Media MonsterNCAA Football

Erin Andrews Re-Signs with ESPN, Expands Role with College Gameday

July 1st was the end of an era for a major sports personality when their current contract was officially over, making them a prime free agent candidate. I’m not talking about LeBron James. I’m talking about Erin Andrews (or, as Matt Hinton refers to her on occasion, “The Patron Site of Blog Traffic”), who’s existing ESPN/ABC deal was up at the end of June.

Andrews, who has been in a limited role with ESPN over much of the last year recovering from last year’s “peephole” stalker case, returned to TV several times this spring with her home network. After appearing in the most recent season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and then covering the College World Series for the Worldwide Leader, Andrews fulfilled her current duties with the networks. There wasn’t a lot of discussion of where’d she would go next, but she likely had many options.

I can’t remember when I saw it, but someone definitely tried to read the tealeaves last week that when Erin Andrews dropped “ESPN” from her Twitter handle (Changing to @ErinAndrews from @ErinAndrewsESPN), it was a sign she was on the way out the door. The news this morning, though, is the opposite, and great for EA. Not only will she return to ESPN, she will be expanding her role in many ways.

From the press release:

Erin Andrews, one of the most recognized and respected faces on the sidelines of college sports, has signed a new multi-year deal with ESPN. In addition to her highly successful sideline reporting, as part of her new contract Andrews has been rewarded with an enhanced role at the network with significant additional responsibilities.

ESPN announced today that its two-time Emmy Award winning “College GameDay” Built by The Home Depot will expand to a three-hour format and now be aired from 9 a.m. to noon ET, providing an extra hour of college football analysis, news and features every Saturday during the season beginning September 4, 2010. ESPNU will televise the new first hour of the popular show — originating from the site of the day’s best game or the game with the most compelling storyline — from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, GameDay will continue to air on ESPN. The first site of the season is yet to be announced. Each location throughout the year will generally be determined on the preceding Monday.

I’m just saying, I would have rather watched on hour-long special on Erin (a) in general and (b) saying she’d stay with her current team than a certain crapfest that was broadcast last week. Quiet and loyal: a good lesson on how contracts should be done.

PS: An extra hour of GameDay? Amazing. Is it college football season yet?