Several college football teams "might be the subjects of a new HBO program modeled around the network’s popular 'Hard Knocks' series," according to Theo Lawson of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. Arizona State-focused website DevilsDigest.com on Monday night reported that HBO had "chosen four college football programs to be highlighted in a show that will air later this football season." Alabama, Penn State, Washington State and ASU have been "targeted by HBO." WSU coach Mike Leach said, "We’re talking to them, but we haven’t nailed anything down yet." The show is "expected to include many of the same elements as 'Hard Knocks.'" A source said that HBO has "already held preliminary discussions about bringing a repurposed, shortened version of the 'Hard Knocks' show to WSU, though talks are ongoing and no contracts have been signed." The source "did indicate there’s a strong chance the show would be headed to WSU at some point during the regular season." Leach: "We want to share what we do with anybody and everybody, and we’re excited about opportunities like that." Asked if there would be anything he would not want on camera, Leach said, "I don’t really have a specific. ... Anything that distracts the team" (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 8/14).
Penn State's James Franklin would provide HBO with an entertaining coaching personalitygetty images
TIME WILL TELL: In Pennsylvania, Dustin Hockensmith wrote HBO has "found four vibrant coaching personalities" in Penn State’s James Franklin, ASU’s Herm Edwards, WSU's Leach and Alabama’s Nick Saban. However, it "remains to be seen just how much access the show will have and if it will strike the same tone as 'Hard Knocks'" (PENNLIVE.com, 8/13). Also in Pennsylvania, Josh Moyer noted Penn State intimated that the report "might be a bit premature." There is "no telling what week(s) the Nittany Lions might be covered." One potential candidate "could come" the week after WSU-ASU on Oct. 12, which would be the Oct. 19 “White Out” against Michigan (CENTRE DAILY TIMES, 8/13). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Andrew Bucholtz wrote there are a "few interesting potential elements here, from featuring multiple teams to doing this in-season." Many of the "current crop of these series in major college football have been heavily controlled by the teams themselves, which may not be the case if this lives up to its 'Hard Knocks-like' billing." That "might provide a more outside and sometimes-critical look at what’s going on" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 8/13).
