Criticizing the broadcasters: Dejected Brent Musburger & more
Whenever SEC Network play-by-play man Brent Musburger calls a game, there’s always a chance you’ll hear a subtle or not-so-subtle gambling reference. During last Sunday’s Georgia-South Carolina broadcast, it’s not what he said about the Bulldogs scoring a late touchdown, but how he sounded when he said it.
With less than two minutes left, South Carolina scored a touchdown to make it 21-14. Depending upon the bookie, the Gamecocks were getting between 7 and 8 points, so at that point they were covering the spread.
South Carolina followed up with an onside kick, and had Georgia recovered it and fallen on it, the Gamecocks more than likely would have covered. But Terry Godwin recovered the kick and returned it for a touchdown.
Did Musburger have South Carolina plus the points? Check out how dejected he sounds while Godwin returns the kick.
Apparently a lot of Twitter users were wondering the same thing:
Laughing so hard at Brent Musburger's call on that onside kick TD. He was so dejected. Had to be on South Carolina +7.5.
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) October 9, 2016
"There are a lot of people wide awake for this extra point." – Brent Musburger as USC pulls to within 7 w/1:40 to play
UGA -8 – Love Brent— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 9, 2016
Brent Musburger….SMH.
— Lee Rogers (@LeeRogersTeam) October 9, 2016
Is it me or is Brent Musburger just a little to excited that USCjr scored?
— Mike (O|||||||O) (@mkkden) October 9, 2016
I honestly think Brent Musburger is drunk…#UGAvsSC
— Coach Jamey McMahan (@jameymcmahan75) October 9, 2016
As fate would have it, the Godwin play wasn’t the only mesmerizing Musburger moment. He also called Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason … Jason Eason:
https://twitter.com/EvilMelTucker/status/785226944006746112
Brent Musburger was awesome in the 70's and 80's. This is where we are now, he just called Jacob Eason, Jason Eason….in the 4th quarter.
— Andy Crowder (@CrowderCa) October 9, 2016
Brent Musburger just called JACOB Eason, "JASON EASON"….that man needs to retire. #UGAvsUSC
— Roxas Rose (@EvanFields04) October 9, 2016
Did I just hear Brent Musburger call Jacob Eason, "Jason Eason", a minute ago?
— Bailey “Bulldog” Barker (@BBarker88) October 9, 2016
Yeah, I hit rewind and Brent Musburger did say JASON Eason. Time for him AND Verne to hang it up?
— tre spear (@spearIII) October 9, 2016
Rough day for Verne and Gary
CBS Sports’ Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson had the SEC’s marquee game of the week – Tennessee at Texas A&M – but not the best game broadcast-wise. On one play, Lundquist thought the Aggies’ Trayveon Williams had the ball and got a first down when QB Trevor Knight had it – and didn’t convert.
Lundquist also referred to Williams as A&M teammate Christian Kirk on another play. And both he and Danielson didn’t mention anything about a fumble on Evan Berry’s kickoff return until about 30 seconds after the fact.
But what rankled some viewers was Danielson linking Tennessee with pixie dust:
https://twitter.com/jlbryan3/status/784908501772402688
https://twitter.com/MasonBric/status/784907535312564224
https://twitter.com/hopingforachang/status/784903250923417606