We knew what the score when ESPN announced Sean McDonough was leaving Monday Night Football to return to college football. From the press release (emphasis added):
Play-by-play voice Sean McDonough, one of sports television’s most accomplished and versatile broadcasters, has signed a new multi-year extension and will rejoin ESPN’s college football team this fall. His assignments will include high-profile national games each week, as well as a College Football Playoff Semifinal. McDonough will continue to call the CFP National Championship on ESPN Radio, marquee college basketball, The Masters Par 3 contest, and more.
If McDonough was moving onto those games, well, someone had to move off of them, and his new role perfectly described the one Joe Tessitore had at the time. The New York Post reported when the news hit in March that Tessitore would indeed be McDonough's Monday Night replacement, and ESPN finally confirmed as much on Thursday, announcing a 4-person team of Tessitore, analyst Jason Witten, field analyst Booger McFarland and sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
“Our new Monday Night Football team shares a passion and respect for the game that will be evident to fans,” ESPN senior VP Stephanie Druley said in a statement. “Joe brings an unrivaled excitement to each broadcast through his play-by-play style. Jason leaves the game with the respect of the entire league. His knowledge and insight will quickly make him one of the most respected analysts in football. Booger’s ability to share candid opinions and insightful observations has made him one of our best analysts. Together, with Lisa, our Emmy-nominated reporter, this team will deliver a fantastic broadcast. We are thrilled to introduce this new team to fans as we begin the latest chapter in MNF’s storied history.”
It's undoubtedly a promotion for Tessitore. Moving from the No. 2 chair on college football to the lead voice one of the top five NFL windows is a move anyone in that industry would take 11 times out of 10.
But, still, it's a sad day for college football. Tessitore had the presence, the gravitas, the sense of history and the moment and the booming baritone voice that made him a perfect fit for the college game. College football is Michigan's dropped punt, a season-shaking upset under the lights or Ames, or Les Miles drawing up the perfect fake field goal where the kicker intentionally ricochets the ball off the line judge's head. Monday Night Football is trying to make Colts-Titans seem interesting.
Who else could inspire their own phenomenon such as Joe Tess?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPqE0--sdos
While it's a big day for Tessitore, we'll leave the final word to the man who knows what it's like to leave college football for MNF better than anyone else on the planet.
“As much as it was a great honor to be the voice of ‘Monday Night Football’ –– and you guys know me well enough, and certainly a lot of my friends and family do –– it wasn’t a tremendous amount of fun the last two years," McDonough said in March. "When I took my ego out of it, when the conversation about a reboot of MNF came up, when I took the ego part of it out, and rationalized it, I really could be fine with not being the voice of MNF, then it became easy. I love college football. For me, it’s more fun, and that’s a personal taste.”