Why are college football announcers so much better than NFL announcers (1 Viewer)

[FunkyPlutos]

Every time I watch a college football game, I am impressed with the announcers (or at least not upset with them), especially when I compare them to NFL announcers. I know there are a billion threads on here talking about favorite and least favorite NFL announcers, and I am not impressed at all with very many NFL announcers, but I am always intrigued by the insight that the college announcers seem to bring with enthusiasm and knowledge. Most are former players and coaches (although there are a lot more coaches than broadcasting NFL games) and Herbstreit is the best by far, IMO.

Am I the only one that feels this way, if not, why is there such a disparity? Surely the NFL or the networks can find better guys than the ones they have now. Can't they?

 

[dudaman]

Well, for one - the pool of available announcers is way bigger - meaning there is more talent in the college ranks. The NFL tends to go for start power over pure talent.

 

[NoDigg41]

Well, for one - the pool of available announcers is way bigger - meaning there is more talent in the college ranks. The NFL tends to go for start power over pure talent.

Good points.The NFL has a few elite PbP guys, and a bunch of retired, often jaded former NFL players with biases and grudges adding color commentary. On the college level you have a lot of insightful former coaches and a veritable plethora of broadcasters trying to make their marks. They watch tape, study press guides and anything that will make them knowledgeable about the team and game they're calling.The NFL announcers are blow hards who are convinced they know everything about everything and have stat geeks to pump them info during the game. They are there for exposure and to keep their names and stories nobody really cares to here about out there. Some of them are really, really bad, but have names people know, so they stay employed!Guys like Collinsworth, Theismann, and Esiason, at least as a Steeler fan, are far too biased and over-critical.

 

[Bankerguy]

Well, for one - the pool of available announcers is way bigger - meaning there is more talent in the college ranks. The NFL tends to go for start power over pure talent.

Good points.The NFL has a few elite PbP guys, and a bunch of retired, often jaded former NFL players with biases and grudges adding color commentary. On the college level you have a lot of insightful former coaches and a veritable plethora of broadcasters trying to make their marks. They watch tape, study press guides and anything that will make them knowledgeable about the team and game they're calling.The NFL announcers are blow hards who are convinced they know everything about everything and have stat geeks to pump them info during the game. They are there for exposure and to keep their names and stories nobody really cares to here about out there. Some of them are really, really bad, but have names people know, so they stay employed!Guys like Collinsworth, Theismann, and Esiason, at least as a Steeler fan, are far too biased and over-critical.

 

[cr8f]

Because they don't try and entertain with hollywood types so much. The media in general is horrible these days.

College sports are more pure sports.

 

[roadkill1292]

Could be as simple as the college guys having more fun with their games than the pro guys. An NFL game is all about not making a mistake because the cost and criticism that comes with it can be unbearable. The college game is all chaos and gambling and screwups, i.e., the stuff that's more fun.