Saturday Nights just got better

ESPN and ABC announce a nationwide package of prime-time games in 2006 for Saturday Night!

If the getting out and mingling with the opposite sex isn't working, have friends over for the multitude of Notre Dame away games. If the pickup line "You're with me, leather" isn't closing deals for you, block off the September 9 game of Ohio State at Texas.

While a full list of talent assignments are on this link, I want to rank the gamrtime announcer teams (play-by-play followed by analyst):

• Brad Nessler with Paul Maguire and Bob Griese
• Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge
• Chris Fowler and Lee Corso
• Brent Musberger with Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit
• Dan Fouts (not a typo) with Tim Brant
• Doug Flutie in studio

Nessler is as smooth as a glass of sweet ice tea on a summer day, a scene familiar to me since Nessler has covered many SEC broadcasts over the years. I will however miss Mike "Paddington Bear" Tirico... see the resemblance?