Release

NO. 3-RANKED ALABAMA TAKES ON NO. 12-RANKED FLORIDA IN PRIME TIME ON CBS SPORTS’ COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRIPLEHEADER ON SATURDAY, OCT. 1


ACTION KICKS-OFF WITH AIR FORCE AT NAVY, FOLLOWED BY
AUBURN BATTLING NO. 10-RANKED SOUTH CAROLINA

AUDIBLES with CBS Sports’ Lead College Football Analyst Gary Danielson

CBS Sports’ national college football coverage continues with a tripleheader on Saturday, Oct. 1 featuring a primetime match-up between unbeatens as *No. 3-ranked Alabama takes on *No. 12-ranked Florida (8:00 PM, ET). The tripleheader begins with Air Force at Navy (12:00 NOON, ET), followed by Auburn battling *No. 10-ranked South Carolina (3:30 PM, ET).


Play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle along with analyst Randy Cross handle the call from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. for Air Force-Navy.  Lewis Johnson serves as reporter. Ken Mack produces and Chris Svendsen directs.  Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein call the action, along with Otis Livingston reporting for Auburn-South Carolina from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.  Steve Scheer produces and Jim Cornell directs.

 

The CBS Television Network's lead college football announce team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson call the action live from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Tracy Wolfson serves as lead reporter. Craig Silver, the Network’s coordinating producer of college football, produces and Steve Milton directs.

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, provides coverage throughout the day on CBS Sports with host Tim Brando, along with analyst Spencer Tillman. Vin DeVito produces and Linda Malino directs. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

CBS Sports Network provides post-game coverage with SEC TONIGHT (7:00-8:00 PM, ET) immediately following Auburn-South Carolina. Brent Stover hosts and is joined by analyst Brian Jones and reporter Bruce Feldman.    

 

Following Saturday’s game, CBSSports.com will air the “5th Quarter with Gary Danielson,” an interactive show produced live from the SEC ON CBS CRUISER, an all-access mobile media vehicle fully outfitted with the latest technology. The “5th Quarter with Gary Danielson” provides fans an opportunity to chat with Danielson and discuss all the day’s SEC storylines and college football news.  Fans can also follow Danielson via Twitter: @DanielsonCBS.

 

 In addition, CBS Sports will stream Air Force-Navy, Auburn at South Carolina  and Alabama-Florida, as well as the entire 2011 SEC ON CBS football schedule live on CBSSports.com. The games are available exclusively on CBSSports.com, CBS Sports Mobile and can also be accessed through a link on the websites of all CBS affiliates.

 

*AP Poll as of 9/26/11


AUDIBLES with CBS Sports’ Lead College Football Analyst Gary Danielson

 

(On Alabama-Florida)

Alabama has won the last two years because they were able to run the ball and Florida could not.  Charlie Weis will not be intimidated by Nick Saban’s defensive schemes. But will he be able to produce yards between the tackles with two scat backs?  Field goals will be as valuable as touchdowns, but Florida must not allow a non-traditional score to Alabama’s defense or special teams.

 

(On Alabama)

With 18 starters returning, we knew Alabama was set up to be one of the top teams in college football this season. However, this 2011 team might be Nick Saban’s best at Alabama.

 

(On Alabama’s Defense)

Barring injuries on defense, Alabama’s only weakness may be complacency. Last year’s inexperience has morphed into this year’s strength.  Middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower is fulfilling his potential now that he is completely recovered from his 2009 knee injury. He has size, power, speed and the smarts to run Nick Saban’s defense at the same level as Rolando McClain did on his way to becoming a national champion and first round NFL Draft pick.

 

(On Florida’s Offense)

Aside from spread offenses, I've never seen an offense built around two small speed backs. Look for Florida to use their tight ends (Trey Burton and Jordan Reed) like the Patriots use Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, to attack the linebackers and safeties and stay away from the cornerbacks.  

 

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CBS Sports Contact:

Dan Sabreen     212-975-5936     dsabreen@cbs.com