SEC Network host Paul Finebaum on Saturday night "will do a version of his popular radio show" on the network during the same window of its broadcast of Auburn-Alabama, according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. The special is titled "Finebaum Film Room: Iron Bowl Live," with Finebaum "hosting a call-in show throughout the game." The call-in show "will start after the conclusion" of SEC Network’s airing of Tennessee-Vanderbilt, and viewers will "see both Finebaum's set and the live game concurrently on their screens." ESPN Senior VP/Programming Acquisitions Burke Magnus said, "We hope fans will call in and you can get fan reaction as the game is going live. ... Paul is sort of the cornerstone voice of the network in a lot of ways, from his daily radio show to his work on SEC Nation. It is something we have not tried before and we felt like this was unique to the SEC" (SI.com, 11/24). An SEC Network spokesperson said that the show, beginning around 7:45pm ET, will be "similar to the BCS Film Room megacast aired last year, but callers will be part of the mix." In Birmingham, Michael Casagrande noted former Alabama QB Greg McElroy and ex-Auburn OT Cole Cubelic "will also be part of the broadcast" along with SEC Network personalities Marcus Spears and Booger McFarland. The crew will "analyze the game as it happens with touchscreens and telestrators" (AL.com, 11/24).
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT: SI.com's Deitsch noted CBS had broadcast the last six Iron Bowl games, but thanks to a "crazy year in the SEC ... ESPN will air the famed game once again." There also is a "contractual limit to the amount of times one school can appear on any network." As they "looked ahead at the schedule in early November," CBS Sports execs such as President David Berson "ultimately had a decision to make" between the Nov. 15 Mississippi State-Alabama game or the Iron Bowl. When they "ultimately made their selection, Mississippi State was the No. 1 team in the country and facing a one-loss Alabama team." For the Iron Bowl, "at best, they would have had a one-loss Alabama team against a two-loss Auburn team." Berson said, "We felt the Mississippi State-Alabama game was the most anticipated matchup of the year and the buzz and ratings (10.3 million viewers) seem to indicate that as well" (SI.com, 11/24).
