Veteran college football analyst Gary Danielson on Monday opened up about his final CBS broadcast, acknowledging that his farewell on the network ended differently than he had hoped.
Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Danielson described the conclusion of CBS Sports’ Sun Bowl coverage as “not exactly the way we planned it,” noting that much of the work to honor his career had gone into the production.
“Just like any person, I was very focused on what I wanted to say at the end. And we got squished a little bit in time,” he explained. “It was really nobody’s fault. Probably me. I was the last one that had the mic.”
The longtime analyst, who played quarterback at Purdue before stints in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, said he regretted not having the chance to thank everyone who shaped his decades-long career.
“I just wanted to compose myself and thank my football families. The teams that I was on… my Purdue family, my Lion family, my Browns family, my ABC/ESPN family,” Danielson said. “I did not thank them. There’s 30, 40, 50 people that I could have thanked in those 16 years. And of course, my CBS family.”
Danielson also highlighted his successor, Charles Davis, who was named as Danielson’s successor on the top CBS Sports college football broadcasting team last year. “I wanted to tell Charles that this crew turned head over heels to make my last year great and that last day great,” he said. “It’s a great seat to have. Good luck, Charles.”
On the Sun Bowl broadcast, viewers saw a rare moment of live television pressure when CBS cut to commercial as Danielson prepared to deliver his final words. A producer’s countdown was visible on screen, leaving the conclusion abrupt despite a tribute slideshow highlighting his career milestones.
Danielson said he took the interruption in stride, joking to colleagues that rushing a quarterback often leads to mistakes: “You know what they do to a quarterback if you rush them? They throw interceptions. And I threw an interception.”
Brad Nessler, Danielson’s current broadcast partner, and sideline reporter Jenny Dell shared their admiration during the farewell segment. They highlighted his insight, humor, and the camaraderie he brought to CBS broadcasts over 16 seasons. Danielson’s voice has been a fixture of SEC and Big Ten coverage, earning six Emmy nominations along the way.
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