ESPN's Rece Davis has signed a multiyear agreement with the network through '21 that includes taking over full-time hosting duties from Chris Fowler for "College GameDay" in '15. The transition means Davis will relinquish his role calling Thursday night college football games for the net. Davis, who joined ESPN in '95, will again host the weekly CFP rankings show (ESPN). In Birmingham, Mike Herndon notes Fowler "has hosted the well-known college pre-game show for the last 25 years" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 2/6). SI.com's Richard Deitsch notes Davis will continue to "call select bowl games." With his contract "coming up for renewal and a strong reputation as a host and commentator, Davis and his CAA representatives were in a strong negotiating position." Meanwhile, Fowler's "surrender ... is not a shock" (SI.com, 2/6). Fowler tweeted, "Huge Thanks for kind tweets about @CollegeGameDay. Tremendous 25 yrs for me! I made decision year ago to shift my focus to PxP. ... Very happy for @ESPN_ReceDavis! The show will be in great hands" (TWITTER.com, 2/5). "College GameDay" Senior Coordinating Producer Lee Fitting: "Congrats @cbfowler on an amazing 25 yr run shaping @CollegeGameDay. You made an incredibly difficult job look so incredibly easy. Impossible to state what he's meant to the show and the sport. The gold standard of hosting. First ballot hall-of-famer. ... Congrats to @ESPN_ReceDavis. @CollegeGameDay is in awesome hands of an awesome talent. Can't wait to write the next chapter w you at helm" (TWITTER.com, 2/6).
PRAISE FOR DAVIS, FOWLER: SB Nation's Spencer Hall tweeted, "It's a 'sad to see Fowler go, but hell yes Rece Davis' kind of feeling." The AP's Ralph Russo posted, "Fowler said he had no intention doing double duty for long. I figured it'd be more than a year. Will miss him on GD, but Rece rocks too." FS1's Mike Hill: "So happy for my guy @ESPN_ReceDavis for taking over GameDay!! I've always said, the very best on air host they have." ESPN's Joe Schad: "Congrats to @ESPN_ReceDavis who is as humble, respected and sincere as he is talented."
