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Play-by-play man Mark Jones and analyst Rod Gilmore had the call for last Saturday night’s Tennessee-South Carolina game on ESPN2. The duo had a lot to take in, particularly some dubious decisions by both Butch Jones and Will Muschamp before the Gamecocks eventually prevailed, 24-21.
After Tennessee scored a touchdown with 7:03 left to get within 3, the Gamecocks burned more than 3 minutes over six plays. On Tennessee’s next play from scrimmage, Joshua Dobbs threw an interception, which allowed South Carolina to run the clock down before the Vols began their drive with 30 seconds to go.
Six plays later, Aaron Medley missed a 58-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Tennessee fans were unhappy with the result, but on Twitter, Volunteers backers seemed to be more upset with what Jones and Gilmore had to say:
Rod Gilmore just said South Carolina can "burn clock" on fourth down.@awfulannouncing
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) October 30, 2016
That targeting has apparently concussed Rod Gilmore also.
— Jonathan King (@jonathanvking) October 30, 2016
Oh god Rod Gilmore is going to break his mind tonight attempting to rationalize the decisions of Butch Jones and Will Muschamp
— Rush Roberts (@DrNorrisCamacho) October 30, 2016
Rod Gilmore is insufferable. #TENNvsSC
— The Coonskin Cap (@TheCoonskinCap) October 30, 2016
Rod Gilmore says Tennessee's season just turned "very sad." That's about right.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) October 30, 2016
At one point, Gilmore apparently mispronounced the name of Tennessee defensive lineman Shy Tuttle. Tennessee fans on Twitter didn’t miss that malaprop:
"Evan Turner and Shuttle." Mark Jones and Rod Gilmore are drunk.
— VOLS?? (@VolBlood) October 30, 2016
Rod Gilmore just called Shy Tuttle "Shuttle."
— Nathan (@2Fast2Nathan) October 30, 2016
Rod Gilmore called Tennesee's Shy Tuttle "Shuttle." Which I get, but.
— Andy Hutchins (@AndyHutchins) October 30, 2016
Not mad about Musburger or Palmer
Jesse Palmer and Brent Musburger were ESPN2’s broadcast team for Auburn’s 40-29 win at Ole Miss last week. Let’s just say that according to some viewers, Palmer and Musburger weren’t exactly a winning combination:
https://twitter.com/Tidefan2164/status/792545545801850880
https://twitter.com/AustinKramer2/status/792515882626879488
Brent Musburger is as bad as Vern Lundquist or worse
— Trent Adair (@CoachTAdair) October 29, 2016
The fact that I have to listen to Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer call this game tonight really puts a damper on my day
— HT (@HThompson6) October 29, 2016
Does Brent Musburger know he's at a #football game? Does he know what he's talking about? #AUBvsMISS #Auburn
— Kara Kennedy (@KaraKennedy) October 30, 2016
Vitriol for Verne
Verne Lundquist, who is in the midst of his final season as CBS’ play-by-play man for SEC games, called his final Florida-Georgia matchup last Saturday. And even though Lundquist has been a broadcaster for more than 50 years — a couple of viewers apparently aren’t going to let him walk away with some dignity:
https://twitter.com/MattyIceNichols/status/792454752948719616
https://twitter.com/Michael__Stone/status/792500035820720128
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
