One of the most random moments in sports broadcasting history took place on September 22, 2007. No. 16 Alabama and No. 22 Georgia were in overtime of an SEC college football battle in Tuscaloosa, with the Crimson Tide leading 23-20. The late, great Mike Patrick had play-by-play duties for ESPN alongside color commentator Todd Blackledge.
With the game in the middle of a wild finish between two power programs, Patrick suddenly shifted gears and wanted to talk about the “Princess of Pop,” Britney Spears. This unexpected turn led to an incredible exchange, right before a dramatic walk-off touchdown.
“I have an important question for you,” Patrick told Blackledge, who surely expected it to be about the football game.
“Go ahead,” Blackledge replied.
“What is Britney doing with her life?” Patrick asked.
“Who?” Blackledge responded, clearly confused.
“Britney,” Patrick reiterated.
“Britney who?” Blackledge asked.
“Spears!” Patrick said.
“What is she doing with her career?” he continued.
“Why do we care at this point?” Blackledge responded.
“Is she here?” Patrick asked.
“I don’t think so,” Blackledge said.
“Is she a football fan?” Blackledge followed up.
“Oh, I’m sure she is,” Patrick answered.
Seconds later, Matthew Stafford and Mikey Henderson connected for a 25-yard walk-off touchdown that gave Georgia the win.
Fast forward to a Saturday evening broadcast when Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy called the SEC showdown between Oklahoma and Alabama on ABC. During the third quarter, McDonough referenced the famous Patrick-Blackledge exchange.
“Another good catch by (Jer’Michael) Carter, a junior from Kentwood, Louisiana, a small town of 2,200,” McDonough said. “Better known for being the hometown of Britney Spears. Made famous by Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge many years ago on an ESPN broadcast.”
“In this booth, believe it or not,” McElroy, who was a freshman quarterback for Alabama in 2007, added. “It was right before the overtime [finish] against Georgia in 2007.”
“What’s Britney doing?” McElroy joked.
Fittingly, the Oklahoma-Alabama game called by McDonough and McElroy was also a wild contest that went down to the wire—and it featured Alabama suffering a tough loss at home.
This memorable moment remains a fun and quirky example of sports broadcasters’ moments off-script, reminding fans that even in high-stakes games, there’s room for a little unexpected humor.
https://awfulannouncing.com/college-football/sean-mcdonough-greg-mcelroy-mike-patrick-todd-blackledge-britney-spears.html
