ABC Gets Money’s Worth in Title Game

ABC had what it wanted--two unbeaten teams playing for the national championship in Tuesday night’s Sugar Bowl.

And it got a good game, better than the 46-29 score would indicate.

However, there was a time during the first half viewers were probably on the verge of looking for alternative programming.

Things started OK, as underdog Virginia Tech drove downfield on its opening possession. But then came a fumble, a long touchdown pass play for Florida State, a blocked punt for another touchdown, and an apparent injury to the passing hand of Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick.

Suddenly, there were long faces among ABC personnel.

There was momentary relief when Virginia Tech scored to make it 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, then it was 28-7 and a botched fake field-goal attempt by the Hokies made things worse.

But resilient Virginia Tech wasn’t finished. The Hokies came back to make a game of it, allowing ABC and bowl championship series officials to breath easier.

ABC is negotiating a four-year extension through 2006 of its deal with the BCS for a reported $400 million, and a blowout would have brought more cries for a playoff system.

A playoff system could create a more evenly matched championship game.

But as things turned out, this wasn’t bad, and ABC did its part.

It had 28 cameras, seven more than usual, in the Superdome, and didn’t miss much.

Also, the “triple-look” split screen that could show a quarterback and two receivers at the same time was a nice touch, and not overdone.

Brent Musburger and Gary Danielson could have done less talking, but Musburger wasn’t as overbearing as he has been at times. One bothersome thing, though, was Musburger continually calling the Seminoles “the ‘Noles.”

Studio analyst Terry Bowden started this trend when, in the opening, he said he favored “the ‘Noles” by a field goal.

This came after Bowden had interviewed his father, Bobby, the Florida State coach.

At least ABC didn’t have to worry about a Jim Gray-Pete Rose situation. No way was Terry going to ask his father any tough questions.

ABC realized the appropriateness of having a son interview his father. It was discussed during several production meetings, and the feeling was that the occasion called for a warm story, not a “60 Minutes” grilling.

If you were keeping score, there were four Bobby Bowden interviews by halftime, and no interviews of Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer. Surely Virginia Tech fans noticed. Bobby got more air time than Terry, and Terry is on ABC’s payroll. One of the Bobby Bowden interviews came in the middle of a play.

Maybe Bobby will end up on “Monday Night Football.”

There were Bowdens everywhere, as ABC kept it in the family. Brother Tommy, the Clemson coach, joined Terry, John Saunders and Miami Coach Butch Davis on the halftime show.

Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills, Virginia Tech’s most notable football alum, was also a halftime guest. ABC was able to work in promos because it will telecast the Bills’ playoff game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

Joe Theismann also was part of Tuesday night’s telecast.

The most exciting pass of the night came during halftime, when Bob Moderhak won $500,000 for throwing a football through a 2-by-2-foot square from 15 yards.

It would have been even more--up to $2 million, had Theismann made more than one of his four attempts at the square.

Theismann acknowledged a case of nerves. Before the game, he said, “I’ve played in a lot of big games, but I think they’ll have to find a new definition for the word ‘nervous’ for the way I’m going to feel.”