YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole noted UFC fighter Daniel Cormier "has been appointed the permanent co-host" of "UFC Tonight" with host Kenny Florian on FS1. Cormier "steps in to replace Chael Sonnen, who was fired after failing two random drug tests and then lying about it." Cormier "began working as a part-time analyst for Fox" at UFC 155 in December '12, and has done "studio work, pre-fight, post-fight and weigh-in shows for Fox since." He has "excelled, along with Brian Stann and Dominick Cruz in particular, and deservedly got the nod to replace Sonnen." The job will "give Cormier an option to fall back on when his fighting career ends" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/20).
THIRSTY THURSDAY: In San Diego, John Maffei notes while CBS' Bill Cowher is in the studio for "The NFL Today" on Sundays, he is "at the game site" for the net's weekly "Thursday Night Football" game. Cowher said, "Being on site has gotten my juices going. It's a different game when you're at the venues. You're on the field, talking to the players, coaches and officials. The intensity of being on-site again is electrifying." Maffei notes on Sunday, Cowher and the CBS crew "have to be up to date on every game being played that day." But Cowher said on Thursday he can "bear down on one game." Cowher: "The difference between Sunday and Thursday is night and day" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/22).
SOUTHERN COMFORT: The SEC Network this week announced its broadcast teams for the upcoming college basketball season, which includes 118 SEC games. Play-by-play commentators include Dave Neal, Tom Hart and Dave Baker. The net's analysts include Barry Booker, Dane Bradshaw, Joe Dean Jr., Tony Delk, Daymeon Fishback, Darrin Horn, Jon Sundvold and Will Perdue (SEC Network).
