf Channel To Produce Golf Central Pregame Shows on NBC Prior to Tour Championship

This in from the NBC Sports Group, Golf Channel will produce a live pregame show for NBC that will a half-hour prior to the third and final rounds of the Tour Championship, the year-ending tournament that will “crown” a winner of the PGA Tour’s playoffs that no one really understands or gets.

In any event, Golf Channel and NBC will have the next three tournaments under the FedEx Cup and coverage will be integrated among the two entities that are part of the NBC Sports Group. Let’s see what the press release says about the whole thing.

GOLF CHANNEL TO PRODUCE NBC PRE-GAME SHOW AS NETWORKS CONTINUE INTEGRATION DURING PGA TOUR PLAYOFFS

‘Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship’ to air Prior to NBC Coverage
Fifth Edition of ‘Golf Talk Live’ with Golf Channel and NBC Personalities to Follow the Final Round of the TOUR Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2011) – NBC will air Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship preceding NBC’s Saturday and Sunday coverage of the 3^rd and final rounds of the TOUR Championship. The announcement was made today by Golf Channel President Mike McCarley.

The half-hour pre-game shows will be a first for golf coverage on broadcast television and will air Sept. 24-25. Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship will be produced by Golf Channel and will originate from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The shows will feature Golf Channel and “Golf Channel on NBC” personalities Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Steve Sands.

“The integration between NBC and Golf Channel is creating more coverage of golf and more choices for fans of the game. These shows will allow us the opportunity to tell more of the notable stories that surround the TOUR Championship just as the leaders begin their final rounds,” McCarley said. “We look forward to covering the TOUR Championship with an unprecedented approach to a golf pre-game show on NBC.”

The Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship shows on NBC not only will tell the stories of the TOUR Championship and the season-long points race that determines who wins the FedExCup and its $10 million payday, but also allows viewers to be introduced to the history of East Lake Golf Club, the home course of legendary golfer Bobby Jones, and the incredible story of the revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood which, through the works of visionary philanthropist Tom Cousins, has been transformed from one of the nation’s worst public housing projects into a thriving community.

NBC Sports Group the TOUR Championship TV Coverage (all times ET):

Thurs., Sept. 22
Tournament 1-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Tournament 7 p.m.-Midnight (replay) Golf Channel

Fri., Sept. 23
Tournament 1-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Tournament 7-10 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Sat. Sept. 24
Tournament 1-2 p.m. Golf Channel
Golf Central 1:30-2 p.m. NBC
Tournament 2-6 p.m. NBC
Tournament 10 p.m.- Midnight (replay) Golf Channel

Sun. Sept. 25
Tournament Noon-1:30 p.m. Golf Channel
Golf Central 1-1:30 p.m. NBC
Tournament 1:30-6 p.m. NBC
Tournament 10 p.m.-Midnight (replay) Golf Channel
Golf Talk Live Following Final Round Golf Channel

Production plans for the TOUR Championship also include a fifth edition of Golf Talk Live, a roundtable show featuring Golf Channel and “Golf Channel on NBC” personalities discussing current issues inside the world of golf. The live show will air on Golf Channel following NBC’s coverage of the final round of the TOUR Championship.

Further utilizing the Golf Channel brand on NBC marks yet another step to integrate Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ golf coverage. Earlier this year, all golf coverage on NBC was re-branded as “Golf Channel on NBC.” The coverage incorporates the Golf Channel look throughout every telecast, down to the logo on the NBC Sports commentators’ apparel. Golf Channel’s tournament graphics are showcased throughout all coverage, which now includes a custom-made Golf Channel-NBC peacock combination logo.

As Golf Channel continues its coverage of the PGA TOUR Playoffs this week, plans for NBC to air pre-game shows signals the next phase of the network’s integration with the NBC Sports Group. With Dustin Johnson’s victory at The Barclays this past weekend – the first of four Playoff events – the NBC Sports Group this week will take over coverage of the remaining three tournaments, beginning this week with the Deutsche Bank Championship, which has a special Monday finish due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. Golf Channel will carry early-round coverage on Friday and Saturday, with NBC taking over for the final two rounds on Sunday and Monday.

NBC Sports Group PGA TOUR Playoffs Tournament Coverage (all times ET):

Deutsche Bank Championship

Fri., Sept. 2
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Sat., Sept. 3
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Sun., Sept. 4
1-3 p.m. Golf Channel
3-6 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Mon., Sept. 5
Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel
2-6 p.m. NBC
8-10 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

BMW Championship

Thurs., Sept. 15
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Fri., Sept. 16
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Sat., Sept. 17
10 a.m.-Noon Golf Channel
Noon-3:30 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

Sun., Sept. 18
Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel
2-6 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel

And that will end the posts for tonight.

Jets-Giants Bring NFL Network Its 3rd Highest Audience for Preseason Game

So due to Hurricane Irene, the New York Jets-New York Giants game at the New Meadowlands Stadium had to be rescheduled from Saturday to Monday. And with the move, the game received a national audience thanks to NFL Network. With it being the only NFL game of the night, an average of 1.78 million people watched the game making it the third highest audience for a preseason game on NFL Network.

Here’s the blurb from NFL Network.

NFL NETWORK POSTS THIRD HIGHEST PRESEASON VIEWERSHIP OF ALL-TIME FOR MONDAY NIGHT’S JETS-GIANTS GAME

NFL Network is Only Network to Show Live NFL Games Nationally this Week:
Colts-Bengals & Broncos-Cardinals Thursday Night Doubleheader  Beginning at 7:00 PM ET
Raiders-Seahawks Friday at 10:30 PM ET

The rescheduled live Monday night game featuring the battle of New York where the Jets defeated the Giants 17-3 delivered an average of 1.78 million viewers on NFL Network. It was the third highest viewershipfor a preseason game in the network’s history.

Six of the top 10 all-time most-watched preseason games on NFL Network have aired this year as the NFL gets “Back to Football” and ready for the regular season to begin.

NFL Network is the only national network with live games in the final week of preseason. On Thursday, September 1, NFL Network features a pair of live games, starting at 7:00 PM ET when the Indianapolis Colts visit the Cincinnati Bengals. At 10:00 PM ET, the Arizona Cardinals host the Denver Broncos in Glendale, Arizona. On Friday, September 2 at 10:30 PM ET, the Oakland Raiders travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks.

One more press release this evening.

HBO Sports & NFL Films Celebrate A Decade of “Hard Knocks”

On Wednesday, HBO will air a retrospective looking back at 10 years of “Hard Knocks”, the reality show produced by NFL Films that looks inside various training camps. The show debuted in 2001 with NFL Films going into the Baltimore Ravens training camp with then-coach Brian Billick and linebacker Ray Lewis. The show has evolved into one of the most popular summer series. Last year’s “Hard Knocks” focusing on the New York Jets was the most watched in the history of the series.

The show has focused on the Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys (twice), Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets.

We have the joint press release from HBO Sports and NFL Films discussing what you’ll see on the special that premieres on Wednesday and will have multiple re-airs.

HBO SPORTS^® AND NFL FILMS TEAM UP TO PRESENT A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE ULTIMATE SPORTS REALITY SERIES WHEN HARD KNOCKS:  A DECADE OF NFL TRAINING CAMPS DEBUTS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Ten years after the debut of the groundbreaking HBO Sports and NFL Films collaboration on the first-ever sports reality program, one of sports television’s most enduring partnerships teams up for an all-new special when HARD KNOCKS: A DECADE OF NFL TRAINING CAMPS debuts WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31 (10:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates:  Aug. 31 (4:05 a.m.) and Sept. 2 (2:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.), 3 (9:15 a.m., 1:00 a.m.), 5 (2:00 p.m., 1:30 a.m.), 7 (10:00 p.m.), 8 (9:00 a.m., midnight), 11 (9:45 a.m.), 13 (6:30 p.m.) and 16 (6:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Sept. 1 (9:00 a.m.), 6 (1:15 a.m.), 7 (4:30 p.m., 2:35 a.m.), 10 (6:00 a.m., 1:55 a.m.), 13 (1:15 p.m.) and 21 (9:00 p.m.)

One of the fastest-turnaround reality programs on television, the cinema-verité series debuted Aug. 1, 2001 when NFL Films and HBO Sports began chronicling rookies and free agents trying to make an NFL roster as determined veterans fought to keep their jobs at the camp of the reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. An instant sensation, the show captured the heat, the hurt, the camaraderie and the humor of an NFL training camp.

In addition to revisiting memorable moments of the teams – Baltimore, Dallas (twice), Kansas City, Cincinnati and New York Jets – that have been featured on the seven-time Emmy^®-winning series, the special includes new interviews with HARD KNOCKS veterans like Brian Billick, Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco and Rex Ryan, never-before-seen outtakes and a “Where Are They Now?” segment with updates on players from past episodes.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

“We know football fans are hungry for compelling NFL programming and we think they’ll love this HARD KNOCKS special, which will have a host of new wrinkles,” says Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports.

Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, says, “The first ten years of HARD KNOCKS have been the ultimate fly-on-the-wall NFL training camp experience.  We look forward to taking a look back at those shows and reintroducing the fans to those characters who made the decade of HARD KNOCKS so memorable.”

Embedded in an NFL training camp, the 24-person NFL Films crew would typically shoot more than 1,000 hours of video over the course of each series.  Each year, camera and sound crews were given unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, dormitories and practice fields.

HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.  The series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Sports Emmy^®.  In 2008, the series revisited the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a second Sports Emmy^®.  In 2009 HARD KNOCKS spotlighted the Cincinnati Bengals and captured two more Sports Emmy^® Awards, for Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology and Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound.  In 2010 the show featured the New York Jets and attracted an average of 4.6 million viewers per episode, receiving three Sports Emmys^®, including Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology.

Sports Illustrated.com said HARD KNOCKS is the “most entertaining reality show on TV,” while the St. Petersburg Times observed, “HARD KNOCKS is fascinating television,” and the Wall St. Journal noted that the show “looks great and it sounds great, too.”

That’s all.

The ESPN College Sports Update

I hope I get this weekly because this is a good press release from ESPN regarding its upcoming college sports programming. We get plenty of updates on the studio shows, where College GameDay is heading and the games that will be shown. Plus, we get some news and notes here. I’ll post this verbatim. You can read what you want.

As far as I know, this is a new feature from ESPN and I’m glad to be able to post this for you. Let’s see what ESPN is saying about its college sports programming for this week.

Weekly Studio Shows

• Thursday & Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) — College Football Live airs prior to both weekday primetime games

• Saturday at 9-10 a.m. (ESPNU) & 10 a.m.-noon (ESPN) — College GameDay in Arlington, Texas, for the Cowboys Classic: Segments include Alabama’s Carson Tinker; Florida’s Will Muschamp; Oklahoma All-Access; college football’s offseason and USF’s Skip Holtz

• Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Special ESPN Goal Line simulcast for one hour

• Monday at 7 p.m. (ESPN) — College Football Live will air from College Park, Md., for a special one-hour show prior to Miami at Maryland on ESPN

Complete Studio Programming Schedule

Spotlight Games

No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU in the Cowboys Classic from Arlington, Texas, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. on ABC

• The first meeting between the two programs since 1997 and the fourth ever. Oregon has won two of the previous three games.
• LSU also opened the 2010 season at a neutral site, defeating North Carolina 30-24 in the Kickoff Game in Atlanta.

No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 19 Georgia in the Kickoff Game from Atlanta Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com

• The two schools have played each other only once before, a 48-13 Georgia victory from Athens, Ga. in 2005.
• The game marks the first time Georgia will open the season against a team as highly ranked as Boise State since playing No. 5 Alabama in 1965, an 18-17 victory.

Spotlight: David Pollack

An All-American at Georgia, David Pollack is the newest contributor to ESPN’s College GameDay and half of Palmer & Pollack, ESPNU’s newest college football show. ESPN sat down with David for a few off-the-field questions.

Who has taught you the most about being on TV?
Actually, television has taught me the most. I watch TV and see what I like and what I don’t like. It’s not one person; it’s every person on TV. Then you have to take that and see what fits you and what doesn’t. Read More.

On the All-Access: Kentucky — Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in advance of Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky (from Nashville), ESPNU will take viewers inside the Wildcats’ football program as they close in on the season opening game.

ESPNU Road Trip — Saturday at 8 p.m., Jonathan Drubner and new co-host Niki Noto take in the scenery on the campus of Georgia before heading to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Herschel SEC Storied film premiere and the Georgia Dome for an inside look at the transformation from Atlanta Falcons NFL home to the Kickoff Game.

Notebook

• ESPN College GameDay celebrates its 25th season and 25 years of Lee Corso this year. In the spirit of Saturday’s big primetime games – Oregon vs. LSU and Boise St. vs. Georgia – we dug through the archives and found this memorable image from the 2010 BCS National Championship and this 2010 spot capturing a little known game preparation technique by Coach Corso.

• To get in the GameDay swing of things, we created this quiz to test your Saturday morning acumen.

• This week’s GameDay set will be located in LOT 3 of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fans are encouraged to arrive by 8.am. local time. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will serve as the celebrity game picker this week.

• Happy anniversary to Erin Andrews. She completed her first show as part of the GameDay lineup on September 4, 2010. LSU faced North Carolina in Atlanta.

That’s it.

The Sunday Night Football Crew Previews the 2011 Season

Earlier today, NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth from Sunday Night Football and Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison from Football Night in America talked about the 2011 schedule as well as what they expect to see in the upcoming season. NBC’s season begins with the Thursday night regular season opener on September 8 between the last two Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints taking on the Green Bay Packers at the storied Lambeau Field.

And then on September 11, NBC will air the first regular season Sunday Night game, the Dallas Cowboys taking on the New York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Let’s see what Al, Cris, Tony and Rodney all had to say in the NBC media conference call.

MICHAELS, COLLINSWORTH, DUNGY, HARRISON, PREVIEW 2011 NFL SEASON

The NFL is as hot as it’s ever been” – Al Michaels
“It’s really the brilliance of the NFL and the great players and these great coaches that people tune in to see.” – Cris Collinsworth
“Now the pressure comes on him.” – Rodney Harrison on Michael Vick

NEW YORK – Aug. 30, 2011 – The NFL will open the regular season on NBC, Thursday, Sept. 8, with a matchup of the last two Super Bowl Champions as the Packers host the Saints from Green Bay’s Lambeau Field with coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. The first “Sunday Night Football” game of the season matches the Jets and the Cowboys from New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Coverage starts with “Football Night in America” at 7 p.m. ET. The NFL season concludes on NBC with Super Bowl XLVI from Indianapolis.

NBC Sports today previewed the season on a conference call with “Sunday Night Football” duo Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth along with “Football Night in America” studio analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison.

Highlights of the call follow:

MICHAELS ON THE EFFECT OF THE LOCKOUT ON TV RATINGS: “If anybody was concerned that there would be any after effects, and negatives, residual effects of the lockout, that was dispelled in our first game a couple of weeks ago – San Diego against Dallas. It wound up not only winning the night but was the No. 1 one show of the week. So the NFL is as hot as it’s ever been, and it remains that way and we put up pretty good numbers despite have the San Francisco Bay Area blacked out last week with the Oakland game. So, it’s very exciting.”

“We never really have a goal except to do the best job we can every year, but this year after winding up as the number one show in the fall overall, that’s what we want to do again because we’ve been threatened, Cris and I, from our bosses to be put on the waiver wire if we wind up as low as No. 2.”

COLLINSWORTH ON POPULARITY OF NFL: “It’s really the brilliance of the NFL and the great players and these great coaches that people tune in to see.”

COLLINSWORTH ON NFL KICKOFF MATCHUP: “We are absolutely thrilled with our opening weekend. To get Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, the past two Super Bowl winners, playing on that opening Thursday night; two teams that believe in passing first, passing second, and passing third, and putting up a lot of points. We got a chance to watch the Saints in preseason and they were absolutely razor sharp as has been Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.”

COLLINSWORTH ON OPENING “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” GAME: “Rex Ryan against Rob Ryan on the defensive side with Dallas playing the Jets on the anniversary of 9/11, and we know that there’ll be a lot of mixed emotions for a lot of people as we reflect back on that. I’m sure the NFL will do a spectacular job in a very classy way of presenting that evening and that day of football. So really a lot to look forward to, not only great football, but a historic night as well in New York.”

DUNGY ON STARTING THE SEASON: “I’m just like everyone else, excited for the season, and glad that we’re playing football and about my third year here at NBC. I just really have come to appreciate the work that Fred (Gaudelli) and the guys do broadcasting the game. And just seeing it done in that quality is exciting. With the type of schedule we have, and I guess I can speak for Dan (Patrick) and everyone else on our show, we just really look forward to presenting what people do and just showing how great these NFL players and coaches are and giving a little insight.”

HARRISON ON SAINTS-PACKERS: “We get an opportunity to see how Green Bay plays out in terms of how they can handle success and everything that’s happened to them; how hungry they are; can they repeat? Drew Brees and the Saints losing, getting blown out in the playoffs last year by Seattle. I’m looking forward to it and I’m ready to go.”

DUNGY ON BROADCASTING: “I do see myself doing it for the long term. I really enjoy our group and have a lot fun. My comfort level, I would say my first year on a scale to 100 it was probably a 5, last year maybe 30, and I would say this year probably 75 to 80. Just being with Rodney and Dan over the last two years and we now kind of understand each other and how we like to do things, and who has a feel on certain things on the show and it’s just really been phenomenal. So I’m enjoying it tremendously. Hopefully I’m there a long time.”

ON MICHAEL VICK:
Dungy on new contract for Vick: “To me this makes it a success story for the Eagles; it was a success story to me from the very beginning. I thought Michael was a changed person. Philadelphia gave him a chance to be the third-team quarterback and he handled that well and did everything that he had determined that he was going to do. He’s been a leader on and off the field, and this contract makes it a feel-good thing, but really to me he has done what I hoped he would do two years ago. Now the on-the-field things, performing well and getting the nice contract, I think that’s great, but to me that was the icing on the cake.”

Collinsworth: “I would just add that the humility that he’s brought to the workplace was probably what impressed me most. Now I can’t speak to what it takes to come back from the off-the-field incident and the prison time that he served, but I know that it takes a certain humility to walk in a building and admit that my work ethic wasn’t where it was supposed to be, my study habits weren’t where they were supposed to be, my discipline in the pocket, my making the reads wasn’t where it was supposed to be, and to sort of just humble yourself professionally and that was what I found very very impressive about what he did.”

Harrison: “For me, seeing what Michael Vick has gone through and what he’s been through, and the way he’s handled it up until this point, I think it’s a fantastic story. However, I think now the pressure comes on him. Now, he has the contract, everything is going good in his life; can he keep the same humble spirit that he has, can he continue to avoid the negativity, that dark side off the field? Because now this is where the pressure comes; from his friends, from family members, from people out on the street, old people that he used to hang out with; the pressure comes now because they see the $100 million advertised on television. If he continues to lead down the same path then it really becomes a success story, but now is really where he’s going to be tested because he has the contract. When you have that, you have the tendency of kind of relaxing and putting your guard down. So hopefully he can continue to stay focused and not get caught up in the dark side.”

HARRISON ON ALBERT HAYNESWORTH: “Albert Haynesworth was a way of getting a guy in that was relatively inexpensive, a guy that was really on his last legs in the NFL, this is his last opportunity to be a productive pro. If it doesn’t work out I think the pressure is on Albert. If Belichick can’t straighten this guy out than no one can. So, I think he can be a very productive player but he will never be the player that he was in Tennessee. If it doesn’t work out then no one else will probably touch him, his career will be over.”

HARRISON ON PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY: “Belichick’s philosophy for a long time has been bend but don’t break; he knows he has an offense that can put up 30 points a game and he wants to hold you to field goals. He doesn’t really care if you go up and down the field on him.

HARRISON ON ANDY REID: “There’s a lot of pressure on Andy Reid because if he doesn’t win with this group of guys then people will start saying, ‘well they got the talent, can this guy get them to the next level, is he the guy to get them to the next level?’ I don’t think, a playoff win, a division win, a wild card win, or even and NFC Championship is good enough. They’ve been there. They’ve experienced that. They’ve tasted that, now it’s time to win a Super Bowl. You got Michael Vick, you traded Kevin Kolb, you have the guy under center that you want, you go out you get all these defensive backs and all these so called superstars to stop, in particular, Green Bay’s offense and these offenses that are high power like the Cowboys. You have everything you need, now it’s time to win a championship it’s time to produce.”

DUNGY ON TEAM CHEMISTRY: “A lot of times we got caught up with, ‘well this team got player ‘X’ and he’s better than player ‘Y’ and they added this player and he’s better than that player,’ and that’s not what wins games for you. What wins is everybody knowing their role, buying into the system, and doing their job and playing together. I remember when the Patriots beat us with Troy Brown playing defensive back. So I just think there’s a chemistry in the locker room, there’s something with continuity, and that’s not to say you can’t bring new players in, if the new players buy in to what you’re doing and they’re there for the right reason, then you’ve got a chance to be successful.”

ON THE NEW REPLAY RULE:
Michaels: “I don’t think it’s going to be that big of an issue because most of the scoring plays will not involve anything more than somebody looking at it upstairs and confirming what was called on the field. From time to time, you will see a delay, but what you would have seen in those circumstances anyway is probably a challenge from a coach. So you are going to have that delay to begin with, this takes that away and saves the coach from having to challenge the scoring. I think that’s good, and I think what you are going to see here is much ado about nothing. I don’t see it being a very big factor by the end of the year.”

Collinsworth: I do think you’ll see a couple of things a little different. One, the whole idea of did they cross the goal line or not? Something ordinarily that coaches wouldn’t challenge- is that something you want to challenge? Now we’re going to get a full look at that so we may see a few touchdowns brought back or maybe a few touchdowns added on. From a television standpoint, it takes a little pressure off of television people to feel obligated to get the replays bang, bang, bang up to the coaches to take a look at it. You may want to get a reaction shot from the quarterback jumping up and down or the head coaches doing a back flip or all the sort of TV-ish kind of things, as opposed to the entire obligation being on us to jam in all the replays possible so that the coaches can get a look at it.”

COLLINSWORTH ON CAM NEWTON: “A guy that, without question, is going to capture a lot of our attention is Cam Newton. The college game keeps presenting tremendous talent at the quarterback position that isn’t classic NFL style quarterback play. We just talked about Tebow a little bit, you’ve got Terrelle Pryor now, and you’ve got Cam Newton. Will there be that first sort of pure college quarterback type guy break through in the NFL and maybe open the door for some other guys; I think it’ll be interesting to follow.”

That’s going to do it. This was a long press release.

It’s A Slowly Getting Back To Normal After Irene Linkfest

Yesterday about 2 p.m., I got the power back at the Fang’s Bites abode and after walking around the neighborhood, I saw that I was quite lucky in not getting any tree limbs falling on my house or any leaks in the basement. So while Hurricane Irene was quite deadly and caused major damage up and down the East Coast, I consider myself very lucky in being able to get through the storm without any major interruptions and I thank National Grid for getting the power back to my house within a day after being knocked offline.

Let’s do some linkage. Already a couple of major sports media stories breaking today.

First, Bill Carter of the New York Times writes that NBC has tapped Today show Executive Producer Jim Bell and former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol protégé as the Executive Producer of the 2012 London Olympics.

Tim Malloy at The Wrap says NBC feels Bell is uniquely qualified to helm the Olympics for the network.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter writes that Bell will continue to oversee the Today show while working on the Olympics.

The lovely Rachel Cohen of the Associated Press writes that NBC will show all Olympic events live in one platform or another.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette is happy to see NBC airing events live.

In a related note, Meredith Galante of the Business Insider notes that the aforementioned former Emperor is selling his Colorado home for a huge pricetag.

And maybe this is why Ebersol is selling his house, Bill Carter and Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports that the former Emperor is returning to NBC Sports as a senior adviser. You can’t make these things up.

Our other big sports media story involves the University of Kentucky revoking the school newspaper’s media credential for playing by its rules.

Scott Sloan of the Lexington Herald-Leader looks into why this occurred.

And from the Kentucky Kernel, the school newspaper’s managing editor Becca Clemons gives the publication’s response. This now is becoming a First Amendment issue and had the school’s Sports Information Department had handled this differently, this would not have blown up. Instead, the SID reacted poorly and this is the result.

To other stories now.

USA Today notes that there are a few changes coming to NFL Network including the hiring of Andrew Siciliano full-time and the shuffling of anchors for NFL Total Access.

Anthony Crupi at Adweek says advertisers are flocking to Fox’s UFC package knowing they can reach large numbers of young males.

To the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center and Jason Fry whose final column for the site provides sportswriters with the five changes in digital sports they need to look for in the very near future. Also, Jason has collected 19 of his National Sports Journalism Center columns into a eBook and it’s available for download at Amazon or at Smashwords. Jason has been a great resource here and I hope to let you know where he’ll be landing soon.

Cam Martin at SportsNewser says syndicated radio host Paul Finebaum will be writing a column for SI.com.

Glenn Davis in SportsGrid has the latest Alec Baldwin-John Krasinski Yankees-Red Sox rivalry New Era ad that premieres tonight. It’s very funny.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group looks at Big Ten Network’s programming schedule to reflect the new football season.

Brandon writes about the launch of Kansas State’s new KStateHD.TV.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch takes to TwitLonger to ask why ESPN’s new social media policy is not being applied equally.

David Whitely of AOL Sporting News wonders if airing the Little League World Series on TV is too much pressure on the kids.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the addition of Texas A&M to the SEC won’t add much value to its TV contracts.

Claire Atkinson of the New York Post writes that the US Tennis Association is considering charging viewers for watching the U.S. Open online.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union wishes ESPN would lighten up.

David N. Dunkle of the Patriot-News (PA) writes a long-time Harrisville R&B radio station flips to ESPN Radio this week.

Mark Berman of the Roanoke (VA) Times says ESPN’s new contract with the ACC means more Virginia Tech sports on TV.

Dave Walker of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that former CNN/ESPN/YES/Fox Sports South host Fred Hickman has signed with a local TV station to become its sports director.

Susan Blaskovich of the Pegasus (TX) Times says Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban gets his chance to pick games on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday.

The Grand Rapids (MI) Press notes the passing of long-time Detroit Lions beat writer Tom “Killer” Kowalski.

The Ann Arbor News has reaction to Kowalski’s passing.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Sentinel looks at how WTMJ radio will handle conflicts between the Brewers, Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers.

Bob has some interesting tidbits from the NFL Films America’s Game documentary on the 2010 Packers that airs next week.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business feels the number of documentaries released now focusing on the Cubs is bad timing.

Mike Imrem of the Chicago Daily Herald says he might be part of the problem in ESPN’s airing of the Little League World Series.

Josie Becker of LA Galaxy Confidential suggests that NBC use the ESPN model for hiring announcers for MLS instead of the Fox Soccer way of doing things.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball says the MLB At Bat for iPhone and iPod Touch underwent a nice upgrade in time for the pennant races.

Brady Green at Awful Announcing enjoys Gus Johnson reenacting his famous Brandon Stokley call.

And I think that will do it for the links today.

Keith Jackson & Dhani Jones To Host Shows on Big Ten Network (BTN)

This fall, Big Ten Network will be airing what’s known as its “Football Fix” block which will air every weeknight on BTN starting at 7 ET. Shows will be hosted by College Football Hall of Fame broadcaster Keith Jackson and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones (Michigan alum). Other shows will be helmed by Antichrist Mike Hall and other BTN personalities. We have a look at the shows and what they’ll look like when they hit the air.

Keith Jackson, Dhani Jones to Host Shows on BTN This Fall

Six new shows highlight BTN primetime “Football Fix” programming lineup

CHICAGO – Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Keith Jackson and former Michigan football star Dhani Jones will host shows on BTN this fall as part of the network’s “Football Fix” programming block, which includes new shows every weeknight beginning at 7 PM ET.

“What’s exciting about our programming lineup is how it reflects what the Big Ten is all about,” BTN President Mark Silverman said. “Big Ten Icons, for example, honors the legacy of 12 coaches who are legendary in their respective sports. At the other end of the spectrum, BTN LiveBIG celebrates the contributions that people in the Big Ten community have made away from the playing field.”

Jones will host BTN LiveBIG, one of the network’s six new shows this fall. This inspirational program highlights how current and former members of the Big Ten community have impacted the world by living and giving “big.” The eight-episode series airs at 7:30 PM ET on Mondays starting October 3 and will spotlight luminaries such as Michigan’s Charles Woodson, Minnesota’s Tony Dungy, Wisconsin’s Devin Harris and many others. The show is designed to celebrate, promote and encourage community service. The network also will soon launch www.BTNLiveBIG.com, where fans can share their stories of community service and how they “live big” by giving back, while Big Ten students can learn about how they can earn scholarship money through volunteering.

Jackson returns for a second season on BTN to host Big Ten Icons (Tuesdays, 8 PM ET). This year, the series will focus on the iconic coaches in Big Ten history. The 12-episode series will stretch into the winter, and profile one coach from every Big Ten school, including Illinois’ Lou Henson, Iowa’s Dan Gable, Indiana’s Bob Knight, Michigan’s Bo Schembechler, Michigan State’s Jud Heathcote, Minnesota’s Herb Brooks, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne, Northwestern’s Kelly Amonte-Hiller, Ohio State’s Woody Hayes, Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Purdue’s Gene Keady and Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez.

Mike Hall takes viewers inside the offices of current Big Ten football coaches for a revealing, one-on-one conversation at 10 PM ET on Thursday nights on Step Into My Office. The conference’s coaches talk about their lives before they were famous. During the course of the 10-episode series, viewers will find out which coach proposed to his wife with his Big Ten Championship ring, which can play the tuba, who was in a coma during childhood and other surprising tidbits. Bonus clips will be posted weekly on www.BTN.com.

Powered by social media, fans will have a chance to sound off and interact with BTN personalities Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine), Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo), Howard Griffith (@howardgriffith) and Glen Mason (@BTNGlenMason) on BTN Live (@BTNLive), the network’s new interactive show. The program will utilize Facebook poll questions and Twitter hashtags, such as #AskBTN, to take questions from fans and gauge the opinion of Big Ten Country. After the show, viewers will be invited to log on to www.BTN.com to watch an extra, live streaming segment called The Fifth Quarter. BTN Live airs at 7 PM ET on Thursdays in September and moves to 6 PM ET starting in October.

The Next Level will look into the professional ranks to see which former Big Ten players are excelling in the NFL, NBA and other sports. Rick Pizzo will be joined each week by Wisconsin’s Brandon Williams and Michigan’s Jon Jansen, two former Big Ten standouts who played in the NFL, as well as Russ Lande, The Sporting News’ NFL draft expert and former member of the Indianapolis Colts front office. Fans can stay updated on the progress of former Big Ten stars playing professionally by following the show’s Twitter account, @BTNNextLevel.

There is nothing like the excitement and anticipation on campus before a huge game in the Big Ten. Tailgate 48 will give viewers a 48-hour tour of the traditions, pageantry and atmosphere in and around the conference’s biggest games every Thursday starting in October at 7 PM ET.

Additional returning weekday primetime shows include The Big Ten Pulse (@BTNThePulse), which will air twice per week beginning this fall, Big Ten Football Breakdown, The Big Ten Women’s Sports Report, Big Ten Football in 60, Big Ten’s Best, The Big Ten’s Greatest Games, Big Ten Football & Beyond and Big Ten Football Report.

The weeknight primetime lineup is as follows.  New shows are in bold.  All times Eastern.

Mondays:
6:30 PM — The Big Ten Pulse (Rick Pizzo, Derek Rackley, Tim Doyle)
7 PM — Big Ten Football Breakdown (Mike Hall, Howard Griffith, Chris Martin)
7:30 PM — BTN LiveBIG (Dhani Jones)
8:30 PM ET — Big Ten Women’s Sports Report (Lisa Byington)

Tuesdays:
6 PM — Big Ten Football in 60
7 PM — The Next Level (Pizzo, Jon Jansen, Russ Lande, Brandon Williams)
7:30 PM — Big Ten’s Best
8 PM — Big Ten Icons (Keith Jackson)
9 PM — The Big Ten’s Greatest Games

Wednesdays:
7 PM ET — Big Ten Football & Beyond (Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo, Chris Martin, Teddy Greenstein and Andy Staples)
8 PM ET — Various Live Events

Thursdays:
6 PM — Big Ten Football in 60 – moves to 5 PM ET in October
7 PM — BTN Live (Revsine, DiNardo, Griffith, Glen Mason) – moves to 6 PM ET in October
7 PM — Tailgate 48 - starting in October
8 PM — The Big Ten’s Greatest Games
10 PM — Step Into My Office (Mike Hall)

Fridays:
6:30 PM — The Big Ten Pulse (Pizzo, Rackley, Doyle)
7 PM — Big Ten Football Report (Hall, Rosevelt Colvin, Tony Banks)
8 PM — The Big Ten’s Greatest Games

That’s going to do it.

NBC Sports Group Taps Jim Bell From “Today” To Produce 2012 Olympics

This just in from NBC Sports, we learn that Dick Ebersol protégé, Jim Bell, has been tapped to produce the 2012 London Olympics. Bell’s current duties are with the Today show as Executive Producer, but before he went to NBC News, he was with NBC Sports working under Ebersol on the Olympics from 1992 until 2004. He was hired by NBC News to become Executive Producer of Today in 2005.

Bell will take the position held by the former NBC Sports Emperor and helm all production of the Olympics. NBC says Bell will not leave Today and will add the Olympics to his duties. The announcement by NBC is seen below. For the Ebersol loyalists at NBC, it’s one way to keep the status quo for the Olympics instead of hiring someone from outside the network.

JIM BELL NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF NBCUNIVERSAL’S LONDON OLYMPIC COVERAGE

Bell Will Continue Role as Executive Producer of NBC News’ TODAY

NEW YORK – August 30, 2011 – Jim Bell, the executive producer of TODAY and a former NBC Sports & Olympics producer, will serve as executive producer for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group, announced today.

Bell, who will continue to oversee all aspects of America’s top-rated TODAY show news program, will have editorial oversight for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the London Olympic Games and will work extensively with Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics.

“Jim’s unique background in both sports and news at NBCUniversal makes him the perfect choice to lead our London Olympics production,” said Lazarus. “He knows the people at NBC Sports, the intricacies of the Olympics, and how to work within NBCUniversal. Jim’s leadership combined with the extensive experience of our existing Olympic production team — led by head of production Bucky Gunts, coordinating producer Molly Solomon, creative director Mark Levy, and executive editor Joe Gesue — has us well positioned to present the London Olympics in a manner consistent with the high standards that viewers have come to expect from NBC.”

Prior to joining TODAY in 2005, Bell spent 16 years with NBC Sports & Olympics. He has worked on every Olympic Games NBC has broadcast since 1992 in either sports (1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004) or news (2006, 2008 and 2010). His NBC Sports & Olympics career began in 1990 when he was hired to work in the profiles unit for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and concluded in 2004 when he served as coordinating producer for NBC Olympics, overseeing all aspects of nearly 100 hours of afternoon and late night Olympic programming during the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“It is an honor to return to the Olympics, the pinnacle of sports television. And for nearly 25 years no one has done it better than NBC, with innovative, comprehensive coverage and signature storytelling of the world’s greatest athletes,” said Bell. “It is especially exciting to be working with so many good friends and former colleagues on the 2012 London Summer Games.”

Bell won Emmys for his work on the 1992, 1996, 2000 & 2002 Olympics and a Peabody for NBC’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. During Bell’s tenure at TODAY, the iconic news program has extended its dominance in the morning ratings race to 15 years, earned five Emmys, seven Edward R. Murrow Awards and nine Headliner Awards.

“Jim’s unmatched talents producing both live news and sporting events reach from the control room to the studio and straight to viewers at home,” said Steve Capus, NBC News President. “He is at the helm of the strongest, most dominant team in morning television. With the success of the TODAY show, which has Olympic-production similarities on a daily basis, Jim has proven time and again that no one is more suited to handle both roles.”

Bill Carter of the New York Times has some background on Jim Bell and how he started with NBC. For some, it might be a surprise, but as I mentioned, Ebersol loyalists at NBC should be satisfied with the choice.

ESPN3.com Provides Coverage of FIBA Qualifying Tournaments

Starting today, ESPN3.com will be airing games in the FIBA Americas and FIBA European Basketball Championships. Both are qualifying tournaments for the FIBA World Championships and the Olympics. And when FIBA Americas reaches the semifinal stage, ESPN2 will pick up live coverage. ESPN2 will also have the gold medal game for the EuroBasket Championships.

We have the press release.

Full Coverage of the FIBA European Basketball and Americas Championships Live on ESPN3.com

Tipping off today, ESPN3.com will have exclusive live coverage – 130 games in all – of the FIBA Americas Championship from Aug. 30-Sept. 11 in Argentina and the FIBA European Basketball (EuroBasket) Championship from Aug. 31-Sept. 19 in Lithuania.  Additionally, ESPN2 will air the semifinals (Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. ET) and third place game (Sept. 11 at midnight; 9 p.m. PT) of the FIBA Americas and both gold medal games from the EuroBasket (Sunday, Sept. 19, at 12:30 a.m. ET) and Americas (Sept. 11, live at 8 p.m. ET).

ESPN.com will have full coverage on the NBA index page complete with tournament previews, team capsules, scoreboard and box scores, post-game coverage and daily live chats.  Bloggers from the TrueHoop Network will also contribute to coverage throughout the championships.

The biennial tournaments match up the men’s national teams from Europe and the Americas, respectively, against each other.  The championships also serve as the qualifying tournaments for the FIBA World Championship and the Olympic Games.  Notable NBA players featured in the FIBA EuroBasket Championship include Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman (Germany); Pau and Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez and Serge Ibaka (Spain); Tony Parker and Joakim Noah (France); Luol Deng (Great Britain); and Andrea Bargnani (Italy).  In the FIBA Americas Championship, Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola will represent the host country in their native Argentina, with JJ Barea playing for Puerto Rico and 2011 NBA lottery pick Tristan Thompson for Canada.

For ESPN3.com’s full FIBA Americas and EuroBasket schedules, click HERE.

I have another press release coming up.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Cycling
Vuelta a España, Race Review — Universal Sports, 10 a.m.

MLB
American League
Kansas City at Detroit — Fox Sports Kansas City/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
New York Yankees at Boston — MLB Network/WWOR/NESN, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet California/STO, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore — Rogers Sportsnet/MASN2, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago White Sox — Fox Sports North/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Texas — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Seattle — Fox Sports West/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
Florida at New York Mets — Fox Sports Florida/SNY, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Cincinnati — MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta — MASN/Peachtree TV, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 pm.
Colorado at Arizona — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers — Cox 4/KCAL, 10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at San Francisco — WGN America/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10:15 p.m.

The Rundown Live — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight Live — MLB Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
Breakfast at the Open — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m.

U.S. Open: Men’s & Women’s 1st round — Tennis Channel, 11 a.m./ESPN2, 1 p.m.
Primetime at the Open — ESPN2, 7 p.m.

U.S. Open Tonight — Tennis Channel, 11 p.m.

Track & Field
IAAF World Championships, Daegu, South Korea
Evening Session #4 — Universal Sports, 2 p.m.
Daytime Session #5 — Universal Sports, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
G4′s Proving Ground — G4, 8 p.m.
Cocaine: History Between The Lines — History Channel, 8 p.m.
Feherty: Luke Donald — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
Take The Money and Run — ABC, 9 p.m.
America’s Got Talent — NBC, 9 p.m.
United Tastes of America: Burritos — Cooking Channel, 10 p.m.
I Escaped: Real Prison Breaks: The Escapist — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
9/11: Where Were You? — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Web Therapy — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight

ESPN Kicks Off the 2011-12 College Football Season With 44 Games In Week 1

Can you imagine 44 games in a span of five days? That’s right, 44 games in five days spanning ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com. It begins with a Thursday night doubleheader on ESPNU and one game on ESPN, then the floodgates open on Saturday as ESPN’s family of networks will have 28 contests.

College GameDay will be live from Arlington, TX for the Cowboys Classic that will air Saturday night on ABC.

The 2011-12 season will mark two new things for ESPN. One, the new contract with the ACC giving SPN the rights to every conference football game. And two, its contract to air BYU games as the school went independent in college football for this season.

Here’s the ESPN announcement.

2011 College Football Season Kicks off Thursday

First Week of Season Includes 44 Games in Five Days, College GameDay from Arlington

ESPN will kick off the 2011 college football season with 44 games in five days across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com as part of the fourth annual Kickoff Week Sept. 1-5. The season will conclude with all five post-season Bowl Championship Series bowls, highlighted by the BCS National Championship Jan. 9, at 8:30 p.m. ET, on ESPN, ESPN3.com, ESPN 3D and ESPN Radio.

Schedule highlights

• The season will kick off with 11 games Thursday, Sept. 1, including an ESPNU doubleheader: Murray State at Louisville at 6 p.m. followed by Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky from Nashville at 9:15 p.m.
• ESPN3.com will offer exclusive coverage of 13 games and 37 games overall.
• First weekend will include two Saturday night telecasts pitting teams from the Associated Press top 25 preseason rankings against each other:
• No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU (in Cowboys Classic from Arlington) Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. on ABC
• No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 19 Georgia (in Kickoff Game from Atlanta) Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com
• Overall, the weekend will kick off with 16 teams from the preseason poll. Additional teams include:
• No. 2 Alabama against Kent State Saturday, Sept. 3 at noon on ESPN3.com
• No. 6 Florida State against Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, Sept. 3, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU
• No. 11 Wisconsin against UNLV Thursday, Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN3.com and ESPN 3D.
• No. 12 South Carolina against East Carolina Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.com
• No. 13 Virginia Tech against Appalachian State Saturday, Sept. 3, at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN3.com
• No. 14 TCU at Baylor Friday, Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com
• No. 15 Arkansas against Missouri State Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.com
• No. 18 Ohio State against Akron Saturday, Sept. 3, at noon on ESPN and ESPN3.com
• No. 22 Florida against Florida Atlantic Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on ESPNU
• No. 23 Auburn against Utah State Saturday, Sept. 3, at noon on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com
• No. 24 West Virginia against Marshall Sunday, Sept. 4, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com
• No. 25 USC against Minnesota Saturday, Sept. 3, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN2 and ESPN3.com
• A Labor Day telecast Monday, Sept. 5 will feature an ACC showdown and debut of two new head coaches: Miami with Al Golden at Maryland, led by Randy Edsall, at 8 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN3.com, ESPN 3D and ESPN Radio.

New elements

• ACC: The first year of a 12-year agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference providing ESPN extensive rights to games for Saturday, Thursday and Labor Day telecasts across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com.
• BYU: The first year of an eight-year agreement for exclusive rights to BYU home football games across multiple ESPN platforms. ESPN will televise the first game as an independent against Ole Miss Saturday, Sept. 3, at 4:45 p.m.

Goal Line and WatchESPN

• Second year of ESPN Goal Line – currently available to Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV customers – will include unlimited live cut-ins and highlights from numerous games every Saturday beginning at noon.
• Viewers can also watch live ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and ESPN Goal Line game action on smart phones or tablets through the WatchESPN app. The service – available to customers of Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV – gives fans the ability to watch ESPN’s live networks, no matter where they are.

College GameDay

• College GameDay – Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on ESPNU and 10 a.m. to noon on ESPN – will open the season Sept. 3 from Arlington, Texas, site of the Cowboys Classic pitting No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU (8 p.m. on ABC).
• Chris Fowler will return as show host with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. Erin Andrews will anchor several segments of the first hour on ESPNU and contribute reports, interviews and features during the ESPN portion. David Pollack joins as a contributor.
• The three-time Emmy Award-winning program is entering its 25th season and 19th consecutive year of originating from the site of one of the day’s best games or a game with the most compelling storyline.

2011 Season

The 2011 college football season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 3D, ESPN3.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Regional Television and ESPN GamePlan will total more than 400 regular-and post-season games, concluding with the entire Bowl Championship Series, including the BCS National Championship, on ESPN. The schedule will include weekly Saturday night games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, weekly ESPN and ESPNU Thursday night contests and telecasts every Friday and select Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, ESPN 3D, Longhorn Network and ESPN Radio Schedule

Note: All ABC split national, ESPN and ESPN2 games will be simulcast on ESPN3.com

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Thu, Sep 1	6 p.m.	Murray State at Louisville Rob Stone, Danny Kanell & Allison Williams	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	North Texas at Florida International Kevin Corke & Doug Graber	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Villanova at Temple Scott Graham & Chuck Cecil	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Western Illinois at Sam Houston State TBD	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Western Carolina at Georgia Tech Ryan Rose & Warrick Dunn	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Fordham at Connecticut Bob Picozzi & Christian Fauria	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	North Carolina Central at Rutgers Dave Popkin & Rob Harley	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	West Alabama at South Alabama TBD	ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	UNLV at No. 11 Wisconsin Rece Davis, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Jenn Brown ESPN 3D: Dave Lamont, Tim Brown & David Diaz-Infante	ESPN / ESPN3.com / ESPN 3D
	8 p.m.	Wake Forest at Syracuse Dave Weekley & John Bunting	ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Bowling Green at Idaho TBD	ESPN3.com
	9:15 p.m.	Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky (from Nashville) Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Cara Capuano	ESPNU
Fri, Sep 2	8 p.m.	No. 14 TCU at Baylor Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore & Samantha Steele	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Sat, Sep 3	Noon	Akron at No. 18 Ohio State Dave Pasch, Urban Meyer, Chris Spielman & Quint Kessenich	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	Noon	Utah State at No. 23 Auburn Beth Mowins, Mike Bellotti & Ivan Maisel	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	Noon	Northwestern at Boston College Rob Stone & Danny Kanell	ESPNU
	Noon	Kent State at No. 2 Alabama TBD	ESPN3.com
	12:30 p.m.	Appalachian State at No. 13 Virginia Tech Steve Martin, Dave Archer & Mike Hodgewood	ESPN3.com
	3:30 p.m.	Minnesota at No. 25 USC Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Shelley Smith	ABC and ESPN2 * / ESPN3.com
		Western Michigan at Michigan Mike Patrick, Craig James & Jeannine Edwards	ABC and ESPN2 * / ESPN3.com
	3:30 p.m.	Louisiana Monroe at No. 6 Florida State Pam Ward & Dan Hawkins	ESPNU
	3:30 p.m.	Troy at Clemson Joe Davis & Warrick Dunn	ESPN3.com
	3:30 p.m.	James Madison at North Carolina TBD	ESPN3.com
	4:45 p.m.	BYU at Mississippi Bob Wischusen, Bob Davie & Jessica Mendoza	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	Buffalo at Pittsburgh John Sanders & John Bunting	ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	Liberty at North Carolina State Darren Goldwater & Rene Ingoglia	ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	William & Mary at Virginia Dave Weekley & John Gregory	ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	Montana at Tennessee TBD	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Richmond at Duke Neil Solondz & Jay Taylor	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Army at Northern Illinois Shawn Kenney & Bob Chemeil	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Indiana at Ball State Jim Barbar & Adam Archuletta	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Florida Atlantic at No. 22 Florida Clay Matvick, Brian Griese & Allison Williams	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	East Carolina at No. 12 South Carolina TBD	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Missouri State at No. 15 Arkansas TBD	ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Austin Peay at Cincinnati TBD	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Elon at Vanderbilt TBD	ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Cowboys Classic: No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU (from Arlington) Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Erin Andrews	ABC / ESPN Radio
	8 p.m.	Kickoff Game: No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 19 Georgia (from Atlanta) Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Ohio at New Mexico State TBD	ESPN3.com
	10:15 p.m.	Colorado at Hawaii Dave Lamont & David Diaz-Infante	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	10:30 p.m.	Grambling State at Alcorn State Adam Amin & Jay Walker	ESPNU ** / ESPN3.com (at 7 p.m.)
Sun, Sep 4	Noon	MEAC/SWAC Challenge: Prairie View A&M vs. Bethune Cookman (from Orlando) Morgan & Jay Walker	ESPNU / ESPN3.com
	3:30 p.m.	Marshall at No. 24 West Virginia Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore & Quint Kessenich	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Sep 5	8 p.m.	Miami at Maryland ESPN: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox ESPN 3D: Joe Tessitore, Tim Brown & Ray Bentley ESPN Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad	ESPN / ESPN3.com / ESPN Radio / ESPN 3D

* Part of reverse mirror in which ABC’s split national telecast is televised regionally on ESPN or ESPN2 and ESPN3.com to markets receiving another game on ABC
** Same day delay

And that will do it.

Dick Enberg To Be Honored By International Tennis Hall of Fame

Coming up in September, legendary announcer Dick Enberg will receive the Eugene L. Scott Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. As this is Enberg’s last year for calling both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, Enberg will be honored for his contributions to tennis and his suport for the game. Enberg began calling tennis in 1980 and has continuously called Grand Slam events since then. He called his last Wimbledon for ESPN2 in June and will call his final U.S. Open for CBS in September. After this year, Dick will focus on calling the San Diego Padres as the team moves to Fox Sports West in 2012.

We have the press release from the International Tennis Hall of Fame and CBS Sports.

Sportscaster Dick Enberg to be honored for commitment to tennis at The Legends Ball

Enberg, a 13-time Emmy award winning broadcaster, will be presented with the Eugene L. Scott Award. The award will be presented at The Legends Ball, a gala social event during the US Open for the benefit of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

NEWPORT, R.I. — On Friday, September 9, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will gather hundreds of tennis enthusiasts and industry leaders at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City for The Legends Ball, an annual social event that celebrates tennis and honors some of the sport’s greatest champions and contributors. In addition to paying tribute to the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2011 inductees – Andre Agassi and Peachy Kellmeyer, who received the highest honor in the game on July 9 – the event will salute a great contributor and long time supporter of tennis, Dick Enberg.

Enberg will be presented with Eugene L. Scott Award which honors an individual who embodies Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and who has had a significant impact on the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point” until his death in 2005.  Previous recipients of the award have been: John McEnroe (2006); Andre Agassi (2007); Billie Jean King (2008); Arthur Ashe and his wife Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (2009); and Martina Navratilova (2010).

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Legends Ball is an opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding contributors to the sport of tennis who have played an instrumental role in its growth, and Dick Enberg is at the very top of that list. We are pleased to be able to say thank you at this very special event, and invite the tennis community to join us in doing so,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

Thirteen-time Emmy award winning sportscaster Dick Enberg is widely regarded as one of the most versatile, engaging sportscasters on the national level. In his 50-year career, Enberg has called sports ranging from all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments to NCAA basketball, NBA, NFL, MLB and PGA TOUR events. Enberg’s poignant delivery has brought a vivid impression of the energy and emotion of some of the biggest events in sports from courts, fields, and courses around the world to living rooms across the nation. He has been the voice of four Summer Olympics, Super Bowls, The Masters, The PGA Championship, the Breeders Cup and the four tennis Grand Slams— the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. In addition to his Emmy awards, Enberg has been named National Sportscaster of the Year nine times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and was inducted to that organization’s Hall of Fame. He was also recognized as Sportscaster of the Year five times by the American Sportscasters Association. He is one of just four sportscasters to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1989, Enberg was named Tennis Play-by-Play Man of the Year by Tennis Magazine. Enberg is retiring from the Grand Slam tournaments this year, after more than two decades of broadcasting the world’s most exciting tennis events. He will be focusing his energy on the San Diego Padres MLB team, where he is the play-by-play announcer. In September, Enberg will deliver his final US Open broadcast on CBS.

Former WTA Tour Pro and Emmy award winning broadcaster Mary Carillo will serve as master of ceremonies for The Legends Ball. A legendary line-up of tennis greats will be in attendance, including current players, Hall of Famers, officials from the ATP World Tour, WTA, ITF and Grand Slam tournaments and tennis fans from around the world. In celebration of their Hall of Fame induction, which occurred in July, speaking programs and video presentations will pay tribute to the one-and-only Andre Agassi, former world No. 1 and eight-time grand slam tournament champion, and Peachy Kellmeyer, an influential tennis executive whose vision, dedication and hard work has been a driving force behind the growth of women’s pro tennis since the 1970s. The evening will also feature a very special tribute presentation honoring the remarkable life and career of Hall of Famer and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, in recognition of the 25^th anniversary of his Hall of Fame induction.

Always a highlight of the evening, The Legends Ball auction will feature an array of exclusive experiences and luxury items that will excite tennis fans and non-tennis fans alike. In the past, auction items have included hit sessions with tennis luminaries Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Monica Seles; ticket and travel packages to Grand Slam events; golf at legendary courses like Winged Foot; autographed tennis memorabilia from Roger Federer and Andre Agassi; exotic vacation packages; and golf, baseball, hockey, basketball and football tickets and memorabilia.

Proceeds of The Legends Ball, which has been held annually since 1980, will benefit the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and support the mission of preserving the history of the game, honoring the legends and inspiring the future.

That is all.

NFL Films Airs Two Part Documentary With Pats Coach Bill Bilichick Wired For Sound

In September, NFL Films will air a two-part documentary focusing on New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Throughout the 2009 season, NFL Films was given full-season access to Belichick, wiring him for sound. This made Belichick the very first coach to ever be followed by NFL Films for an entire season.

NFL Films says it was able to get some exclusive footage of Belichick with quarterback Tom Brady during film sessions, plus it showed him prepping for the season.

The documentary will premiere on September 15 at 9 p.m. The second part will air the following Thursday at 10 p.m.

Actor Josh Charles (“SportsNight” and “The Good Wife”) will voice the documentary.

Here is the press release.

UNPRECEDENTED FULL-SEASON WIRING OF PATRIOTS’ BILL BELICHICK HIGHLIGHTS SERIES DEBUT OF A FOOTBALL LIFE ON NFL NETWORK

From the Shores of Nantucket to the Halls of Patriot Place, NFL Films-Produced Two-Part Documentary takes a Look at the Life of NFL’s Winningest Active Head Coach
‘Bill Belichick: A Football Life’ Premieres Thursday, September 15 at 9:00 PM ET

While the Patriots’ Lombardi Trophies speak for themselves, NFL fans can now get an intimate on- and off-the-field look at New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, who in 2009 was the first person ever wired for an entire season by NFL Films.

On Thursday, September 15 at 9:00 PM ET, part I of Bill Belichick: A Football Life debuts exclusively on NFL Network with part II airing in the series’ regular time slot of Thursday, September 22 at 10:00 PM ET. Belichick is the first subject of a new series by the Emmy Award-winning producers at NFL Films, offering untold stories into the lives of some the NFL’s most recognizable icons. Each documentary provides unprecedented access to each featured individual to tell the story of how their legacy is forever intertwined in the fabric of NFL history.

“Bill Belichick doesn’t only make history – he studies it; he understands his place in it; and he appreciates our desire to capture it,” said NFL Films President Steve Sabol. “Like Vince Lombardi’s Packers in 1967, Belichick and the Patriots gave us access to his football life and what we created is a portrait of the coach, the father, the taskmaster – and most importantly – the man.”

In the 2009 season, which marked Belichick’s 35th consecutive year in the NFL and the Patriots’ 50th Anniversary season, NFL Films documented sides of the three-time Super Bowl-winning head coach few have ever seen. While his unmatched record as a head coach makes him no stranger to the NFL record books, Belichick made history in the production of A Football Life by becoming the only coach to ever be wired for sound for an entire NFL season.

“This documentary would not have been possible without the support of Robert and Jonathan Kraft and the entire Patriots organization,” said Howard Katz, Senior Vice President NFL Media and COO of NFL Films. “Mr. Kraft is always searching for new ways to bring the fans closer to the game and this project was a perfect collaboration between the Patriots and NFL Films.”

Please click on the following link to view the trailer for Bill Belichick: A Football Life:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d821d0244/A-Football-Life-Bill-Belichick.

“It is beyond measure what NFL Films has done to promote football, preserve its history and entertain generations of us who love the game,” said Belichick. “When the legendary coach of the NFL Films team, Steve Sabol, approached us about capturing our 50th anniversary season in 2009, it was an honor to participate.”

Actor Josh Charles (CBS’ The Good Wife) lends his voice to the two-part documentary that begins with Belichick spending his last day of the offseason in Nantucket before reporting to training camp the following day. The 2009 Patriots, who welcomed the return of QB Tom Brady, faced a number of personnel changes from the front office to the field. Bill Belichick: A Football Life chronicles Belichick through the season in a variety of roles and situations including his last trip to Giants Stadium, game planning with quarterback Tom Brady, lighter moments with members of his team and family, and a look inside Belichick’s childhood during a visit with mother, Jeannette.

Airing exclusively this fall starting September 15, NFL Network debuts A Football Life – a new biography series offering a look inside the untold stories of NFL icons. Each installment focuses on the life and career of provocative subjects intertwined in the fabric of NFL history. Forthcoming episodes include: Late Philadelphia Eagles teammates and legends Reggie White and Jerome Brown; the incomparable Walter Payton and the storybook saga of Kurt Warner.

That’s it.

2012 ESPN’s ACC Men’s Basketball Schedule

Under its new contract with the Atlantic Coast Conference that takes effect this season, ESPN now has the rights to all men’s basketball games. ESPN has sold off some rights to cable syndication of which Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has signed on. Another package will be given to Raycom Sports under the guise of the ACC Network, but ESPN will keep the majority of the games for itself. That means the old Sunday Night Hoops package that had been with Fox Sports Net will be no more. ESPNU will now do a Sunday Night Basketball game that replaces Sunday Night Hoops.

ESPN will also have full national rights to both Duke-North Carolina matchups as well as all ACC Tournament games. Previously, Raycom would have rights to Duke-North Carolina and the ACC Tournament and have ESPN blacked out in the conference footprint. Now, ESPN’s broadcasts will be seen all over the ACC region without having Raycom broadcasts take precedence.

Here’s the ESPN press release.

ESPN’s ACC Men’s College Basketball Television Schedule

ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its 2012 men’s college basketball regular-season schedule for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com. ESPN and the ACC are beginning a new 12-year agreement for exclusive rights to every conference game. As part of the deal, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to offer the most games ever across the ESPN networks. Highlights:

• Full national telecasts on all games televised on an ESPN platform (had been local market blackouts on handful of telecasts), including of both regular-season matchups of the storied Duke-North Carolina rivalry each year;
• The new weekly ACC Sunday Night Basketball franchise on ESPNU;
• The continuation of ACC action on ESPN’s Super Tuesday, Wednesday Night Hoops, Thursday Night Showcase and Saturdays;
• The rights to every ACC Tournament game for distribution across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU (with no blackouts).

Through a new sublicense arrangement with ESPN, Raycom Sports will continue its long-standing position as the syndication home of ACC content for over-the-air and regional cable network distribution in the ACC market and beyond. As a result, every regular-season intra-conference game and the entire conference tournament will be produced and distributed via ESPN and Raycom Sports.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Network(s)
Sat, Jan 7	Noon	Duke at Georgia Tech	ESPNU
		Virginia Tech at Wake Forest	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	2:30 p.m.	Boston College at North Carolina	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	Florida State at Clemson	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	Miami at Virginia	ESPNU
Sun, Jan 8	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Maryland at North Carolina State	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 10	7 p.m.	Florida State at Virginia Tech	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Miami at North Carolina	Raycom / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 11	7 p.m.	Wake Forest at Maryland	RSN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Georgia Tech at North Carolina State	RSN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 12	7 p.m.	Clemson at Boston College	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Virginia at Duke	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 14	1 or 4 p.m.	North Carolina State at Wake Forest	Raycome / ESPN3.com
	2 p.m.	North Carolina at Florida State	ESPN / ESPN3.com
	3 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Boston College	RSN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Jan 15	1 or 4 p.m.	Georgia Tech at Maryland	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Duke at Clemson	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 17	9 p.m.	Maryland at Florida State	ESPNU
Wed, Jan 18	7 p.m.	Clemson at Miami	RSN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 19	7 p.m.	Wake Forest at Duke	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Boston College at North Carolina State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Virginia at Georgia Tech	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	North Carolina at Virginia Tech	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 21	Noon	Wake Forest at Boston College	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	2:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech at Clemson	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	Florida State at Duke	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Jan 22	Noon	North Carolina State at Miami	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Virginia Tech at Virginia	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 24	9 p.m.	Miami at Georgia Tech	ESPNU
Wed, Jan 25	7 p.m.	Florida State at Wake Forest	RSN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Duke at Maryland	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 26	7 p.m.	North Carolina State at North Carolina	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Boston College at Virginia	ESPNU
Sat, Jan 28	Noon	Wake Forest at Clemson	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	2:30 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Maryland	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Virginia at North Carolina State	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Jan 29	1 p.m.	Miami at Boston College	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Georgia Tech at North Carolina	ESPNU
Tue, Jan 31	7 p.m.	Clemson at Virginia	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	North Carolina at Wake Forest	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 1	7 p.m.	Georgia Tech at Florida State	RSN / ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Maryland at Miami	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		North Carolina State at Boston College	Raycom / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 2	7 p.m.	Duke at Virginia Tech	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 4	1 p.m.	Boston College at Georgia Tech	ESPNU
		Virginia at Florida State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Wake Forest at North Carolina State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	North Carolina at Maryland	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
		Clemson at Virginia Tech	RSN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 5	3 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Miami at Duke	ESPNU
Tue, Feb 7	7 p.m.	Maryland at Clemson	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 8	7 p.m.	Florida State at Boston College	ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Wake Forest at Virginia	RSN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Duke at North Carolina	ESPN / Raycom / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 9	7 p.m.	North Carolina State at Georgia Tech	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Miami	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 11	1 p.m.	Miami at Florida State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Virginia at North Carolina	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	Maryland at Duke	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		Clemson at Wake Forest	RSN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 12	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Boston College at Virginia Tech	ESPNU
Tue, Feb 14	7 p.m.	Virginia at Clemson	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 15	7 p.m.	North Carolina at Miami	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech at Wake Forest	RSN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 16	7 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Florida State	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	North Carolina State at Duke	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Boston College at Maryland	Raycom / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 18	1 p.m.	Florida State at North Carolina State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Maryland at Virginia	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	3 p.m.	Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech	RSN / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	Clemson at North Carolina	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 19	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Duke at Boston College	ESPNU
Tue, Feb 21	7 p.m.	Clemson at Georgia Tech	RSN / ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Miami at Maryland	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		North Carolina at North Carolina State	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Virginia at Virginia Tech	ESPNU
Thu, Feb 23	7 p.m.	Duke at Florida State	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 25	Noon	Virginia Tech at Duke	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	1 p.m.	Boston College at Wake Forest	RSN / ESPN3.com
	2:30 p.m.	North Carolina State at Clemson	Raycom / ESPN3.com
		Maryland at Georgia Tech	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	4 p.m.	North Carolina at Virginia	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 26	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: Florida State at Miami	ESPNU
Tue, Feb 28	9 p.m.	Duke at Wake Forest	ESPNU
Wed, Feb 29	7 p.m.	Maryland at North Carolina	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
		Georgia Tech at Boston College	RSN / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Miami at North Carolina State	RSN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Mar 1	7 p.m.	Florida State at Virginia	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Clemson	Raycom / ESPN3.com
Sat, Mar 3	Noon	Wake Forest at Georgia Tech	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	2:30 p.m.	Boston College at Miami	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	North Carolina at Duke	ESPN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Mar 4	Noon	Clemson at Florida State	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
	2 p.m.	Virginia at Maryland	Raycom / ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	ACC Sunday Night Basketball: North Carolina State at Virginia Tech	ESPNU

That’s all.