Did you guys see this one?

http://www.mlive.com/irish/grpre...1060.xml& coll=6
Bill | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 1:49 pm | #

We did, but Fiesta Bowl discussions are still a bit premature. I'm putting up the weekly stats post soon that will mention the myriad of records that are being threaten by this year's team.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 2:06 pm | #

Agreed - completely premature.

...But what if we win out?









Sorry. Had to.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 2:19 pm | #

Dead on with the intro music. Kudos to NBC bringing in HD equipment to broadcast the game though.
patrick | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 2:40 pm | #

The intro music is flat out putrid! The Notre Dame Victory March is the greatest college fight song in America, yet the NBC version is a tinty, cheesy guitar solo version of the fight song. The commercials are still way too long and the overall production value of the ND games is way below of what CBS produces. I've voiced my complaints with NBC numerous times over that last 3 years and nothing has changed, except HD.
The Butabi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 3:22 pm | #

Nice line on the intro music -- too wimpy, wrong decade on style. Maybe they would also start promoting the games a little better, too.
Kimberly | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 3:40 pm | #

NBC's whole production is a joke...

I'm sorry, but that Washington game ended just b/f 7 last week, making the game a MORE managable 3 Hours-ish...When was the last time an NBC home game ended b/f 7:30? Even though I love football, a 4 hour game (with each quarter lasting 45 minutes) is a HUGE reason the ratings have taken a hit
Bryan ND '02 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 5:16 pm | #

The MSU game was so long...
I took my kids to the Six Flags Great America Theme Park for 3 hours, getting to the park just as the broadcast was to begin. I got home in time to see ALL of the 4th Quarter.
Granted, I only live a couple miles away. But, geez.... You end up losing the sense of excitement/urgency with the length of the games and constant interruption of commercials.
Flash '87, '91 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 5:42 pm | #

i have to agree on the commercials/tv time outs. as bad as they are at home, i promise you that they're worse when your standing in the student section. i've fantasized about running down to the field to rip the arms of the fat guy with long orange gloves who signals for tv time outs. that would make a nice project for drinkthatdrink.blogspot.com.
just another fan | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 8:38 pm | #

Thank God. I thought I was the only one who despised the bastardization of our fight song for NBC's intro music. What were they thinking? Hasn't it been long enough? Change it!!!!
Chad | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 10:51 pm | #

I think the reason the NBC music sucks so much is because NBC has to at least feign neutrality. Yes, they have a deal with ND to televise their games, so its sorta like a theme, but its not like its an ND broadcast. In my opinion, either they should go completely blue and gold like Westwood One's broadcast, complete with the band coming onto the field for the intro music. or they should get a new non-nd song instead of the bastardization they have now.
tedwick | Email | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 11:10 pm | #

The announcers should be as unbiased as possible and the in-game interviews and commentary should reflect that.

On the whole, though, it IS an ND broadcast. I don't see how ND doesn't have the leverage to lean on NBC to clean up production quality, and to stop bastardizing their song.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 7:58 am | #

On the announcers, I do have to say that Hammond and Hayden do a pretty good job at being neutral. I think I had a natural dislike for Hayden because he went to 'SC, but I think he does a pretty good job.

The '89 ND-USC game was on ESPN classic recently (ND 28 USC 24, Scott "Pothead" Marinovich was the QB for the Condoms) and Haden was doing that game with Musburger. I was impressed how neutral he was even then.
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 11:22 am | #

Irish Rat, you've got to be kidding me. I watched the 5-hour Michigan State marathon.

ALL Hayden and Hammonds talked about was Brady Quinn even though Stanton was throwing and running all over us, and even though Michigan State was smashing us most of the game.

It was ridiculous. I understand that NBC is going to hype us and I expect some homerism, but ND looked like crap most of that day but all I heard about was how incredibly tough Quinn was.

I'll take bland Hammond and Hayden any day over Musburger and Kieth Jackson, but I would have thrown the TV out the window if I was a Michigan State fan two Saturdays ago.
Keenan 4-West | Email | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 12:04 pm | #