OTish: Jac Collinsworth Out as ND Lead Voice
Per the Athletic
Jac Collinsworth out as NBC’s Notre Dame play-by-play voice: Sources
After two years as NBC’s Notre Dame play-by-play voice, Jac Collinsworth is out, officials briefed on the decision told The Athletic.
NBC veteran Dan Hicks will replace Collinsworth and team up with analyst Jason Garrett. Hicks had previously called Notre Dame games a decade ago. He is best known for his PGA Tour duties.
Starting next fall, NBC plans to have Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge as the No. 1 broadcast team on all of its college football coverage. Eagle, 26, and Blackledge, 62, earned strong reviews on their Big Ten and the NFL games they called.
NBC wanted to reward them, so while they will continue to primarily focus on the Big Ten prime-time matchups if the network deems a Notre Dame game the most attractive on its schedule for a given week, then the duo will call the game.
NBC declined to comment.
Not that I spent a lot of time watching Notre Dame games, but Jac was a rough listen. Easily one of the lower-tier PBP guys by my account. Some of his NBC work isn't terrible, and I think the whole "only has a job because of his father" stuff is a bit overblown. But there's no arguing he was out way over his depth with the lead voice of Notre Dame job, and it was surprising that Notre Dame allowed it to go on for as long as it did.
Collinsworth, the son of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” analyst Cris, was put in the role by the network’s executive producer, Sam Flood, despite Jac having little play-by-play experience. From the first game, Collinsworth sounded out of place for such a high-profile position and received extra scrutiny because of his last name. Collinsworth, 29, graduated from Notre Dame in 2017.
NBC continues to like Collinsworth’s work as a reporter on “Football Night in America” and the Olympics. He will continue to call college football and basketball play by play on the network’s streaming service, Peacock, where he will be able to further hone his craft.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
Surprised Noah Eagle isn't out. That guy's voice gets almost whiny when there's a big play.
[Edit: Fwiw I thought Jac Collinsworth was fine.]
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
No, by most accounts, NBC is pretty huge on Noah Eagle.
For the 1-2? Michigan games that Eagle called this year I didn't love it. But not necessarily because of Eagle. Mostly, the NBC production kind of felt like because they had never broadcast these Big Ten games, perhaps the Big Ten audience had never seen Big Ten games? It was a little weird having the Brown Jug (a 100 year old college trophy) almost "introduced" like people had never heard of it.
Noah Eagle isn't one of my favorites. But great college football broadcasters (in my humble opinion) are kind of hard to come by. All of the really good football talent is quickly shuffled up to the NFL. Jac was a lot harder on my ears, but thankfully/gratefully ND was pretty average and I didn't have a lot of reason to tune into Jac and Garrett. Again though, I think the hand-wringing online about him and "nepotism" is a bit overblown.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
Eagle sounded like he was calling the radio broadcast for a high school football game. He needs a lot more seasoning calling lower-tier games.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
I agree that NBC production for B1G games did feel quite a bit "off." It felt too much like a ND game with Michigan and B1G stuff cut and pasted all over it. Noah Eagle I think could get there as a good PBP guy, but he is not there yet. His father, Ian, is one of the best voices in the game and I think the absolute best that CBS has for March Madness.
The B1G on CBS felt even odder but that was only for the UNLV game. It got to the point that when the Playoffs were on ABC/ESPN that even that felt funky. Basically I've grown use to Fox/BTN's style and everything else just strikes as second tier.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
I think they should go back to Pat Haden.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
That was a crazy game and a crazy day in my life.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
Can you believe Tom Zbikowski was a Golden Gloves boxer?
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
... or that Jeff Samardzija was an MLB-caliber pitcher?! :) Gotta love the Domer PR machine.
- - -
That early season '06 ND game was fun to watch, but I think it distorted the whole season. It made Michigan look better than they actually were. In case the Ball State (!) game didn't reset expectations, the last couple of games provided some clarity. (Very good ... just not great.) Side note: To this day I believe the effect of Bo's demise was overrated.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:29 PM ^
Or that Craig Krenzel majored in molecular biology?
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^
Holy crap that was just as obnoxious as the notre dame boxer/pitcher combo. You'd have thought Krenzel was a future multiple Nobel laurate and not a *checks notes* future sports radio commentator/insurance salesman (according to wikipedia).
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:41 PM ^
I totally forgot about Tom Zbiboxerguy.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:00 PM ^
Did Mason Graham wrestle in high school?
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
I agree --- Jac Collinsworth wasn't terrible. But he was out of his depth.
If his Dad called in a favor to get him the NBC Notre Dame gig (and he probably DID) --- well, shame on Cris. He got his son a "nepo baby" label and made his "growth" years in the industry much too public.
Jac's career would have been much better served by rising through the ranks, calling lower-tier ESPN2 or FS1 (or wherever) games and growing from there.
On a side note: Jason Garrett???? That guy IS truly TERRIBLE. A piece of graphite has more personality and charm.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:52 PM ^
Garrett was worse than Jac, IMO. I don't mind Jac on his SNF / normal NBC stuff. Can't speak much to his ND broadcasting.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
I think the whole "only has a job because of his father" stuff is a bit overblown
How so? It's the literal truth.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:14 PM ^
Yea, he got one of the biggest jobs in the industry at like 25 years old with little experience. He's a nepo baby and 100% only is where he is today because of daddy.
February 22nd, 2024 at 3:27 PM ^
Yeah but he's not. I mean don't force me into a situation where I have to "defend" Jac Collinsworth... but he studied broadcasting at Notre Dame, he had a notable broadcasting job on campus while a student at Notre Dame. He may have gotten his first job with NBC because of a connection with his dad, but also because NBC is the flagship broadcast network of Notre Dame. Broadcasting Notre Dame games wasn't his first job. He was a digital producer, and social media "kid" right out of college. He did social/digital correspondence for the Rio Olympics in 2016. He then left NBC and spent 3 years at ESPN as a features reporter. Before returning to NBC and eventually taking his position.
Yes, he progressed too quickly. He's also relieved of his position because of that. It's also not his fault NBC put him in that job. It's his job to go out and get whatever he can get.
But if you look at Twitter or ask online, he graduated Notre Dame, showed up at NBC and they made him the lead broadcaster of Notre Dame. He wasn't ONLY hired because of his father. It's not the literal truth. He had qualifications, while still being underprepared/underqualified.
February 22nd, 2024 at 4:56 PM ^
If not for his dad, he would not have gotten that job. The other details are background narrative.
Don't get me wrong: I don't blame him (or his dad) for it. NBC execs have long cultivated a toxic culture that gives rise to this kind of nepotism. They're the problem, not the kid who got his dream job before he was ready for it.
February 22nd, 2024 at 6:45 PM ^
JMo's points strike me as valid. Collinsworth definitely got the high-profile ND gig at NBC because of his name, but he's also not some deadbeat hack. He has real credentials of his own. He does a fine job on Football Night in America as one of their pre-game sideline guys. He flew too close to the sun, I guess, but he's really not that bad. Maybe he'll learn from this and do a better job with the play-by-play of smaller games as he gets older.
Jason Garrett, on the other hand, is a brutal listen...
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:51 AM ^
To hell with Notre Dame!
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
To HELL with notre dame!!!
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
I find Karsch a very hard listen.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
Gator?
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
He's decent
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
Can't imagine there's a worse radio play by play guy in country. Lucky us.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
I toss in my support for Karsch. I like his voice and his passion for Michigan.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:51 PM ^
Karsch is good - and competent.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:43 PM ^
Karsch always sounds like he just came back from screaming his lungs out at a rock concert.
February 22nd, 2024 at 6:51 PM ^
I would agree. I respect Karsch's passion for Michigan football, and he is articulate and well-spoken. He's a pro. But the sound of his voice is just a bit grating. His voice has none of the richness of a Carl Grapentine (though who does).
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:55 AM ^
Screw them. 45-14. We win.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
I had no idea there was a Jac Collinsworth. I also have no idea why people keep pumping up ND with their Charmin soft schedule.
NBC wanted to reward them (Eagle/Blackledge), so while they will continue to primarily focus on the Big Ten prime-time matchups if the network deems a Notre Dame game the most attractive on its schedule for a given week, then the duo will call the game.
So, we'll be seeing plenty of Eagle/Blackledge in the B1G this year.
February 22nd, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
He was fine as a studio head but being a major PBP just wasn't right. I didn't even notice he was their PBP anyway I thought it was always Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge. Maybe those were the B1G crew.
February 22nd, 2024 at 3:34 PM ^
Collinsworth and Garrett were the lead ND crew. Eagle and Blackledge were the lead B1G crew.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
Obligatory:
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
"He's a poor thrower" says the ND broadcaster as Denard throws for 80 yards on 2 plays.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:33 PM ^
That play never gets old.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
"throws to the endzone, INCOMPLETE. ......but wait, touchdown..."
a classic
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
Dan Hicks is a professional. Probably the best broadcaster ND Football will have had since it signed the contract with NBC. Garrett is cause to hit the mute button.
Eagle and Blackledge are OK. They won't detract from the coverage.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:52 PM ^
I've always thought Blackledge was one of the best (currently) in the business... yet he almost always gets paired with a clown that detracts from the event.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
Agree that Dan Hicks is professional and solid, if a bit unremarkable. Hicks did call ND for 1 year previously (2013), FWIW.
Proof as to Hicks being professional --- somehow working with Johnny Miller for over a decade and never whacking him upside the head.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:09 PM ^
Don't forget his Hot Licks.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:49 PM ^
The NBC broadcast in 2011 of ND vs USF with Dan Hicks & Mike Mayock calling is God-tier schadenfreude.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
I didn't think he was bad, just green.
Nobody watches ND games anyway, so it seemed like a good gig for him to develop some skills.
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
I love both eagles . I feel into the game bigtime when they are announcing .
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^
Bring back the guy who predicted Ron Powlus' four Heismans.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:04 PM ^
Beano Cook?? He can do color alongside Keith Jackson doing the play by play.
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^
Beano Cook was Nostradamus :-D
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:57 PM ^
Well … bye
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:38 PM ^
NBC = Nepo Baby Central. Collinsworth (sucks). Eagle (really sucks). Simms (all-time sucks).
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
Kinda weird how NBC has been so invested in getting the kids who sound just like their fathers. Is there no Chuck Lundquist to hire?
I don't know why such hate for Jac and Noah. They both seemed fine.