Pigskin is a Classic Season Opener

For many years, NBC didn’t really have a relationship with college football. Instead, the network had what could best be called a one-day and one-night stand with the sport.

While ABC and later CBS telecast regular season games through much of the 1970s, NBC did not broadcast the sport until the season’s end--New Year’s Day.

Yet on that day the people in the nation who watched football were often treated to games that would earn a spot in the sport’s history. NBC’s telecasts of the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl would become as much a New Year’s Day tradition as a certain parade in Pasadena.

As the New Year’s Day bowl lineup grew, so did NBC’s coverage. By 1982 the network was airing 9 1/2-hours of uninterrupted bowl action.

NBC’s college football coverage has continued to increase and now includes games before New Year’s Day. Last year the network announced it would broadcast Notre Dame home games beginning in 1991 and it aired the Freedom Bowl for the first time.

The latest addition to NBC’s college football schedule is the inaugural Disneyland Pigskin Classic between Colorado and Tennessee at Anaheim Stadium, airing Sunday at noon.

“This is a great matchup between two very good teams,” said Don Criqui, who will serve as the play-by-play announcer. “Colorado was the best team during the regular season last year and from every indication they could be better this year. They are returning some tremendous players, and have the nucleus on offense and defense.

“Tennessee is also a definite national championship contender, too. Their strength is offensive explosion. Johnny Majors has always been a big-play coach.”

Colorado’s most tremendous player is quarterback Darian Hagan, who rushed for 1,004 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing for 1,002 yards and four scores last season as the Buffaloes won their first 11 games before losing to Notre Dame, 21-6, in the Orange Bowl.

The Volunteers, 11-1 and ranked fifth last season, have three primary offensive weapons: tailback Chuck Webb (1,236 yards rushing as a freshman); quarterback Andy Kelly (1,299 yards passing and seven touchdowns starting only the final six games) and wide receiver Carl Pickens (a preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection).

In addition, offensive tackles Antone Davis and Charles McRae are considered prospective National Football League first-round draft choices.

Bill Walsh, NBC’s primary analyst/color man for its NFL coverage, will be Criqui’s broadcast partner. Although best known for guiding the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles, Walsh was Stanford’s head coach before joining the 49ers. Criqui says Walsh has detected a pronounced difference between college and professional football.

“He thinks there’s a lack of ability to pass in college football,” Criqui said. “He thought Colorado came up short against Notre Dame because when they were behind, they didn’t have a pass offense to bring them back.

“Colorado was such a dominant team that was used to rolling on offense, running the ball and mixing in some big pass plays. When the game came down to having to pass, they were unable to do it.

“I think that’s something that the Colorado offense will change. I’m sure they’ll put a lot more emphasis on putting more pass offense into their game.”