ESPN College Football Live, 1.0

Well, we are rounding the corner to fall. Cooler nights? Nope. Cooler mornings? Not yet. Back to school ads? Well, there have been a few. But the real reason we know we are heading down the back stretch is that ESPN began its daily show, College Football Live, yesterday afternoon (3:30 P.M.).

The Good!

1. Our Man Splint was the Quarterback! That's right, Brent Musburger, for whom history will one day say was the greatest sports announcer of his era, was the host. He has been doing sports on television for almost 40 years. But he is at his best doing college football. Funny. Knowledgeable. Passionate. And oh-so-dramatic at all the right times.

2. Todd Blackledge! Think of him as the pigskin equivalent of Jay Bilas. No one outworks him in the preparation department. And unlike most of the token ex-player commentators, Blackledge was a damn good college QB (and an NFL first round pick). But after seeing him yesterday, it looks like all Blackledge has done this summer is go to the beach and get savagely tan. He must have forgotten to eat. He looks like one of those Kenyan dudes that always win all the marathons. Todd, stop eating lettuce and latch on to some read meat.

3. The Helmet Playoffs! OK, it's not great -- but it is kind of fun. People go to espn.com and vote for their favorite helmet. Yesterday, the people (correctly) voted Georgia's helmet in over Miami's. It says here that Michigan will emerge as the ultimate winner.

4. Cheerleaders in studio! Always a good thing. However, instead of ones from Boston College -- they should strictly go with the SEC gals. Shirley Surely the girls from BC weren't invited simply because it was a two hour bus ride?!?

The Bad!

1. Too much info on the screen! Guys, this is not the NFL Draft. With that, more info is good. No one cares about team schedules running along the left hand side of the TV screen. And must you constantly run viewer e-mails along the bottom? Nearly every e-mail was from some yahoo in Columbus, Ohio saying...wait for it...Ohio State is awesome!

2. Jesse Palmer! He's not bad, but we can't shake the thought that he is only there because he was The Bachelor and the ESPN suits want college chics tuning in.

3. Jim Tressel! Tressel was good for one thing yesterday. Putting us to sleep on a lazy and hot summer day. ZZZ