Fox Sports has hired a pair of prominent former college football coaches. In other news, ESPN’s Ed Cunningham resigned from the network citing player safety concerns, and CBS says Tony Romo got a handful of practice games in before the regular season.
Les is More For Fox
- Fox Sports has hired former LSU coach Les Miles and former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as college football game analysts this season, it was announced yesterday. Miles will work select games, making his debut on Northern Illinois-Nebraska September 16, while Helfrich will have a full schedule. Miles had been long sought after by ESPN and previously agreed to join the network’s opening weekend coverage — making guest appearances on tomorrow’s Ohio State-Indiana “Megacast” and Saturday’s SEC Nation on SEC Network. Per Awful Announcing, he will still appear on those broadcasts. [Fox Sports PR, Awful Announcing 8.29]
ESPN’s Cunningham Resigned Citing Player Safety
- ESPN college football analyst Ed Cunningham resigned from the network earlier this year over concerns about player safety, he told The New York Times in a piece published Wednesday. Cunningham, who had been with ESPN since 2000, told the Times that he does not think football “is safe for the brain” and that he can “no longer be in that cheerleader’s spot.” He made the decision, which he had been considering for years, the day ESPN’s recent layoffs were announced. ESPN has replaced him with newcomer Tommy Tuberville. [NYT 8.30]
Romo Got Reps Before Debut
- Lead NFL on CBS analyst and broadcasting neophyte Tony Romo has worked eight practice games leading up to the regular season, including three on-site, it was revealed at the NFL on CBS Media Day Wednesday. Romo did not get to work a preseason game, as he was pulled from his scheduled Chiefs-Seahawks assignment last Friday to attend the birth of his child. He will make his TV debut on Raiders-Titans in Week 1. Jay Cutler, who was to make his broadcasting debut for Fox Sports before a last-minute return to the NFL, recently said he did not practice for his role. [Richard Deitsch/Twitter 8.30]
