The AP's Arnie Stapleton noted ESPN's Beth Mowins is preparing to become the "first woman in 30 years to call an NFL regular season game" when she calls Chargers-Broncos in Week 1 of "MNF." To prepare, Mowins "teamed up" with Rex Ryan to "call the Florida State spring game." The pair "will work the Buccaneers-Jaguars preseason game Aug. 17 and the Giants-Browns game four days later for practice." Those calls "will be taped but not broadcast." Mowins also has "visited the Chargers’ and Broncos’ training camps." Mowins: "I understand the significance of it and the importance of this moment and I hope there are a lot of young girls and young boys out there who not necessarily see me as a play-by-play announcer but as a kid who had a dream and had wonderful support from family and friends to pursue that dream and put in a lot of sweat equity to get the opportunity. And I don't worry too much about any place in history" (AP, 8/2).
TAKING TIME: The Titans announced that former NFLer Frank Wycheck will "not continue" as the team's color analyst for game day radio broadcasts on WGFX-FM this season. However, Wycheck "plans to return" in '18. Former Titans assistant coach Dave McGinnis will "replace Wycheck for the upcoming season." Wycheck "has a history of concussion issues, which caused him to miss a game last season" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/3).
DUCK HUNT: In Portland, Andrew Greif noted former Oregon football coach Mark Helfrich is "joining Fox Sports as a college football analyst for the upcoming season." Sources said that Helfrich will "work as an analyst in the booth" during games this fall (OREGONLIVE.com, 8/1).
HELUVA ENGINEER: In Atlanta, Ken Sugiura noted Georgia Tech football radio analyst Roddy Jones will "begin work" as an ESPN sideline reporter this fall. Jones in '14 "got a break by being named the analyst" for the GT radio team after playing at the school. Jones is a part of "one of eight teams that will be assigned to either ABC or ESPN Saturday games" (AJC.com, 8/1).
