FanHouse KirkHerbstreit

In 2004, Kirk Herbstreit -- the Ohio State quarterback turned ESPN analyst -- bought a home in Columbus, then allowed it to be burned to the ground. Sounds strange, until you hear the details: He and his wife wanted to build a new place on the lot, the local fire department wanted to burn down a house to give firefighters some intense but safe training, and Herbstreit had been told the IRS would consider the whole thing a tax-deductable charitable donation.

Everyone wins, right? Not quite.

Have you ever been watching a football game with your wife or girlfriend and gotten annoyed by the fact that she keeps commenting on the quarterback's rear end? Doesn't she know that the only ogling to be done during a football game is of the cheerleaders?

Well, if your woman gets on your nerves while watching a game, you probably don't want to watch a game with Missouri's Chase Daniel either.


Whether or not Daniel's approval of Colt McCoy's ass will help swing Heisman votes in Colt's favor remains to be seen.

(Pat on the well-sculpted ass of ESDBS)

I kept hearing "23 years" this, "23 years" that, based on the length of time that it has been since the University of Florida Gators, keepers of The Tebow, formerly of the Old Ball Coach and recently of a National Championship, beat the University of Miami.

It's fairly shocking to believe that it's even humanly -- or Tebowly -- possible for two powerhouse teams located so close hadn't played each other since the 2004 post season, although that does mean that very few people involved in the action tonight actually had anything to do with either team the last time they played.

And it also gives a semi-logical explanation for why that streak has stayed intact as Miami has fallen from grace and Urban Meyer -- who wasn't around either -- has pushed Florida back into the upper echelon of college teams.

Not helping matters is the fact that Florida was a 21 point favorite (and with good reason, seemingly) but the halftime score -- nine to three (again, coaches, typing the score out = poor offensive performance) -- kind of held out a little hope for a close game.

Don't blame Tebow though; as Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews and anyone else with a microphone or a camera in their face pointed out, it was just the rest of the Gators looking slovenly in the first half and failing to meet the WonderKid's expectations.

With about 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Alabama - Clemson "game" (if you can call it that) Brent Musberger said that, to paraphrase, the "good thing about this loss" is that the can still win the ACC Championship, which was their ultimate goal.

He and Kirk Herbstreit went on to debate whether or not that was a legitimate possibility, given the fact that Clemson has, up to this point, been getting freaking pummeled. And I'm sure that's a reasonable question, along with the the debate as to whether the ACC deserves to play football this year.

But the bigger issue I have is that Burger just pulled a Billy Packer and said that the game was over ... in the third quarter. And Clemson only down three scores. Personally, Packer's "over" statement in the Carolina - Kansas game didn't bother me outside the jinx possibilities of having the Tarheels come back, but it bothered a lot of sponsors.

So I'd at least like to see Brent, who is, like Billy, a ranting old school homer in the announcing booth each week, get some short of chastising for what equates to the exact same thing. I have to imagine that Chik-Fil-A, who coughed up a ton of money for this game, probably took notice. So, Brent, if you wake up and there's a giant tomahawk chopping cow staring in your Atlanta hotel room, you'll know why.

... as the knives are sharpened in Bristol ...

In an interview with the Detroit News about ESPN's botched "Les Miles to Michigan" call:

[Herbstreit's report] was wrong on so many levels. As a former player, unless I spoke to that coach and he told me it was cool, I would never have done that because he was still coaching a team that's about to play in a (SEC) championship game. ... His team, the first thing they saw when they woke up was that report. It was not fair to him and not fair to the players.

He's got a point given that he's on Michigan's search committee and literally spends every Saturday with Herbstreit. All it would have taken was a simple call to a well-placed colleague to add another layer of proof.

Are Howard's days at ESPN numbered after this? Who knows, but Maize N Brew nicely outlines the college football zeitgeist at Bristol ca. 2008.

I'll be curious to see if there's any fallout from this one. Herbstreit really is the face of Game Day at this point and is clearly being groomed to take over as ABC's lead commentator for college football, if he isn't already. He's the golden boy and Howard just took him to task.

The World Wide Leader in Sports is known to have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to dissent. Desmond is a good, but by no means irreplaceable commentator. It will be interesting to see if Desmond's comments do more than just kick a dead horse.

At least it wasn't Lee Corso, I guess. In today's Dayton Daily News, the very handsome Kirk Herbstreit unloaded on the Bengals for any number of reasons, all in an effort to make the point that USC's Sedrick Ellis wouldn't be a good fit in Cincinnati because he has great character.

"I don't know if he fits in Cincinnati because he's too good a character. And yet, is he going to fall into the great abyss of the Cincinnati Bengals or is he going to be able to overcome that?"

Herbstreit was just getting started, apparently. He also had some choice nuggets for how the team has handled the Ocho Cinco fiasco:

"It's an embarrassment to this point ... I've been a Bengals fan my entire life, and I really feel at this point - I'm a big Marvin Lewis supporter and fan - but I think he and the staff have created the situation that they're in with Chad Johnson.

"I don't feel pity. I don't feel sorry for them. They kind of had rules for the team and then rules for Chad. This is where you are. Everybody has to be treated the same. In my opinion, this team is back to where we were four or five years ago."

Now all that's left to do is hire Dick LeBeau, trade for Jon Kitna, and get Corey Dillon out of retirement. Commence slow-motion train wreck.

Cue the chorus of "there's nothing better to do in Nebraska," as news comes that the Nebraska spring game is expected to be a sellout.

General admission tickets are no longer being sold for the April 19th scrimmage. But the Nebraska athletic department said Wednesday that about 1,000 reserved obstructed-view seats are available under the balconies on the east and west sides. Cost is $10.

When the remaining tickets are gone, about 65,000 will have been sold. Sports information director Keith Mann says a crowd approaching capacity of 81,000 should be on hand after complimentary and general admissions are added to the total.

The record spring game crowd was 63,416 in 2005.

Nebraska fans are apparently extremely excited to see what Bo Pelini can do with the Huskers after picking up the pieces following Bill Callahan's demise. In addition, I'm sure ticket sales also benefited from the recent news that the team has been running some option during spring practices. With Tom Osborne back as athletic director, a new coach and a quasi-return to the option, this could be the most exciting activity for the red-and-white people since ESPN's All-time Greatest College Football Playoff allowed them to stuff the internet ballot box (and irritate Kirk Herbstreit) on behalf of their Huskers.

But even with their record showing, limited seating capacity means Husker fans will fall short of the amazing gauntlet thrown down by 'Bama fans a year ago.

There's quite a lovefest going on in the world of college football surrounding Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini. The Illini are ranked for the first time in six years, and are tied atop the Big Ten standings with Ohio State. There's legitimate talk of a conference title and trip to the Rose Bowl going on in Champaign. Even running back Rashard Mendenhall is having his name mentioned when it comes to talk of the Heisman.

It seems that Illinois is on the verge of becoming an actual football program. The only thing that could make it official would be if the Gameday crew came to town. Wait a second, what's that you said? Oh, no way!

While Zook, his staff and his players try to stay focused on this week's opponent, some university officials have no choice but to look ahead to the following game, Oct. 20 at home against Michigan.

ESPN already has contacted Illinois about the possibility of bringing its popular GameDay show to Champaign. And while nothing is certain, a visit from hosts Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard would bring a rock-show atmosphere to Memorial Stadium.

First Erin Andrews comes to town for the Wisconsin game, and now Lee Corso could be coming!? Oh what a joyous time to be alive and living in Champaign, Illinois!

This would be huge for Illinois as a program. Ron Zook and his staff are already fantastic recruiters, but now the school is going to start getting national exposure, which will only make Zook's job easier. If he can convince players like Arrelious Benn to pass up big time programs to come to a school that only won two games the previous season, just imagine what he can do with a winning program.

LSU @ Miss. St. | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Rejoice! Well, sort of. The SEC nuts will enjoy this matchup, the rest of us will have to squint at Mississippi State and hope there's maaaaaybe a bowl team in that roster. Whatever, at least college football's back and we're here to merrily observe. Today is our Christmas and no matter the gifts we're darn well going to enjoy it.

Fear not, CSI ("Loco Motives") and The Office ("Women's Appreciation") fanatics: tonight's episodes are re-runs and you can catch up on Season III of The Office on the soon-to-be released DVD (September 4th). So stick with college football as it's OPENING NIGHT. You gotta be here with us, just set your recorder.

Vitals, storylines and pregame notes below. LIVE BLOG commences at 8 Eastern (after the jump). Bring on the cowbells!

Vitals
- (No. 2 AP) LSU at (Unranked) Mississippi State (8 Eastern) ESPN

- LSU is favored by ~ 20 points

- Announcers: Chris Fowler, Doug Flutie, Craig James and Erin "Poopsie" Andrews

- Harmon Forecast: LSU 32, Mississippi State 11

- Phil Steele Facts LSU: LSU has won 7 straight, 14 of L/15 vs MSU, outscoring them 250-43 in the last 6. MSU gained 153 of their 226 total yds in 2H LY vs LSU's 2nd & 3rd string defense.

- Phil Steele Facts Mississippi State: Mississippi State is just 1-14 vs LSU since 1992. The average score of the last 6 games has been LSU 42-7. The Bulldogs have lost 7 straight SEC openers.

Pregame Notes (continuously updated)

ESPN has reshuffled its Thursday night crew, shelving Herbstreit and adding Flutie and James ... Tonight's nationally televised undercard is Tulsa at Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN2) ... notable teams playing tonight: Rutgers (vs. Buffalo), Louisville (vs. Murray State), Boise State (vs. Weber State) and Oregon State (vs. Utah) ... LSU won this game last year 48-17 ... Mississippi State rushed for just 14 yards while LSU quarterbacks completed 19 of 23 passes for 338 yards ... I think LSU coaches are still shocked that Joe McKnight isn't part of this Tiger team as they walk into the stadium ... ESPN's calling this "Thirsty Thursday" ... Definitely an SEC game as it's LOUD already in pregame ... First Erin Andrews sighting ... Ok kickoff, continued after the jump!

Score one for the FanHouse: we saw this coming more than a month ago. ESPN has hired former Miami coach Larry Coker to call games. Unfortunately, they buried him at ESPNU.

Personally, I'd rather have him in the studio given the glowing praise sent his way by the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly:

Television networks are making a HUGE mistake by not hiring Larry Coker to be a college football analyst. Coker's the funniest person in sports I know, and boy does he have some stories to tell. He's such an honest man I'm sure he'd share all his dirty laundry to the nation. The funniest thing about Coker is the fact that he couldn't tell a lie to save his life, or at least a good one. We in the media often found it comedic the way he'd always confess in the middle of his attempts to deceive. That characteristic is way out of the norm of today's head coaches.

Aaaargh! ESPN got this half right.

A mixed bag from the same AP story:

[Doug] Flutie will join Craig James and Chris Fowler in the booth for ESPN's Thursday night matchups.

Flutie's good in the booth, worse in studio so that's alright. James is better left out of the studio as well, but I'll miss last year's harmonious Thursday night crew of Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and Erin Andrews. Things just won't be the same without Kirk Herbstreit around to call Erin Andrews his little poopsie.