Brando to do a radio turn with new show

By Jeff Elliott 
Times-Union sports writer 

Jacksonville-area sports enthusiasts will miss out on a familiar TV personality-turned radio announcer, when Tim Brando begins a second career with an afternoon shift on the nationally syndicated Sporting News Radio Network next week. 

Brando is in his sixth year as play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports' NCAA Tournament coverage. He serves as host of College Football Today and At the Half, the network's halftime show during the regular season and NCAA Tournament play, But starting next Tuesday from the Super Bowl surroundings in New Orleans, he'll be behind a radio microphone when he hosts a four-hour sports talk show (2-6 p.m. EST) Monday through Friday on the Sporting News Network.

While the show will be syndicated nationally, there is no Jacksonville-area radio station that currently carries the Sporting News Network. The two local all-sports radio stations, WFXJ (930 AM) and WBWL (600 AM), are affiliated with Fox Sports Radio and ESPN Radio respectively.

Brando was in town earlier this week to speak at the Jacksonville Quarterback Club's season-ending banquet. If his radio or TV career ever go sour, Brando can surely make a living as an after-dinner entertainer. Reincarnating the voices of such sports celebrities as Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Harry Carey, Vince Dooley, Larry Munson, and
everybody's favorite, Dick Vitale, Brando had the crowd in stitches during his hour-long routine.

Afterward, he was equally on a high when talking about his upcoming new venture on radio.

"One of the things I hope to deliver is more affiliates in the Southeast," he said. "I'm a college guy and this is a big college market, especially right here in Jacksonville. My show won't be just a college show, but I think there's a level of expectation that I deal with colleges on a greater level than the average national radio sports show would.

"Frankly I don't think the national sports radio shows deal that much with college sports. They're mostly going after the pro markets and I think they miss the boat because of that."

And like so many others involved with college sports on a national level, Brando has thoughts regarding the Bowl Championship Series, which came under increased criticism again this year. He has his own playoff concept that he's been advocating, but he also wants to see the BCS stay intact through the end of the current contract in 2006, albeit it's for the wrong reasons.

"I certainly hope that it survives the contract, because that means when the contract is up in 06, they will be looking for an alternative and hopefully my network can help offer a viable alternative," he said. "So I hope they continue status quo.

"My playoff proposal is to take six conference champions and two at-large teams, match them up and get four winners. Then seed the teams with No. 1 going against No. 4 and two versus three and play those two games at a neutral site on the same day, back-to-back games. Play it at indoor facility or warm weather site, but put it out for bid like they have cities bid for Final Four sites. It would be the toughest ticket in the history of intercollegiate athletics, plus you would have a huge audience. Then play the national championship game a week after the Super Bowl where your only competition is the Pro Bowl that doesn't have much of a following."

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