In Phoenix, Jeff Metcalfe reports ESPN NFL analyst Herm Edwards is set to become Arizona State's new football coach if school President Michael Crow "agrees with the selection." Crow is "returning from a trip to Asia and will meet with Edwards" and ASU VP/Athletics Ray Anderson over the weekend. When Anderson was an agent, before working as an NFL exec, he "represented Edwards." Edwards has been in his current role with ESPN since '09 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/30).
KEEP IT SIMPLE: In Cincinnati, C. Trent Rosecrans noted there will be "one fewer voice on Reds broadcasts as the team did not renew the contract of Jim Kelch" for '18. Kelch had been with the team since '10, "serving on both radio and television broadcasts." Reds Senior VP/Business Operations Karen Forgus said, "Our goal is mostly to simplify, fewer people doing games." Forgus said that the rest of the TV broadcast crew made up of Marty Brennaman, Thom Brennaman and Jeff Brantley are "under contract" for '18 (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/29).
MR. SMITH GOES TO THE PITS: Racing reporter Jeff Gluck noted former NASCAR driver Regan Smith will become Fox' "newest pit reporter" next season. Former pit reporter Chris Neville "will not return." Smith made 13 starts in the Camping World Truck Series this season, which means he "brings a current driver’s viewpoint to his analysis." That "worked well" when Smith served as an analyst on FS1's "Race Hub" and worked an Xfinity Series broadcast last season at Iowa. The new pit reporter role for Smith "will be for both Cup Series and Xfinity broadcasts" on Fox (JEFFGLUCK.com, 11/29).
ADDING A VOICE: Cowboys radio play-by-play voice Brad Sham said new CBS analyst Tony Romo has "great enthusiasm" in the role, which is "natural, you can't fake it." Sham: "He has tremendous knowledge and an unusual ability to translate that knowledge into the short time frame he's got." He added, "He's doing better than a lot of people thought. ... He's going to keep getting better" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/30). Meanwhile, former NFLer Greg Jennings will make his broadcasting debut Sunday for Fox' coverage of Buccaneers-Packers. Jennings will join play-by-play announcer Tim Brando and sideline reporter Jennifer Hale for this Sunday only (Fox).
