Harrison Stanfill

What more could I possibly have to say about Friday?

It started with such promise for Arkansas fans as the Razorbacks jumped out to a 14-point lead against LSU in the belly of the beast, Baton Rouge, but would only end in heartbreak and confusion for Hog fans.

Arkansas would eventually relinquish its lead due to the inability to stop the running attack of LSU and find any answers for the Tigers’ defense.

It is basically simple as that, LSU made the plays and Arkansas had no answer. There is really nothing more that could be said.

There was a side of the game that if you were an Arkansas fan it was very frustrating to watch, though, especially if you were sitting at home watching the game on CBS.

While browsing Twitter throughout the game, I happened to notice that people were not talking about how our defense was struggling or how good LSU was playing on both sides of the ball. Instead the ire of Hog fans were being directed toward the CBS announcers.

With good reason.

I will admit my bias right from the beginning – I do not like Lundquist or Danielson. I believe they are very unprofessional and take away the focus from the actual game.

During a tie ball game in the second quarter, the focus was not on what a good game it was, it was all about Jordan Jefferson “overcoming coming adversity to lead the Tigers to the No. 1 spot”.

Jefferson got into a fight at a bar, was charged with a felony that was later dropped to a misdemeanor and was immediately allowed to play for LSU. Sure, I guess that could be phrased as “overcoming adversity”.

While Arkansas was only down seven points at halftime, it was as if the game had been sealed and LSU was the greatest team in the world. Now, granted, the Razorbacks did lose 41-17 and by all observations LSU does seem to be the greatest team in the world right now, there is a level of professionalism required while broadcasting these games that Lundquist and Danielson do not possess.

As a broadcaster, it is your job to get people to watch the game and stay watching as long as possible. I am not sure that getting players names wrong and giggling amongst themselves is the best way to attract ratings.

I have watched every away game on television and the fans have yet to take offense with Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge of ESPN or Dave Neal and Andre Ware of the SEC Network.

When it comes to Lundquist and Danielson, who have called three Arkansas games this season, they have gotten on the fan’s bad side.

I understand that when it comes to Arkansas athletics some people have a hard time looking at it from an unbiased perspective, but even during the Mississippi State game, when the Hogs were blowing out the Dawgs, Twitter was blowing up over Arkansas fans discontent for the CBS duo.

As a broadcaster you are held to a different standard, you are supposed to be unbiased and have something to offer to the viewing experience that the normal person doesn’t have.

When you think of great broadcasters, you think of John Madden, Keith Jackson, Brent Musburger, Howard Cosell and Al Micheals. I don’t believe that I have ever heard one of these men call a game and make it about something besides the game.

The reason that Lundquist and Danielson are in the booth is to commentate on the game and point out things that the average fan wouldn’t catch at home, not to giggle with each other while they merely watch the game like an average fan.

That is the difference between announcers and your average yahoo in the booth, it is not about you, it is about what is going on in the field.

It just seems as if someone forgot to tell that to Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson.

Harrison Stanfill is a guest columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Monday.