Sports
Navy, Army and Air Force get special treatment on CBS College Sports
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
October 9, 2009
I love college football, and CBS College Sports has put together a very special weekend of games and features showcasing the service academies that begins tonight.
This is a weekend of football not to be missed.
Tonight at 7 p.m. "INSIDE ACADEMY FOOTBALL," which chronicles the daily routines of football players from each service academy, explores how their sport intersects, enriches and informs their lives as officers-in-training for the United States military.
It is part of a full day of academy football on CBS College Sports starting at 11 a.m. with "SALUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES" pre-game show.
Then at noon it will be Vanderbilt at Army followed by Navy at Rice at 3:30 p.m. The nightcap of the tripleheader will be Air Force hosting nationally ranked TCU at 7:30 p.m.
CBS golf analyst David Feherty will work a sideline reporter on the Navy-Rice game. Many in Washington know him because of his Troops First Foundation which inspired him to create the Feherty's IED (Improvised Explosive Day) of Golf, Cycling, Pheasant Hunting and skiing events for wounded warriors. Many in the area participate in his events when he is town to cover the AT&T National.
Feherty and I talked about the big weekend.
JW » How did this sideline assignment come about?
Feherty » "CBS is well aware and very supportive of my foundation. Along with that comes my passion, as well as my knowledge of the service academies. So I will be able to work the sidelines and to talk to the Navy players not just about the game but about what it means to be soldier."
JW » Are you a football fan?
Feherty » "I am huge college football and basketball fan. So getting to work a game is going to be a big thrill for me. I will still be a golf analyst but this is a great thrill for me to do something I enjoy so very much.
JW » What do you hope the fans take away from this weekend?
Feherty » "I want America to know these young men and young women in the military are the real superheros. I want parents to know that having a son or a daughter in the military is a wonderful career. These are high character people who don't just understand the word teamwork, they live it every day of their lives. But most of all I want kids to know that it is "cool" to be a soldier. They are great people and this weekend is for them."
All digital cable subscribers will have a free preview weekend of CBS College Sports so you can see the big tripleheader. The games will also be seen by all of our troops worldwide via American Forces Network.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
