Fiesta Main Dish For Cbs

The Fiesta Bowl comes on only the second night of 1996, and it could well give CBS Sports its highest rating of the year.

CBS is hoping it’ll be a fast start to a comeback season.

“There’s no doubt it’s a marquee event,” said Jim Nantz, who will call play-by-play on the game between No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Florida Tuesday night at Tempe, Ariz.

“Everyone knows we’ve been without the NFL, and that left a giant void in our schedule.”

But with CBS starting a full schedule of college football next fall, the void could become a little less cavernous, and that has a few people excited.

“That’s a big step for this sports department,” Nantz said, “and it’s something that’s very energizing, to be back on that fall schedule.”

CBS Sports’ bowl schedule actually began Friday with the Sun Bowl, giving Nantz a chance to test out his new partner, former UCLA coach Terry Donahue. The Fiesta also will mark the CBS debut of analyst-at-large Boomer Esiason of the New York Jets.

On New Year’s Day, Sean McDonough and analyst Pat Haden will work the Orange Bowl between No. 8 Florida State and No. 6 Notre Dame, giving CBS two of the three top games in the Bowl Alliance.”First off, we’re thrilled to be back into college football on a regular basis,”

Nantz said he’s thrilled to have Donahue as his new partner. “He’s going to be very, very good at this.”

But even Donahue had to admit while he intends to be good, “I don’t expect to throw a no-hitter first time out.”

It’s a tough way to start, making your second appearance on what could well be your network’s biggest event of the year.

“I’m going to approach the business like I did coaching,” Donahue said. “I’ll put a lot of effort into it, and before long, I’ll have it down. Obviously, the first two games might not be as good as the games I’ll do two years from now, but I think, all in all, I’ll make a good accounting of myself. I’m in this for the long run, and eventually I’ll be successful at it.”

Donahue said his only previous game experience on TV was a Holiday Bowl in 1985 with Raycom. “I thought in the back of my mind at that time, ‘If I ever decide to quit coaching, this is something I’d like to try.”’

Haden, a veteran analyst on loan from Turner Broadcasting, gave Donahue some telephonic advice.

“My advice, if you’re willing to accept it, is, hey, be yourself,” Haden said. “He’s certainly capable. Oh, there are fundamental things you don’t think about when you leave coaching or playing, like what’s the difference between a producer and a director, people talking in your ear, living in a 10-second environment.

“You have to be inciteful, informative and sometimes humorous without being redundant, realizing that you’re working in a redundant sport, where the same types of things happen week in and week out,” Haden said.

There was a pause.

“Pat,” Donahue responded, “you’re scaring the hell out of me.”