When the BCS bowl bids were handed out and Mizzou fans watched as their team was stiffed in favor of lower ranked teams that they had beaten such as Kansas and Illinois, it was a painful blow to a football program on the rise. When they accepted an invitation to the AT&T Cotton Bowl to take on Arkansas and word came down that the game was being announced by the team of Pat Summerall and Brian Baldinger it seemed like the NCAA was just piling on.

As described in the Media Circus a few weeks back, the combo that we know simply as Summdinger is the unlikely pairing of an 80-year old broadcasting legend whose prime is safely in the rearview mirror and a chatty former player who eagerly chews up any and all airtime his partner provides, regardless of whether he has something intelligent to say or not. 

On Tuesday, Mizzou dismantled the Razorbacks 38-7.  While that was taking place on the field, our announcing team was putting a similar beatdown on the art of play-by-play.  Here are a few highlights from Summdinger’s trip to the Cotton Bowl.

Before the game even started, we already had a prominent name being mangled worse than Baldinger’s pinky. 

“Two Heisman trophy finalists in Chase McDaniel of Missouri and Darren McFadden of Arkansas” – Brian Baldinger

But the old vet wasn’t about to let his thunder get stolen.  If Baldy can butcher the name of a Heisman finalist, then Summerall would strike back by doing the same with a first team All American…

“Off the back of the goal post, in the direction of Jerry Maclin.” – Summerall referring of course to Jeremy Maclin. 

From that point forward it was like a heavyweight title fight with both sides landing haymakers in their attempt to put a personal stamp on the broadcast. 

We had ample mistaken identities, whether it be Summerall lauding backup running back Jimmy Jackson for tackles made by safety William Moore (in his defense they both wear #1), giving Darren McFadden credit for passes thrown by quarterback Casey Dick or just basic factual errors like Baldinger’s comments on his conversation with Kansas City born and raised Tony Temple,

“Tony Temple talked to us the other day and he said the guy that he admired growing up in St. Louis was Emmitt Smith.”

Come on, Baldy, the KC inferiority complex with St. Louis is bad enough without stealing away their pride and joy running back. 

We had unintentionally humorous comments about the Arkansas moniker proving that no matter how old you get, it’s still funny when someone says the word “hogs”. 

“I haven’t forgotten how to call a hog.  I’m not going to do it, but I haven’t forgotten.”  - Summerall

"Set up the blockers and get behind the big hogs." - Baldinger

“Casey Dick will have some wild hog for me." - Summerall

And we were treated to an extremely awkward interview with Bobby Petrino where the new Arkansas coach stood side-by-side with the announcing pair.  The interview would have been a lot less uncomfortable if one of the announcers hadn't written a Sporting News column just two weeks earlier ripping Petrino to shreds for leaving the Atlanta Falcons mid-season, calling it "an insult to the coaching fraternity".   That was a fun surprise.

The pair kept viewers guessing all day long.  By the end of the game, the unofficial count on Summerall’s “I beg your pardon” meter - counting the times he mistakenly called out a player, yard marker, down, etc only to immediately realize his error - was seven. 

In the end, Summerall’s description of a failed Arkansas fake punt served as the perfect theme for the day,

“I don’t understand.  I’m confused. I hope you’re not confused.”

We were a little confused, Pat, but those of us who have learned to enjoy the antics of Summdinger were also thoroughly entertained.