FOX leapt at the opportunity to make Deion Sanders’s first game as the head coach at Colorado the first Big Noon Kickoff game of the 2023 season. The network promoted the game between the Buffaloes and TCU for nearly a month and on Saturday, Gus Johnson did his part to sell the game as important to the national college football conversation.
Ken Carman watched the game and he said Johnson’s call was more than just enthusiasm. It seemed like he was invested in Colorado’s success.
“I got nothing against Gus Johnson, but I was watching that and I go, ‘Hey, I want Colorado to win too. Can you dial it down a little bit there, buddy?’” he said Tuesday morning on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland.
Johnson has fans and detractors and both of them will point to the way he calls a game to justify their feelings. Over-the-top excitement has become his signature, but Carman said that on Saturday, Johnson sounded like a fan, while his partner Joel Klatt, who played for Colorado, seemed more neutral and professional.
The game warranted excitement with the Buffaloes beating TCU 45-42. It was an upset that included multiple lead changes in the fourth quarter.
Carman knows that is good for FOX and understands that may have been the motivation for Johnson’s performance.
“Gus is a guy who wants good storylines. I think he wants it to work for the storyline, so I could see why he would be pulling for Colorado. If you’re a TCU fan or a person who doesn’t like Deion Sanders, definitely you were furious with Gus Johnson, but I thought he was great.”
FOX is leaning hard into Deion Sanders this season. Colorado, who had plenty of detractors heading into the TCU game, will also be featured in the second Big Noon Kickoff game of the year when they host Nebraska this weekend.
