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Tim Tebow Impresses In Debut As Game Analyst; Musburger Missed During Semis

Tim Tebow "made his first appearance as a game analyst" for ESPN's coverage of the TCU-Ole Miss Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and he "didn’t take long to make an impression," according to Des Bieler of the WASHINGTON POST. Just a minute into the contest, TCU "ran a trick play," and Tebow "was all over it." As soon as TCU QB Trevone Boykin "flips the ball laterally" to WR Kolby Listenbee, Tebow called the play: “Double pass.” It appeared Tebow had "already foreseen the result," as he called "touchdown" immediately. Bieler: "The ball hadn’t even left Listenbee’s hand when Tebow flatly proclaimed that a score was imminent, and sure, enough, the Horned Frog hit teammate Aaron Green in the end zone" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/31). The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly tweeted, "Got to admit. I like Tim Tebow as an analyst a lot more than I like him as a quarterback." SB Nation's Spencer Hall tweeted of the on-air team of Tebow, Brock Huard and Joe Tessitore, "Tebow and Brock and Tess in the booth is real, though. Keep that, ESPN." Sporting News' Matt Hayes: "Tebow is actually really good as an analyst. He's not as good as Brock, who is hugely underrated, but he's good."

CAPTAIN KIRK
: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir noted ESPN game analyst Kirk Herbstreit late in Oregon's blowout win over Florida State in the Rose Bowl "declared unequivocally that the Seminoles had 'quit' and had 'shut down the operation.'” Sandomir: "That was a fairly strong accusation about the defending national champions" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/3). CBS Sports' Seth Davis tweeted, "Herbstreit was at his best tonight. Said the Seminoles quit and called them out for not shaking hands. Pointed without being mean spirited." The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre: "Herbstreit showing why he's 1 of the best: ripping FSU players - '70%' for walking off, no hand-shake. Said late 3rd/early 4th that FSU quit."

MISSED OPPORTUNITY?
 The N.Y. TIMES' Sandomir wrote ESPN's Brad Nessler and Todd Blackedge "were operating at different levels of speed and efficiency" during the Sugar Bowl broadcast. Nessler "was laid-back to the point of near-somnolence (or boredom), while Blackledge was quick with informed analysis that suggested he could have worked alone." Someone "more eager and exciting in the ESPN stable -- Sean McDonough? -- should have such an important assignment" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/3). In Boston, Bob Ryan wrote, "Listen to all the various network broadcasters in all sports and then tell me if any of them are better than Sean McDonough" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/4).

MUSBURGER MISSED: SEC Network's Brent Musburger called the Georgia Tech-Mississippi State Orange Bowl, but his absence from one of the two CFP semifinal games was definitely noticed by observers on Twitter. Fox Sports' Jimmy Traina wrote, "Not having Brent Musburger call one of the playoff games today is absolutely criminal." Bulls radio announcer Chuck Swirsky: "Why isn't Brent Musburger calling a playoff game?" CBS Sports' Davis: "I have always respected and liked Brad Nessler, but I'm surprised Brent Musburger is not doing this game. He still has his fastball." Deadspin's Timothy Burke: "Nessler's fine, but this game begs for one Brent Musburger." The N.Y. Times' Sandomir tweeted, "Nessler just gave Todd Blackledge a Musbergerian 'pardner.' The absence of Brent haunts this game." Boston-based WBZ-FM host Adam Jones tweeted, "Fowler has been downright terrible tonight. Demoting Musburger is/was a travesty" (TWITTER.com, 1/1).

RISING TIDE
: SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote he was impressed by SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy’s "ability to dissect plays on the fly" during the "Finebaum Film Room" for the Ohio State-Alabama Sugar Bowl. The "most impressive example: A couple of seconds prior to Alabama quarterback Blake Sims throwing a killer pick-six in the final quarter, McElroy recognized Alabama was in trouble by its formation and said on the air that it should 'call timeout.'” McElroy has a "very bright future as a game or studio analyst" (SI.com, 1/4). 

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