CU's MacIntyre Part Of Title Game Coverage; Former Buffs In Contention For SB Rings
January 06, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — ESPN's coverage of Monday night's national championship game between Alabama and Clemson will have some Colorado flavor.
CU head coach Mike MacIntyre will be part of the popular "Coaches Film Room" on ESPNEWS during the game. Throughout the game, MacIntyre will join other coaches and analysts in a film room equipped with multiple camera angles, clicker technology and telestration, as they will be ready to offer immediate commentary and breakdown of big plays throughout the game.
The show was a popular addition to last year's national championship coverage, and will return this year with a new wrinkle: there will be limited commercial breaks, meaning when other networks break, the coaches will be offering their analysis.
Coaches scheduled to join MacIntyre are Dino Babers of Syracuse, newly hired Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck (formerly of Western Michigan), former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich and new Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Joining the coaches will be former Michigan and Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese
Of course, the main coverage on ESPN will also have a CU connection, as ESPN lead and CU alum Chris Fowler will handle the call, along with Kirk Herbstreit, Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi. Coverage from other networks during the game will include the "Homers Telecast" on ESPN2 and "ESPN Voices" with Bill Walton and Keyshawn Johnson on ESPNU.
BUFFS IN PLAYOFFS: With two more former Buffs earning Super Bowl rings last season with the Denver Broncos, Colorado's all-time ring count stands at 35 players with 51 rings
The list has a chance to grow this year.
Former Buffs still with an opportunity to earn Super Bowl rings this year as the NFL playoffs begin this weekend include wide receiver Paul Richardson and offensive lineman Will Pericak of Seattle; offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and kicker Mason Crosby of Green Bay; and offensive tackle Nate Solder of New England.
Crosby and Solder each already own a Super Bowl ring, with Crosby winning one in 2010 and Solder claiming his first in 2014.
Several coaches with strong CU ties could also win rings this season, including former Buffs running back and assistant coach Eric Bieniemy (Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach) and former Buffs quarterback and assistant coach Vance Joseph (defensive coordinator Miami Dolphins).
At least two other coaches who worked at Colorado as assistants are still in the hunt for rings, including Seattle assistant Tom Cable (an assistant under Rick Neuheisel) and Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell (an assistant under Bill McCartney).
A list of former Buffs players who have won Super Bowl Rings:
WR Boyd Dowler, Packers (1966, 1967)
S Dick Anderson, Dolphins (1972, 1973)
WR Cliff Branch, Raiders (1976, 1980, 1983)
RB Terry Kunz, Raiders (1976)
DB Mike L. Davis, Raiders (1980, 1983)
DB Odis McKinney, Raiders (1980, 1983)
LB Greg Westbrooks, Raiders (1980)
DT George Visger, 49ers (1982)
TE Don Hasselbeck, Raiders (1983)
LB Brian Cabral, Bears (1985)
WR Emery Moorehead, Bears (1985)
RB Lee Rouson, Giants (1986)
C Eric Coyle, Redskins (1987)
WR Richard Johnson, Redskins (1987)
P Barry Helton, 49ers (1988, 1989)
LB Mickey Pruitt, Cowboys (1992)
DT Shannon Clavelle, Packers (1996)
DT Darius Holland, Packers (1996)
OT Matt Lepsis, Broncos (1997, 1998)
P Tom Rouen, Broncos (1997, 1998)
DE Alfred Williams, Broncos (1997, 1998)
DT Viliami Maumau, Broncos (1998)
OT Tom Ashworth, Patriots (2001, 2003, 2004)
WR Charles E. Johnson, Patriots (2001)
LB Ted Johnson, Patriots (2001, 2003, 2004)
CB/KR Ben Kelly, Patriots (2001)
TE Christian Fauria, Patriots (2003, 2004)
TE Daniel Graham, Patriots (2003, 2004)
P Mitch Berger, Steelers (2008)
PK Mason Crosby, Packers (2010)
LB Brad Jones, Packers (2010)
CB Jimmy Smith, Ravens (2012)
OT Nate Solder, Patriots (2014)
TE Nick Kasa, Broncos (2015)
OT Tyler Polumbus, Broncos (2015)
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu