CBS began running the NFL on television dating back to 1956 until it lost the NFC contract after the 1993 season.

During its initial run, the NFL on CBS developed into a pristine presentation that accomplished a simple goal; hype the grandiose machine that is the NFL.

It was stately…poetic…majestic…and important.

In fact, for the purposes of this discussion, we’re cutting off the current incarnation of the NFL on CBS. First off, it features the AFC, which if you grew up in the 80s was considered knockoff football. The NFC was were it was at. When the NFC went to FOX, it changed the product forever sadly.

Anyhow, enough of my crocodile tears. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.

MUSIC:

One of the most important parts of NFL television production is the music. Few pieces of pre-game music could ever top the classic NFL Today theme.

In a word, majestic.

Anyone who suggests differently is perhaps loony. This leads us to our first stop…

PREGAME

To this day, Brent Musburger is the greatest studio host ever. His presentation wasn’t too verbose or bombastic, it was just right. He could make Minnesota visiting the lowly Detroit Lions sound important.

That’s what separates today’s NFL TV from yesterday’s product. The simple idea of a pregame show to me is to get fans excited for Sunday’s action. THAT’S IT. It’s not about comedians or puff pieces.

Fans typically care about six things generally on Sundays:

1. Their team.
2. Food
3. Alcohol or other beverages
4. Fantasy teams
5. Gambling
6. Eye candy

The NFL Today hit nearly all aspects and only missed out on fantasy football chatter because it didn’t become a prominent part fandom until the 2000s.

GAME INTRO

This is where today’s NFL television product takes a sharp left turn. Normally, you don’t get heavily produced pre-game opens because of commercial time.

Folks, just do it. We’ll all be happy. You will not miss that money for a :30 second spot in the long run.

Anyhow, this is where CBS used Pat Summerall in particular to get people lathered up for big games.

Here are three of my favorites:

1. 1992 NFC Championship

2. 1990 NFC Championship

3. 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4J54SJewe0

GAMES

Obviously, having Pat Summerall and John Madden behind most of the signature NFL moments of CBS during the 80s and early 90s helped a lot.

From the presentation to the game announcers, everything just seemed more heightened, cooler, and important on that incarnation of CBS.

Today?

Not so much.

A large part of this is probably me just re-living my childhood or just to find an excuse to use the NFL Today theme song…or maybe both.