Over the weekend, there was this little gem about ESPN College Gameday/studio host and game announcer Kirk Herbstreit announcing he is moving from his home town of Columbus, Ohio--and the home of Ohio State University--to NashVegas of all places. He is being driven from his home base by a vocal minority of "relentless" Buckeye fans, who supposedly don't take too kindly to his non-homer, on-the-air TV posturing, and are calling for a more biased tone from the former Ohio State Buckeye QB and captain and current ESPN superstar. Listening to the story yesterday on Atlanta radio, the final straw was the vitriol has even spread to his wife and family when they are recognized out in public in Columbus.

Are you kidding me? Has college football gotten so out of control with hate that a vocal minority of a team's fanbase can cause such an abrupt decision to be made by the literal golden boy of your program? If we thought CFB ploitics here in the south were bad, we haven't seen nothin yet, apparently.

What might possibly be confusing these mishappen Bucks fans is the fact that Herbstreit does do local sports talk radio in Columbus from 1-3pm and they might be expecting what would logically be a more prominent OSU stance to carry forward when he goes on the tube in the fall on ESPN and ABC. And maybe that's too confusing for the average fan. Maybe this is ESPN's fault for not putting their foot down. They may have allowed Herbstreit to sink down from being a national CFB figure back to a local one. Regardless, you wouldn't expect this kind of behavior if he was doing afternoon drive time for and lived in Ann Arbor.

I like Herbie and think he does a great job at all of the tasks he's required to perform, whether it's co-hosting College Gameday, doing studio analysis, or actually providing color commentary during a game telecast. We all know he's an Ohio State alumnus and probably most of us still think of him as being pretty unbiased in that third job description, and isn't that all that matters while you're watching a game?

While it's hard to think of studio analysts as 'journalists', a game announcer would come the closest to qualifying if you meant to find someone ON TVand not in print. Analysts by definition come equipped with opinions, and opinions are rarely un-tinged with some bias.. However, some accuse networks of having an agenda, but seldom will you hear an individual accused of it. Regardless, Herbstreit doesn't fit that description in my opinion. While he's unabashedly proud to be a Buckeye during the appropriate times, I don't see any signs of homerdom when his journalistic credibility on the line. So how could that be a problem for a significant portion of Buckeye fans who have been so nasty to him of late?

Maybe it's hard for other CFB fans to understand because you don't have a personality in a similar position. I'd like to think that if my team did, we could support that person and realize that he has to serve some form of objectivity in his job performance and best serves the image of the university by being as professional as possible.  I would hope that we could be comfortable enough with his and our own fandomhood to realize that he doesn't have to cough out 'rah-rah' every few sentences as he speaks on air and still manages to represent the alma mater just fine.

Actually, no other school in the country has a similar predicament as Ohio State does with Herbstreit, with his vitality, omnipresence in the sport, and durability with TV and radio gigs. But since we're talking about ESPN, maybe another team might have someone close to a Herbstreit, and you wouldn't have to look far to find that would be Alabama and Rece Davis.

Yes, Rece never played football in Tuscaloosa, so probably a bad analogy there, and he directs the analysts in the studio with him rather than contribute alongside them.  But as a studio host, Davis must have more objectivity than the other talking heads and he performs that goal admirably. Even if the network gave him a true analyst or full-time announcing job I think that I'd trust him to cover even my team with spotless professionalism. Also, while Herbstreit's alma mater is widely known, I've never heard Davis's mentioned once on the air.

But what if Davis was more like a Herbstreit and did some off-season talk radio out of Birmingham or Tuscaloosa? Could Alabama fans, who are, respectfully, demanding at times, see the difference? Strangely, I think so. Call it southern manners or something equally vague, I think they would respect the differences between the homer and the professional and give him any leeway warranted. I think every SEC team would act similarly, with the possible exception of Florida.

But with this latest nastiness in college football now out front and center, perpetuated not by rival fans but by the same ones wearing scarlet and gray into 'The Horseshoe' every Saturday, where will it end? Certainly CFB is the most passionate sport in the land, but is it starting to get out of hand in this age of Twitter, sports blogs and the 24/7 news cycle? We are fond of saying that our sport is like a religion, but how soon will it be before we have to say that our sport is hate, and not the good old-fashioned kind?

Buckeye fans: most of you don't agree with this treatment of Kirk Herbstreit, but this one-two punch of Tressel-gate and Herbie the HateBug is the worst black eye for your program since the literal one given to a Clemson linebacker by Woody Hayes. Time for a reality check. If you can overcome finally beating a SEC team in a bowl game, getting your fan house in order should be easy as pie.

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In one of the strangest stories this year, ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, who had been secretly filmed nude in a hotel room by an unkown pervert and subsequently forced to endure the humiliation of having it posted on the internet, (which might have gone virtually unnoticed until the attorneys came into the game) has sat down with Oprah recently to discuss how she will begin to heal from this recent turn of events. For those of you who are Oprah watchers (Zac), this episode is set to air September 11th. For those of you who can't wait until then, Erin works this Thursday night at the South Carolina--NC State game.

She and her attorneys promise criminal prosecution and a hefty civil suit to the individual(s) responsible for this incident. Although unfortunate for her, one can't help but wonder what such an incident has already done to bolster her already megawatt media presence. Sometimes known as Erin Pageviews, in deference to her strong internet following, Erin should garner plenty of positive attention this fall as she slides back into her slot as being the hottest sideline reporter since Jill Arrington. And should tear therapy on Oprah not get the job done, perhaps we can book her an appointment with Dr. Lou?

He is licensed, right?

Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Student Athletics and University Affairs David Williams II:

"This is tremendous for our university, Coach (Bobby) Johnson's program and this great city...ESPN's decision to bring College GameDay to Vanderbilt speaks volumes about the outstanding job Bobby Johnson had done during his tenure and the student-athletes he has attracted into our football program. We're extremely pleased and excited about this announcement."

Commodores'Head Coach Bobby Johnson:

"I think it's great for our university, our fans, and our players and coaches...It's definitely going to add to the excitement level as we prepare for an important SEC game."

This couldn't have come at a better time given Vandy is 4-0, ranked for the second consecutive week for the first time in over 25 years and sits atop the SEC East standings with a 2-0 conference record. Johnson appears to have the Commodores primed for a divisional title run and a big win over Auburn in the national spotlight would be just the thing to catapult the historical SEC doormat into a top fifteen ranking.

ESPN College GameDay Appearances By School

Rank School Shows
1. Florida 28
2. Ohio State 22
3t. Florida State 21
3t. Michigan 21
5t. Notre Dame 18
5t. Oklahoma 18
7t. Tennessee 17
7t. Miami (Fla.) 17
9. Nebraska 15
10. Southern Cal 14

Note: The list takes into account that Corso and the gang roll into Gainesville this weekend for Steve Spurrier's favorite matchup.

Interesting that LSU, Georgia, Texas, West Virginia, and other traditional powers don't make the list. I guess that just goes to show how dominant Nebraska, FSU, and Miami were in days gone by.

In the segment, ESPN analyst Lee Corso predicts the winning team by donning the mascot head or gear of one of the competing teams. It's the culmination of the show, drawing cheers or jeers from the crowd depending on Corso's pick.

Aptly enough, "GameDay's" first show this season will be in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, an Aug. 30 matchup between the University of Alabama and Clemson University.

The move is significant for the chain of about 1,400 restaurants because it does little national advertising, choosing instead to focus on local and regional efforts.

College students, alumni and fans make a great audience for Chick-fil-A, said Steve Robinson, the company's senior vice president of marketing. "GameDay" and football tailgating create a lively atmosphere for marketing products, he said.

The agreement includes Chick-fil-A TV commercials during the show and a live shot of a Chick-fil-A fan interaction area. Event staff in "College GameDay" and Chick-fil-A co-branded uniforms will escort a crate carrying the mascot head for Corso's announcement.

OK, so maybe Corso won't wear the bovine burqua, but... it certainly sounds like someone is getting all dolled up in "co-branded uniforms" this season.

Ugh.

HT: Rusty in the Ville

A few highlights....

Champs Sports Bowl ... Virginia vs. Illinois
Meineke Car Care Bowl ... Florida State vs. Pitt
Texas Bowl ... Colorado vs. Rutgers
PetroSun Independence Bowl ... Nebraska vs. Arkansas
Alamo Bowl ... Michigan State vs. Kansas
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl ... Texas vs. Oregon
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl ... Wake Forest vs. Alabama
Chick-fil-A Bowl ... Boston College vs. South Carolina
Outback Bowl ... Michigan vs. LSU
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl ... Miami vs. Notre Dame
Capital One Bowl ... Penn State vs. Auburn
AT&T Cotton Bowl ... Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

Rose Bowl presented by Citi ... Wisconsin vs. USC
CFN is basically rubber stamping the winner of USC - Ohio State into the National Championship game. From the outcome of this prediction, I guess CFN is throwing in with the Buckeyes. This one looks dead on to me, unless USC ends up in the championship game, then this one becomes tOSU against the Sun Devils.

Allstate Sugar Bowl ... Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
By putting the Bulldogs into the Sugar, CFN is calling the WLOCP the defacto SEC championship. Take that as you will, Georgia fans. Va Tech looks like the class of the ACC, but CFN pulls them into the Sugar as an at-large. If there's one conference that has proven itself to be way to whacked out to predict, it's the ACC. I think Georgia/Arkansas are safe SEC picks, but give me Clemson from the ACC side.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl ... Missouri vs. West Virginia
The Fiesta gets its traditional first pick of the at-large teams and takes the 'Eers. I'm not sure that Missouri will be the Big XII champs. CFN is hedging, with Texas Tech as their second choice, but... I wouldn't count out the Sooners... ever. I think Oklahoma - West Virginia makes more sense.

FedEx Orange Bowl ... Clemson vs. Texas Tech
If there is one prediction that I think is off the mark, it's CFN's prognostication for the Orange. I would be willing to take the field here at any odds, because I don't see a Tigers - Red Raiders matchup in Miami. I think the Hokies are the most likely candidate here for the ACC, versus an at-large team. For my prediction, give me VaTech (ACC Champs) versus Arizona State (at-large) or maybe even Utah (at-large).

FedEx BCS National Championship ... Ohio State vs. Florida
The Buckeyes and Gators in the National Championship game... where have we seen that before? This one is just as likely to be USC-Florida, which would probably be the highest rated college football game ever. If Florida gets to the BCS title game and wins, I think you will have seen the last of #15 in orange and blue. Just sayin'.

"Virginia Tech is a special place and the community is one of the most respectful and passionate we have visited," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president of production. "Our coverage will be considerate of the emotional day facing the students, faculty, and people of Blacksburg and the country."

Virginia Tech football head coach Frank Beamer added, "Every time College GameDay has come to Blacksburg it has been exciting. This time, I think there will be a greater togetherness than ever before."

"As we embark on a new academic year and football season, we are very pleased that College GameDay will join us on campus for our season opener," said Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver.

Earlier reports by Scout.com and Cal Bears fans proved to be just wishful thinking.

The 2007 season-opener will be the GameDay crew's sixth visit to Virginia Tech.

Locations for the stage will be determined later this week and announced at the discretion of the University of Arkansas.

This will be GameDay's second trip to College Station, visiting for the 2000 Sooners-Aggies game (an Aggie win in a big comeback win for OU.).

Clemson will issue a press release after this weekend detailing locations for the ESPN radio and television crews for those fans that want to see the live broadcasts.

UPDATE: The ESPN GameDay broadcast stage will be located at Bowman Field the practice fields.

ESPN's last GameDay telecast from UF was for the 2003 Florida-Florida State matchup.

As always, play at your own risk - this one can be a doozie!!

The E.S.P.N. "College GameDay" Drinking Game

Rule No. 1: "My Friend." At the beginning of the game, someone must be designated as "My Friend." The host will choose which participant is My Friend and My Friend must sit to the host's immediate right. Whenever Lee Corso says, "Not so fast, my friend!" everyone except My Friend must finish his drink as quickly as possible. Whichever participant takes the longest to finish his drink becomes the new My Friend, because he followed Lee Corso's direction by being "not so fast." The new My Friend and the old My Friend then trade seats. Whenever Lee Corso says, "Not so fast, my friend, ___________-style," My Friend must put on an appropriate item of team-specific headgear (if the "not so fast" was "[team name]-style"), speak in an appropriate fake accent (if the "not so fast" was "[cultural or geographic reference]-style"), or do an impersonation of an appropriate coach or player (if the "not so fast" was "[coach or player name]-style").

Rule No. 2: "The Runt." Former "GameDay Final" panelist Trev Alberts landed himself in hot water by describing Ole Miss as "the runt of the litter." At the beginning of the game, in honor of Trev Alberts, someone must be designated as "The Runt." If there is one Ole Miss fan present, he automatically becomes The Runt. If there are two or more Ole Miss fans present, the most diminutive Ole Miss fan present is The Runt. If there are no Ole Miss fans present, the shortest fan of the school with the smallest enrollment is The Runt. Anytime a "GameDay" panelist makes a comment so asinine that it makes you reflect back wistfully on Trev Alberts's competence and sanity, you must announce, "I miss Trev," at which point The Runt gets to choose between (a) punching you in the arm or (b) making you take two drinks.

Rule No. 3: "Meeeechigan"/"Warshington." When Chris Fowler refers to Michigan as "Meeeechigan," everyone takes one drink. When Lee Corso refers to Washington as "Warshington" or to Washington State as "Warshington State," everyone takes one drink, except My Friend. However, if "Meeeechigan" and "Warshington" are referred to in the same segment (if, for instance, the subject of the 1992 Rose Bowl comes up), My Friend must finish his drink.

Rule No. 4: "The Greatest Ever." If any contemporary player, team, or game is declared "The Greatest _________ Ever," everyone takes one drink, except The Runt, who gets to punch anyone who is a fan of the player or team, or who watched the game, being touted as "The Greatest Ever." If the discussion of "The Greatest Ever" involves an interview with Pete Carroll or a Southern Cal player, everyone must finish his drink, except The Runt, who gets to punch everyone in the arm once.

Rule No. 5: "The Lean." If, prior to predicting the outcome of a particular game, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, or Kirk Herbstreit makes reference to a given statement being indicative of a "lean," everyone must lean 45 degrees to the right and take one drink. If anyone falls over while leaning, My Friend drinks what is left of his drink, because, hey, what are friends for?

Rule No. 6: Lou Holtz. Anytime Lou Holtz mentions Notre Dame while discussing a game in which Notre Dame is not playing, everyone takes one drink. If he does it twice in the same segment, everyone takes two drinks, and so on until the end of the segment. If you try to speak and you find that you sound like Lou Holtz, stop drinking and have someone call you a cab.

Rule No. 7: Rece Davis. When Rece Davis says a player has logged on and is "part of the gone network," everyone takes one drink. When Rece Davis makes a popular culture reference that you don't get, you must announce, "I don't get it!" then take three drinks. The first person to explain the reference to you takes one drink. All other players take two drinks.

Rule No. 8: Jim Donnan. Anytime Jim Donnan appears on screen, all Georgia fans present must finish their drinks and all Florida, Georgia Tech, or Tennessee fans must raise their glasses in salute to Jim Donnan before taking one drink. Anyone who is not a Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, or Tennessee fan must listen to Jim Donnan's analysis and take as many drinks as necessary to feel as drunk as Jim Donnan sounds.

Rule No. 9: Shillin'. Whenever Chris Fowler previews an E.S.P.N. noon game between middle-of-the-pack Big Ten teams before previewing a more significant game on C.B.S. or N.B.C., everyone takes one drink during each commercial break until the more important game on another network is discussed.

Rule No. 10: Mark May. Whenever Mark May attributes a substantial degree of a team's success to its offensive line, everyone takes one drink. Whenever Mark May says something and Lou Holtz replies, "That's a good point," everyone takes one drink. Whenever Mark May says something and Lou Holtz replies, "That's a good point," then goes on to disagree with Mark May's point, everyone takes two drinks. Whenever Mark May predicts that Georgia will lose its next football game, all Georgia fans present must finish their drinks.

Rule No. 11: Desmond Howard. If you can't understand what Desmond Howard is saying, take one drink. If you're pretty sure he's making a good point, despite your inability to understand what he is saying, take two drinks.

Rule No. 12: Kirk Herbstreit. If your wife or girlfriend comments on how good looking Kirk Herbstreit is, you must take one drink and your wife or girlfriend must take two drinks. If your wife or girlfriend expounds upon this in greater detail (e.g., "I like it better when he's calling the Thursday night games with Mike Tirico, 'cause he looks so cute when he's wearing his glasses!"), you and your wife or girlfriend must each finish your drinks and you must ask, "Do any of you know a good therapist for couples' counseling?" If anyone knows a good therapist for couples' counseling, that person automatically becomes My Friend and The Runt gets to punch the new My Friend in the arm once.

Rule No. 13: Keith Jackson. Whenever Chris Fowler sends the show out to Keith Jackson for a preview, everyone must do a Keith Jackson impersonation. The last person to say, "Whoa, Nellie!" must take one drink.

Rule No. 14: Brent Musburger. Whenever Chris Fowler sends the show out to Brent Musburger for a preview, the rules of The Brent Musburger Drinking Game apply during the preview, with My Friend serving as "Gary My Man" and The Runt serving as "The Pardner."

Rule No. 15: Theme Song. While the "College GameDay" theme song is playing, the first person to say, "I miss Bubba Sparxxx," must take one drink. Anyone who voices his disagreement must take one drink while The Runt punches him in the arm.

Rule No. 16: Holly Rowe. If Holly Rowe starts to look good to you, stop drinking.

Rule No. 17: Lee Corso. If Lee Corso predicts that your team will win its next football game, you must finish your drink, pour yourself another drink, finish that drink, and let The Runt punch you in the arm nine times. If Lee Corso says something that makes sense to you, stop drinking immediately and never drink again.

�It is an extreme honor to be the first HBCU football classic to be highlighted on College GameDay,� said Dr. Ralph Slaughter, the Classic�s coordinator at Southern University. �This game is one of the best sports experiences in America, not just black college sports.

�The Bayou Classic is much more than what happens on the gridiron,� said Dr. Angelia Weaver, the Classic�s coordinator for Grambling State University. �It's about the history, tradition, fierce competition and a fight for national bragging rights for the year,� she added.

Hat tip to Fanblogs Tipster 'Rock the Swamp'