ESPN PRESS CONFERENCE January 6, 2010
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January 6, 2010 and gaps in the line where running backs can get through, things like that. And we'll be using Snap ESPN PRESS CONFERENCE Zoom, as well, which takes us from the wide shot down to a close-up of a player and then back out to see how that player moves on the field. THE MODERATOR: Starting to my right, But other than that, we're primarily doing we have Dave Miller, senior coordinating producer what we do all year long on, again, our ABC prime overseeing all our college sports programming; time games and Saturday nights. That's it. then we have Burke Magnus, senior vice president BURKE MAGNUS: Thanks, everybody, of college sports programming -- actually Dave for coming out. Obviously this is an exciting time does production; then we have Brent Musburger for us here corporately to sort of ease into our new and Kirk Herbstreit, who will do play-by-play and relationship with the BCS. Beginning next year analysis on the broadcast of the game; and then we'll have the entire schedule of games on ESPN. Jon Gruden and Todd Blackledge, who will do To be able to have two games this year through ESPN Radio analysis of the game. our good friends at the Pasadena Tournament of I think what we'll do first is we will go to Roses in the Rose Bowl Game and the Dave who will provide a couple quick thoughts championship game here in California is special for about the overall production, and then we will have us to -- again, to get a jump start on our full new Burke Magnus talk about some highlights of BCS relationship next year. ESPN's college football coverage this season, and We had a very successful Rose Bowl at the conclusion of the on-stage portion of this, we Game the other day. I know many of you were will have over here on my left, we have a 3-D TV there, but the ratings were up substantially, 13.2 and we'll show some samples of our 3-D coverage national, which is a very strong number for us, and from X-games and our USC Ohio State broadcast we look forward to Thursday night. I think a tight earlier in the season. game there could end up in the high teens DAVE MILLER: Thanks, Mike. Good somewhere. So we've got our fingers crossed, as morning. We will be utilizing our Saturday Night always. When asked the question who am I College Football prime time crew on ABC, Brent rooting for, I say, I'm rooting for overtime, which and Kirk obviously; Lisa Salters on the sideline; would benefit us greatly in the audience delivery Tom Rinaldi will also be on the sideline. Primarily department. that entire crew that's been with that team all year But again, we're thrilled to be here, thrilled long will be covering the game. We'll have 28 to be able to pay off the championship of a sport cameras. We will have 30 playback sources. So that we take a lot of pride in presenting each week every camera will be iso'd, plus we will have our and treasure our position as a company and the tape machines building packages and elements responsibility that we have in presenting the sport throughout the game. of college football through the regular season. We have one ultra-mo camera during the We had a great regular season with ratings season, which is a super slo-mo that records at up on ESPN and ESPN 2 for the season. 180 frames per second. We have one of those The Bowl season so far has been during the season. We'll have three of those tremendous. A couple stats that I pulled for this, during coverage tomorrow night. We will be using with a couple games to go, one tonight in the ESPN Access, which we use on Monday Night GMAC and one tomorrow in the championship Football, which allows us to analyze the plays even game, we're currently up 6 percent on ESPN, with better by stopping a play and moving the camera 21 games in the house at a 3.2 rating, and we are from one vantage point to another and get us up 9 percent on ESPN 2 with our two-game closer to the field and take a look at passing lanes ESPN Press Conference - 01.06.10 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com schedule there at a 1.9 rating. and Nebraska, against two great defenses, and I At ABC with just the Rose Bowl, so we're think that the fact they've survived those two still awaiting a final number for The Cap One and games gives them some confidence coming into obviously the championship game, the Rose Bowl this game. If they can get through those two was up 44 percent over last year. So we're in defensive lines especially that they have what it great position overall. takes to be able to be productive. The Bowl audience delivery for us But I don't think necessarily that the continues to be very, very strong. It's a great way strength of schedule because it favors Alabama to pay off the season. Of our top 25 most-viewed necessarily favors them in the game. Bowl games ever on ESPN, seven of them came THE MODERATOR: For Coach Gruden, from this past season, from this year. So we've you've coached in the Super Bowl, which is the already delivered seven of our top 25 ever on biggest game in the NFL, and this is the biggest ESPN most-viewed Bowl games. Very happy. game in college football. So from your perspective I guess it must be the weather. I've been what do these two coaches do to prepare for this here for a week, but I hear the rest of the country is game and to keep their players focused on the pretty cold, so that obviously kept people inside task at hand? and delivered the numbers that I just reviewed. JON GRUDEN: Well, I think it's the bigger Happy to be here, and again, looking challenge for these guys because these are forward to Thursday and as a kickoff to our new younger players, and they might have a little bit relationship with the BCS beginning in 2011. more distraction because of their youth, plus Brent? they've had longer to prepare. We had a week BRENT MUSBURGER: It's a great before our Super Bowl game, and I think when you pleasure, and I thank all of you for coming out have 14 to 16 practices, sometimes you can willing to be a part of this. Somebody asked me for overkill your preparation. But I do think they've you and Herbie and Todd and Jon on the radio, taken advantage of their preparation, knowing this is going to be a tough game and a lot of Mack Brown and Nick Saban, and I'm sure they've pressure, and I said, this is the easiest game of the developed some of their young players. year. There's been so much discussion. We've Knowing these two coaches and two got two great teams playing for a National programs, the success they've had not only this Championship. There can't be any question about year but have sustained over a long period, I think who we've got playing in this game. At this point you're going to see the best of the Longhorns and when you're a little over a day away from it, you the best of the Crimson Tide. just can't wait for the ball to start tumbling in the THE MODERATOR: For Todd, you and air. Herbie? Kirk are the only two analysts that have actually THE MODERATOR: I'll ask each of the worked games involving both of these teams, so three analysts one question and then we can take from someone who's even both teams in person, questions from whoever has questions for them. who are the keys for each team to lead to victory? For Kirk, the strength of schedule is often used in TODD BLACKLEDGE: Well, the teams the debate on the best team. In a twist on that, are very similar in a lot of ways, particularly on the which of these two teams have played a schedule defensive side of the ball. I think the fact that Will that you think will best prepare them for a game Muschamp and Nick Saban have such a long against this opponent? relationship, their styles are very similar, I would KIRK HERBSTREIT: Well, if you compare say both teams have an SEC-style defense. what Alabama has had to go through playing in the Obviously Alabama, and I think Texas has the SEC and compare that to what Texas has gone same kind. through, I don't think there's any comparison. I You know, as far as keys, obviously for mean, Alabama has had a much tougher road to Texas they're going to have to protect their get here, even their last game playing against quarterback, and they're going to have to do a Florida and dominating the way they did. But I just good job of stopping the run and defending the run don't believe that necessarily gives an advantage of Alabama and try to put the game into the hands to Alabama just because they have had that tough of Greg McElroy and the passing game.