When Florida State University recently fired its popular (football) radio color analyst Peter Tom Willis, the reason was no secret. Willis, a member of the FSU Sports Hall of Fame, had become too critical of the ‘Noles, who have fallen from their seemingly permanent perch among the country’s elite programs. Willis cited some coaching inadequacies, notably those of offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, Bobby Bowden’s son.
The ouster of Willis sparked a debate sometimes phrased as “Should Announcers Be Biased?” What it should have prompted was a realistic acknowledgement of what a home-team announcer’s role is.
It’s several-fold.
*To objectively analyze what happened and why it happened.
*To subjectively play the fan surrogate and root for the good guys.
*To identify with the team without devolving into the tacky, third person plural “we.” Sorry, Gene Deckerhoff, (FSU and the Bucs) and “legendary” Larry Munson (Georgia). But it’s bush league. And a more fire-able offense, frankly, than characterizing – as Willis did – Jeff Bowden’s unimaginative and predictable offense as “a high school offense” – although Plant High should have been insulted.