Veteran ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler will be the TV play-by-play announcer for Saturday's UF-UM game in Orlando.. (Photo: Courtesy of ESPN)
Carter's Corner: ESPN's Chris Fowler on Gators-Canes, Great Games, Injury Rehab and More
Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chris Fowler spent Wednesday afternoon in Coral Gables visiting with Miami coaches and players. By late Thursday morning, Fowler was in a Ben Hill Griffin Stadium conference room preparing for a day with the Gators when receiver Van Jefferson came in.
"It's an honor to meet you," Jefferson said.
"My pleasure. Look forward to it,'' replied Fowler.
The scene is one that plays out regularly for Fowler during his role as lead play-by-play announcer for the marquee Saturday night college football game on ESPN/ABC.
Fowler and his broadcast partner Kirk Herbstreit will call the action from the booth when the Gators and Miami play Saturday night at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Fowler took a few minutes to speak to FloridaGators.com about the UF-UM rivalry, what he'll be watching for Saturday, and other topics before turning his attention to Jefferson.
Here is our Q&A:
Q: What is your most vivid memory of the Florida-Miami rivalry?
A: I remember the bowl games near the end and how they got pretty salty. There were some altercations, maybe in the French Quarter, that I remember back in the day and that highlighted how it was. It was salty between the alums and the players at that point. I don't think the current guys on either side have much of a touchstone, but they have been told about it by the alums and just by being around the program. I think both coaching staffs have probably shown vintage videos of it. But I think it's exciting because they don't play all the time. That is what is cool about a season opener that is not a regular annual rivalry. I wish they played more. I know they are going to play a home-and-home coming up, but I think that we're selling the rarity of it, the specialness of it. There's been healthy jawing on both sides and both teams have a lot at stake. The loser could really be a thud to start the season, so I think that makes it nice because there's a lot to play for.
Q: What element of the matchup intrigues you the most as you do your prep work to call the game?
A: I think both defensive fronts think they are better than the opposing offensive line, so which O-line can get overwhelmed the least might be the decisive factor. It's not sexy to sell that – the battle in the trenches. Miami's got a brand-new quarterback who's got no experience. Florida's got an edge there. I'm eager to see how [Feleipe] Franks builds on the end of last season. But I really think the offensive line – giving each guy time – if they've got to stay out of the pocket and pat the ball, it's going to be ugly for either one of them, I think, because the fronts are so good and the pass rushes are pretty exotic. I think it's basic, but if Florida's offensive line can hold up, they can give Franks time to take those deep shots to have success. It's boring, but whoever can run the ball. That's what I'm going to look for. I think it's hard to gauge an offensive line that's got a lot of new faces and is just coming together and trying to jell, will play when the bright lights come on. We'll keep a close eye on that.
Q: If you were a Florida fan looking in from the outside, what would give you the most reason for optimism entering the 2019 season?
A: The leaps and bounds gained in a year. I think there's belief and confidence that's genuine here now, that's what I sense. Last year there was a lot of question marks. Obviously, you've got a quarterback that has proven himself. You've got playmakers all over the place. You've got a defense that is going to be nasty. You've got a chance to be a more complete, well-rounded team. They can build on the way the Gators finished up last season. I think the hype and the optimism is justified, but you've still got to go do it. I think what these guys will realize, although it's a monster jump from four wins to 10 wins, 10 wins to 12 wins is a big jump, too. Winning a division and winning a conference championship – they are not afraid to use the "C word" around here in public. When you are talking championship – it's nice for Florida fans to hear that – now they've just got to go out and show they are worthy of it.
Great fun @CanesFootball practice today! The legend Jimmy Johnson had me 🤣at stories about his first coaching gig. Spoiler: winless season at tiny MS high school. His arc went up fast from there! A lot from UM visit on instagram -cbfowler. pic.twitter.com/ELTsc8fAe2
Q: As a play-by-play announcer now, is there a college football game in history that you wish you would have been in the play-by-play booth?
A: Oh man, I've witnessed a few that I would have loved to have been in the booth but I didn't have that role at the time. The Texas-USC national championship game in the Rose Bowl with Vince Young scampering down the sideline. It was the great Keith Jackson on the call there. I've been lucky by doing "GameDay" for 25 years, we very often have been at the biggest game of the week and some of the biggest games in the sport over that span. I didn't always get to be in the booth but it sure would have been fun. I'm a pretty enthusiastic student of the history of the game, so whether you are talking a Joe Montana comeback in the Cotton Bowl or one of the great championship games – the 1 versus 2 games – it would have been a blast. There are quite a few games involving the Gators that I was at and we didn't get a chance to call. Those collisions with Florida State over the years, some of the games with Tennessee. Calling a game in "The Swamp" would be awesome. We don't get to do the SEC package, so it's unlikely. We would have to do some kind of swap with an ESPN game or something. I would love to call a game here when the Gators have it going because I have great memories of being in this place when it was just electric and as hard a place for any visitor to come into. A spring game doesn't count. I did call a spring game when Urban [Meyer] was here, but I want to call a real game.
Q: You tweeted a photo from Miami's practice yesterday standing next to ex-coach Jimmy Johnson that received a lot of attention for your build. How much have you been working out?
A: I've had two orthopedic surgeries in the last year at 56. That's the kind of thing you get down about. I've had other surgeries in the past, but I think at this age you sort of feel like, 'damn, that's a huge setback.' Instead it was a real positive. I rehabbed really hard. I got great care. I attacked the physical therapy and pushed myself and found people who would push me. I came back stronger and better and in better shape, leaner and all that stuff, so I'm proud of that and try to get that message out there. I think anybody who has suffered an injury, just know that if you can do the work, you can come back better than ever. That's why I put that video out there. You can actually get lots of benefits from physical therapy even though it's super uncomfortable. It's so hard that you put your mind into, you're very present, you're very connected in mind and body. I like fitness. It doesn't feel like a chore to me.
Chris Fowler, right, on a return visit to Boulder, Colo., a few years ago. (Photo: TheSink.com)
Q: The Gators and Colorado recently announced a home-and-home series in 2028 and 2029. Since you went to the University of Colorado, what should a Florida fan do on that trip other than go to the game?
A: Boulder is a beautiful place. I love going there. I didn't get to watch many games as a fan, but they do party in the stands. It can actually be a pretty decent home-field advantage when they are good. I'm a little worried. They had better be ready for the Gators. What, they've got nine years to get ready. If they were playing this year, I would be very concerned. It's a fun place. I like seeing matchups between teams that you don't imagine the two helmets being on the same field. I think it's kind of cool. I live in the here and now, so 2029 seems like the end of the universe to me.
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