Not much change in the rankings, Brando talks colorful Lee Corso and late Keith Jackson plus Week #7
By Tim Brando 10/12/2022
In 1987, our original College GameDay mantra was “Let’s create today’s CFB narrative!”
When Beano Cook, Lee Corso, Karie Ross (Karie, being Dave Dombrowski’s wife, the current GM of the Phillies) and I would meet. We’d do so as “Breakfast with Beano” at the Holiday Inn in Plainville (next door to Bristol). It was the theme!
For me, it was simple. What are we gonna learn today. If there’s one comparison to then that’s alive today it’s just that! (Tim Brando and broadcast partner, Spencer Tillman – left)
Fast forward, as we get to Week #7, were I still a Studio Host, I would call today “Shake Down Saturday!” Meaning we’re gonna weed out the pretenders from the contenders. It happens in every time zone in virtually every Conference.
This week in the SEC, is Tennessee for real? In the BIG12 is TCU all that it’s cranked up to be? We’ll find out against Oklahoma St. In the PAC12 the Trojans are the brand, but until they prove it on the road in Salt Lake City against Utah, there’s a big question mark. Is it real or just Media Hype? In The BIG 10 we’ll get our first answer when Michigan finally gets a true test against improved Penn St.
I’m only scratching the surface here, and at the halfway point of the season the evolution of teams is incredible to watch.
Case in point, our game at The Rose 🌹 Bowl last week where UCLA announced to the CFB World that Chip Kelly’s back as an influencer – in the sport. Spencer Tillman and I had the best seat in the house, and were convinced! Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a Heisman contender as he led the Bruins to its biggest win since Kelly arrived in Westwood. This week Henden Hooker of Tennessee gets that chance against of all teams Alabama!
One last note. While in Pasadena for the very first time, in the Keith Jackson Broadcast Center at The Rose Bowl, the sports history engulfed me in ways it hasn’t in all the cathedrals I’ve visited. His statue outside, dedicated in 2019, was a reminder of how he shaped the narrative of the entire sport for generations. Viewers had few choices in the 1970s and early 1980s. Keith’s dulcet tone was a steady every Saturday that filled millions of homes
Keith’s Birthday is October 18th he would have been 93. May God Bless The Big Hoss of CFB Broadcasting!
