I realize I was particularly sensitive during the game, but Matt Millen drove me absolutely crazy. Why have a Penn State alum broadcast a Penn State football game? I would understand if he worked for the Penn State Network. I blame BTN more than I do him. You really can't expect the guy to be arbitrary. He seemed to go out of his way to look for things to compliment Rutgers to create some balance. He went as far as saying that he was impressed with Laviano. I swear, if he said "Say Say" Barkley one more time, I was going to throw my remote through the TV screen.
BTN Broadcast of RU-PS Game and Matt Millen
- Thread starter rutexan84
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I put on the AM radio and listened to Ray Lucas and Chris Carlin. They were a few seconds ahead of the broadcast, but that was fine for me, and kind of cool, because I could look out for what they just announced. Ray was particularly critical of tackling, and they did not do any kind of summary at the end. When Carlin brought up Barkley and Blacknall, Ray said something to effect that he did not want to talk about them.
Millen was biased but we had Shawn O'Hara broadcasting vs Michigan last season.
There were about 50 things to be more displeased about on Saturday night than Matt Millen.
There were about 50 things to be more displeased about on Saturday night than Matt Millen.
I thought Millen was much more objective than I expected him to be at the start of the broadcast.
Felt like a giant advertisement for Penn State. Did not help that we played Washington Generals role to a tee.
"I thought Millen was much more objective than I expected him to be at the start of the broadcast."
Actually, the one aspect in which I was most confused was how he kept praising Laviano as going to be a good QB, despite NEVER mentioning the fact that every pass was about 6 yards deep. That seemed very strange to me. Not sure he was saying it from a Penn State perspective or not, but how could an analyst fail to mention the lack of any long or even medium passing game?
Actually, the one aspect in which I was most confused was how he kept praising Laviano as going to be a good QB, despite NEVER mentioning the fact that every pass was about 6 yards deep. That seemed very strange to me. Not sure he was saying it from a Penn State perspective or not, but how could an analyst fail to mention the lack of any long or even medium passing game?
Look, it's the BTN network. I expect stuff like that. You want B1G guys on the BTN network.
But, I agree, Millen was particularly horrible. "I remember coach Paterno..." about 20 times.
I literally turned off volume. No joke.
But, I agree, Millen was particularly horrible. "I remember coach Paterno..." about 20 times.
I literally turned off volume. No joke.
I always thought that McMillen was a good booth guy, very knowledgeable about exes and ohs in general, but not necessarily knowledgeable abut talent. That was evident when he left the booth to be Detroit Lions GM.
He is not a good broadcaster, but I did not have a problem with him being a homer.
When I saw that Millen would do the game, I watched with the sound off. He's pretty good but when it's PSU he can't help himself, I knew I would get irritated so just didn't listen to the broadcast. Bottom line with this game, RU got manhandled at the LOS. I think PSU is a mediocre team and RU is pretty bad right now. The program may need to bottom out so the changes that need to be made will be made and we can have a program to be proud of....off and on the field. I can deal with 6-6 , if there is no off field nonsense. Right now ..it looks like maybe 3 - 4 wins this year unless something drastic occurs ..which I don't see happening.
I was screaming at the TV all game because of Millen. It infuriates me when a guy pretends to be unbiased but then every chance he gets he is pumping his chest out about PSU. Every controversial call he took PSU's side. Just call the game. I though he was a shade better than Dilfer.
I didn't see any so-called bias. Just like I didn't last year when Shawn O'hara was in the booth for the Penn St. Game at Rutgers. I think some people just decided he was going to be pro-Penn St before the game.
I thought Millen was fine. But his broadcast buddy was a disaster. The guy was wildly enthusiastic for psu. Maybe his mother works there.
Which is totally true.
There are reasons that certain credos last for 100 years. They're, you know, based in the truth.
I thought Millen was fine.
I agree. The color guy was a disaster.
The best was when Millen reads a text from his son (an Army officer) saying that if the guy made another family joke about Millen he was gonna kick his ass. lol.
The guy was genuinely apologetic for the rest of the night
agreed. I think he did a good job being objective. Of course he knows more about PSU and even had family ties to the RB that killed us... but what are you going to do? Millen did okay... his partner.. NOT.
No. In that case, it's the responsibility of the PS and Michigan fans to get mad.
YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY! MILLEN WAS RIDICULOUS IN HIS PRAISE FOR LAVIANO. TO THE POINT OF LYING.. .LAVIANO STINKS. MILLEN WORE RED....JULIE PAID HIM OFF.
This is a problem that you're going to see with a conference network that is naturally going to hire former players to broadcast games, from a majority of their schools. Iowa has one of these guys (Chuck Long), and it was recently reported on our board that his contract only allows him to do one Iowa game per year, and he has to wear a neutral color tie during the broadcast. I thought that was so ridiculous that it couldn't possibly be true, but then I watched a replay of an Illinois game where their former LB J Leman was doing the game, and sure enough, neutral-colored tie.
The bottom line is that if it's a CONFERENCE matchup, then the network needs to go out of their way to make sure that the announcers are neutral. I would hate to tune into an Iowa game and see some former player from another team playing the over-the-top homer announcer role. However, if it's a NON-CONFERENCE game, each school should have an alum/former coach on speed dial that can sit in the booth and be the homer voice for that team. Many schools in the league already basically have this set-up. It's the Big Ten Network, we should be able to have a little fun on that end.
The bottom line is that if it's a CONFERENCE matchup, then the network needs to go out of their way to make sure that the announcers are neutral. I would hate to tune into an Iowa game and see some former player from another team playing the over-the-top homer announcer role. However, if it's a NON-CONFERENCE game, each school should have an alum/former coach on speed dial that can sit in the booth and be the homer voice for that team. Many schools in the league already basically have this set-up. It's the Big Ten Network, we should be able to have a little fun on that end.
Having seen a number games analyzed by Millen, he usually gushes unnecessarily over one or more of the opposing team's players. It appears to me that he is trying to compensate for his PSU ties. probably human nature.
Also, on the family ties with Barkley, they went to the same High School.
Also, on the family ties with Barkley, they went to the same High School.
I'm a PSU fan and I thought it was over the top. If he said "this kids got it" one more time...
In the past we (psu fans) have thought he's been really critical of our team but Sat. was different.
Todd Blackledge is very good even when announcing our games.
As for radio we have Steve Jones and Jack Ham and they are excellent.
I hear a portion of your radio show and thought Ray Lucas was ok.
Ray used to be on BTN and I thought he was pretty good is he no longer doing work for them?
I wasn't as irritated by Millen as some, but he again showed why he was perhaps the worst NFL GM ever when saying PSU's QB is a Top 5 pick. I'm no scout or expert, but he's looked underwhelming when I've seen him play; maybe I'm not watching the right games.
Millen wasn't that biased.
Other than the Hackenburg being a top 5 pick and Say Say Barkley, there isn't much to complain about. Saying Hackenburg is a top 5 pick is flat out embarrassing on his part. But then again Ej Manuel and Christian Ponder were first round picks.
There was one or two close calls in which he was pro PSU (Hackenburg run on 3rd down) where he gave the advantage to PSU, but he was proven wrong. The run by Hack was great. He was clearly over a yard short, but Millen tried explaining why it was a first down before the refs ruled 4th down. But overall he wasn't terribly biased. I don't remember the running back line. But if he really did say that about the RU running backs, then he was clearly being an idiot. Just go watch the UNC game again. Hicks and Martin are special. James has had an injury riddled career. You can't knock a kid for that. And Goodwin could be good coming out of the backfield if we knew what we were doing on offense.
Better than ESPNU. People over at ESPN are probably wondering why Laviano and not Nova is playing this week.
Other than the Hackenburg being a top 5 pick and Say Say Barkley, there isn't much to complain about. Saying Hackenburg is a top 5 pick is flat out embarrassing on his part. But then again Ej Manuel and Christian Ponder were first round picks.
There was one or two close calls in which he was pro PSU (Hackenburg run on 3rd down) where he gave the advantage to PSU, but he was proven wrong. The run by Hack was great. He was clearly over a yard short, but Millen tried explaining why it was a first down before the refs ruled 4th down. But overall he wasn't terribly biased. I don't remember the running back line. But if he really did say that about the RU running backs, then he was clearly being an idiot. Just go watch the UNC game again. Hicks and Martin are special. James has had an injury riddled career. You can't knock a kid for that. And Goodwin could be good coming out of the backfield if we knew what we were doing on offense.
Better than ESPNU. People over at ESPN are probably wondering why Laviano and not Nova is playing this week.
