1971 NFL Season
As originally written by Jimmy Delach:
National Television
PRESEASON
Friday 7/30: Colts-College All-Stars (Chicago), 9:30, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson, Howard Cosell
Saturday 7/31: Rams-Oilers (Canton, OH - Hall of Fame Game), 4:30, ABC. Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell
Friday 8/13: 49ers-Dolphins, 8:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Friday 8/20: Browns-Cowboys, 8:30, NBC. Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Sunday 8/29: Lions-Dolphins, 9:00, CBS. Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Don Criqui
Monday 8/30: Jets-Chiefs, 9:00, ABC. Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell
Friday 9/3: Cowboys-Colts, 9:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, Pat Summerall, Don Criqui
Saturday 9/4: Cardinals-Chiefs, 8:30, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Sunday 9/12: Lions-Eagles, 9:00, CBS. Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Don Criqui
WEEK 1, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Sunday 9/19:
Cowboys-Bills, 1, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Oilers-Browns, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Raiders-Patriots, 1, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Eagles-Bengals, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
49ers-Falcons, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Dick Stockton*
Rams-Saints, 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Gil Stratton*
Giants-Packers, 2, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bill Mazer*
Steelers-Bears, 2, NBC, Bill Enis, Johnny Morris
Redskins-Cardinals, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Bruce Roberts*
Chiefs-Chargers, 4, NBC, Jay Randolph, Willie Davis
Dolphins-Broncos, 4, NBC, Ross Porter, Dave Kocourek
Jets-Colts, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Monday 9/20:
Vikings-Lions, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 2, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Sunday 9/26:
Bengals-Steelers, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Cowboys-Eagles, 1, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Andy Musser*
Lions-Patriots, 1, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Dick Stockton*
Dolphins-Bills, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Redskins-Giants, 1, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bill Mazer*
Bears-Vikings, 2, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Bruce Roberts*
Browns-Colts, 2, NBC, Jay Randolph, Johnny Morris
Broncos-Packers (Milwaukee), 2, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
49ers-Saints, 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Frank Clarke*
Falcons-Rams, 4, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Gil Stratton*
Chiefs-Oilers, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Raiders-Chargers, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Monday 9/27:
Jets-Cardinals, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 3, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Sunday 10/3:
Colts-Patriots, 1, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Jets-Dolphins, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Chargers-Steelers, 1, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
49ers-Eagles, 1, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Andy Musser*
Falcons-Lions, 2, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Bill Mazer*
Bills-Vikings, 2, NBC, Al Michaels, Johnny Morris
Bengals-Packers, 2, NBC, Bill Enis, Willie Davis
Saints-Oilers, 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Dick Stockton*
Redskins-Cowboys, 2, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Bears-Rams, 4, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Gil Stratton*
Chiefs-Broncos, 4, WDAF-Kansas City, KTSB-Topeka/NBC*, Ross Porter, Dave Kocourek
Giants-Cardinals, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts*
Monday 10/4:
Raiders-Browns, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 4, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Sunday 10/10:
Colts-Bills, 1, WBFF-Baltimore, Jim Karvellas, Kyle Rote
Oilers-Redskins, 1, KTRK-Houston, Bill Enis, Paul Maguire
Dolphins-Bengals, 1, WPLG-Miami, Joe Croghan, Dave Kocourek
Vikings-Eagles, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Jets-Patriots, 1, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Dick Stockton
Steelers-Browns, 1, WTAE-Pittsburgh, Jay Randolph, Ed Conway
Cardinals-Falcons, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Bill Mazer*
Packers-Lions, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Frank Clarke*
Saints-Bears, 2, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Bruce Roberts*
Chargers-Chiefs, 2, KCST-San Diego, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Rams-49ers, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Gil Stratton*
Raiders-Broncos, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Monday 10/11:
Giants-Cowboys, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 5, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Sunday 10/17:
Colts-Giants, 1, WBFF-Baltimore, Jim Karvellas, Kyle Rote
Bills-Jets, 1, WKBW-Buffalo, Al Michaels, Rick Azar
Rams-Falcons, 1, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Bill Mazer*
Patriots-Dolphins, 1, WNAC-Boston, Bill Enis, George Ratterman
Cardinals-Redskins, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Andy Musser*
Cowboys-Saints, 2, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Lions-Oilers, 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Dick Stockton*
Bears-49ers, 4, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor
Browns-Bengals, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Al DeRogatis
Vikings-Packers, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts*
Eagles-Raiders, 4, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Gil Stratton*
Chargers-Broncos, 4, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Monday 10/18:
Steelers-Chiefs, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 6, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Saturday/Sunday 10/23-10/24:
Bills-Chargers, Midnight, WKBW-Buffalo, Rick Azar, Paul Maguire
Sunday 10/24:
Broncos-Browns, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Oilers-Steelers, 1, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Dolphins-Jets, 1, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Saints-Falcons, 1, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Frank Clarke*
Giants-Eagles, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Bears-Lions, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Bruce Roberts*
Patriots-Cowboys, 2, NBC, Jay Randolph, Dave Kocourek
49ers-Cardinals, 2, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Bill Mazer*
Bengals-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Packers-Rams, 4, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Gil Stratton*
Redskins-Chiefs, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Dick Stockton*
Monday 10/25:
Colts-Vikings, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 7, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Sunday 10/31:
Falcons-Browns, 1, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Frank Clarke*
Broncos-Eagles, 1, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Vikings-Giants, 1, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Bill Mazer*
Saints-Redskins, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Dick Stockton*
Cardinals-Bills, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Andy Musser
Bengals-Oilers, 2, NBC, Bill Enis, Paul Maguire
Cowboys-Bears, 2, CBS, Frank Glieber, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts*
Steelers-Colts, 2, NBC, Al Michaels, Dave Kocourek
Chiefs-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Dolphins-Rams, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Willie Davis
Patriots-49ers, 4, NBC, Ross Porter, Johnny Morris
Jets-Chargers, 4, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Monday 11/1:
Lions-Packers (Milwaukee), 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 8, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Sunday 11/7:
Falcons-Bengals, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Bill Mazer*
Bills-Dolphins, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Browns-Steelers, 1, NBC, Ross Porter, Johnny Morris
Oilers-Patriots, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Chiefs-Jets, 1, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Eagles-Redskins, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Chargers-Giants, 1, NBC, Charlie Jones, Willie Davis
Cowboys-Cardinals, 2, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Packers-Bears, 2, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Bruce Roberts*
Raiders-Saints, 2, NBC, Jay Randolph, Paul Maguire
Lions-Broncos, 4, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Gil Stratton*
49ers-Vikings, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Dick Stockton*
Monday 11/8:
Rams-Colts, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 9, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Sunday 11/14:
Colts-Jets, 1, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Bills-Patriots, 1, NBC, Jay Randolph, Paul Maguire
Rams-Lions, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Alex Hawkins, Bill Mazer*
Giants-Falcons, 1, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Dick Stockton*
Steelers-Dolphins, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Packers-Vikings, 2, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Frank Clarke*
Eagles-Cowboys, 2, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Andy Musser*
Redskins-Bears, 2, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Bruce Roberts*
Bengals-Broncos, 4, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Browns-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Oilers-Raiders, 4, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Saints-49ers, 4, CBS, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Gil Stratton*
Monday 11/15:
Cardinals-Chargers, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 10, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Sunday 11/21:
Colts-Dolphins, 1, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Cowboys-Redskins, 1, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Oilers-Bengals, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Patriots-Browns, 1, NBC, Bill O'Donnell, Johnny Morris
Giants-Steelers, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Irv Cross, Bill Mazer*
Jets-Bills, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Broncos-Chiefs, 2, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Lions-Bears, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Bruce Roberts*
Vikings-Saints, 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Alex Hawkins, Dick Stockton*
Eagles-Cardinals, 2, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Chargers-Raiders, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Willie Davis
49ers-Rams, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Gil Stratton*
Monday 11/22:
Packers-Falcons, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 11, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Thursday 11/25:
Chiefs-Lions, Noon, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Rams-Cowboys, 3:30, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts*
Sunday 11/28:
Broncos-Steelers, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Patriots-Bills, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Cardinals-Giants, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Irv Cross, Dick Stockton*
Chargers-Bengals, 1, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
49ers-Jets, 1, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Bill Mazer*
Redskins-Eagles, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Falcons-Vikings, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Frank Clarke*
Browns-Oilers, 2, NBC, Charlie Jones, Johnny Morris
Saints-Packers (Milwaukee), 2, CBS, Don Criqui, Alex Hawkins, Bruce Roberts*
Colts-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Monday 11/29:
Bears-Dolphins, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 12, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Saturday 12/4:
Jets-Cowboys, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Sunday 12/5:
Bengals-Browns, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Dolphins-Patriots, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Giants-Redskins, 1, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bill Mazer*
Raiders-Falcons, 1, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Eagles-Lions, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Irv Cross, Andy Musser*
Bills-Colts, 2, NBC, Charlie Jones, George Ratterman
Steelers-Oilers, 2, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Bears-Broncos, 4, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Bruce Roberts*
Packers-Cardinals, 4, CBS, Don Criqui, Alex Hawkins, Frank Clarke*
Vikings-Chargers, 4, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Dick Stockton*
Saints-Rams, 4, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Gil Stratton*
Monday 12/6:
Chiefs-49ers, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 13, 1971 - NBC Doubleheader:
Saturday 12/11:
Lions-Vikings, 1, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts*
Dolphins-Colts, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Sunday 12/12:
Cowboys-Giants, 1, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Frank Clarke*
Oilers-Bills, 1, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Patriots-Jets, 1, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Steelers-Bengals, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Cardinals-Eagles, 1, CBS, Jack Buck, Irv Cross, Andy Musser*
Bears-Packers, 2, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Bruce Roberts*
Browns-Saints, 2, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Falcons-49ers, 4, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Gil Stratton*
Broncos-Chargers, 4, NBC, Charlie Jones, Johnny Morris
Raiders-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Monday 12/13:
Redskins-Rams, 9, ABC, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
WEEK 14, 1971 - CBS Doubleheader:
Saturday 12/18:
Cardinals-Cowboys, 4, CBS, Jack Buck, Irv Cross, Frank Clarke
Sunday 12/19:
Bengals-Jets, 1, NBC, Ross Porter, Willie Davis
Browns-Redskins, 1, NBC, Charlie Jones, Johnny Morris
Packers-Dolphins, 1, CBS, Don Criqui, Alex Hawkins, Bill Mazer*
Rams-Steelers, 1, CBS, Frank Glieber, Eddie Le Baron, Dick Stockton*
Eagles-Giants, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier, Andy Musser*
Falcons-Saints, 2, CBS, Lindsey Nelson, Johnny Sauer, Frank Clarke*
Bills-Chiefs, 2, NBC, Jay Randolph, George Ratterman
Vikings-Bears, 2, CBS, Jack Drees, George Connor, Bruce Roberts*
Patriots-Colts, 2, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Chargers-Oilers, 2, NBC, Bill Enis, Dave Kocourek
Broncos-Raiders, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Lions-49ers, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Gil Stratton*
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS:
Saturday 12/25:
Cowboys-Vikings, 1, CBS, Jack Whitaker, Irv Cross, Dick Stockton
Dolphins-Chiefs, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Sunday 12/26:
Colts-Browns, 1, NBC, Jim Simpson, Kyle Rote
Redskins-49ers, 4, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Bruce Roberts
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Sunday 1/2:
49ers-Cowboys, 1:30, CBS, Jack Buck, Pat Summerall, Don Criqui
Colts-Dolphins, 4:30, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
SUPER BOWL VI from New Orleans:
Sunday 1/16: Cowboys-Dolphins, 2, CBS, Ray Scott, Pat Summerall, Jack Whitaker, Tom Brookshier
Pro Bowl from Los Angeles:
Sunday 1/23: AFC-NFC, 4, NBC, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Local TV Crews
Originally written by garretta
Steelers: WIIC-TV is the new preseason home of the Steelers. It will broadcast four road games: August 14 at Green Bay, August 23 at Cincinnati. September 4 at the New York Jets. and September 12 at the New York Giants. Sponsors are U.S. Steel, Pittsburgh National Bank, Koehler Brewing Company, and the local Ford Dealers. WIIC sports director Sam Nover will call the play-by-play, with former Steeler Dick Hoak doing color.
WTAE-TV will air the Steelers' Week 4 trip to Cleveland to battle the Browns on Sunday, October 10. Kickoff is set for 1PM Eastern. with Jay Randolph calling the play-by-play and WTAE sports director Ed Conway providing color.
Oilers: At press time, two games were slated for coverage: KTRK-TV, an ABC affiliate, will televise the August 14 game in St. Louis against the Cardinals, and KHOU-TV, a CBS affiliate, will televise the September 12 game in New Orleans against the Saints. The sponsor lineups weren't complete at press time, but Don Meredith is slated to call play-by-play for the Cardinals game.
KTRK will also carry the Oilers' Week 4 trip to Washington to take on the Redskins on Sunday, October 10. Kickoff is set for Noon Central, with Bill Enis and Paul Maguire calling the action.
The Oilers' appearance in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio on Saturday, July 31 will be nationally televised by ABC. The Oilers will represent the AFC, while the Los Angeles Rams represent the NFC. Kickoff is set for 4:30 PM Eastern, with Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell calling the action,
Bengals: WLWT-TV will carry three preseason games. Phil Samp, Bob Walter, and Omar Williams will describe the action. The station will also present a series of twenty-one half-hour programs called Quarterback Club beginning August 6. Sponsorship arrangements for both are incomplete.
WLWT's sister station, WLWD-TV Dayton, will carry the preseason games as well as their own program concerning the team. Bengals Report, which begins August 8. As in Cincinnati, sponsorships have yet to be worked out.
Browns; WEWS-TV will carry three preseason games: Sunday, August 8 at San Francisco against the 49ers; Friday, August 13 at Los Angele against the Rams; and Saturday, August 28 against the Chicago Bears from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Sponsors are unknown at press time. Ray Scott and Jay Randolph will split the play-by-play duties, with Ernie Green providing color.
Now for 1971 in the AFC West. Chiefs: KMBC-TV has signed a new five-year contract to show Chiefs preseason games and will air four of them this year, Sponsors of each game for a quarter apiece are Kansas City Power and Light, Wilson Certified Foods, and Sears. The other quarter remains unsold, as does the pregame show. There will not be a postgame show. John Sanders will call the play-by-play, with the color commentator unknown at press time bur expected to be a former Chief. One change is that Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson, who is also KMBC's sports director, won't work for the station during training camp. The games will also be carried on WIBW-TV Topeka (Kansas) and KQTV-TV St. Joseph (Missouri).
The other two preseason games will be nationally televised. On Monday, August 30, the Chiefs will welcome Joe Namath and the Jets to Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8PM Central on ABC, with Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell on the call. Five days later on Saturday, September 4, the Chiefs will entertain their cross-state rivals, the St, Louis Cardinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM Central on NBC, with Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis describing the action. The Chiefs' October 3 game in Denver against the Broncos will be televised by WDAF-TV Kansas City (Missouri) and KTSB-TV Topeka (Kansas), NBC will still produce the game, which will kick off at 3PM Central. Jay Randolph and Dave Kocourek will be the announcers. (Note: Our researchers aren't sure that KTSB televised the game.) Raiders: KTVU-TV will air the Raiders' preseason game on August 29 in Green Bay against the Packers in black and white. It will also be fed to KTXL-TV Sacramento. No announcers have been chosen, and there won't be a pregame or postgame show. All sponsors are participating.
Broncos: KOA-TV will air three preseason games. Texaco and Datsun gave each taken a one-sixth share of sponsorship, while Master Charge and Frontier Airlines have each taken one-twelfth. (If you add the fractions, this means that six-twelfths, or one-half, of the commercial time is sold.) No announcers have been selected as of July 13.
Chargers: KCST-TV is in the second and final year of their agreement to air Chargers' preseason games and will air all six, two live and four on tape delay. Four advertisers have purchased a one-twelfth share of advertising time: Colonial Ford, Fashion Valley Shopping Center, Toyota and Sears. All other game time is open, as are the pregame and postgame shows. Bob Chandler will handle play-by-play, with a color commentator to be announced later.
KCST will also televise the Chargers' Week 4 trip to Kansas City to battle the Chiefs on Sunday, October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 11AM Pacific, with Ross Porter and Willie Davis calling the action. Now for the NFC Central in 1971.
Vikings: KSTP-TV will televise four preseason games. Sports director Tom Ryther will call the play-by-play, with Johnny Sauer. a former scout for the Vikings and current sports director for WING-AM Dayton (Ohio) in addition to being an NFL analyst for CBS, will provide color.
In addition, KSTP will air a six-week show called Vikings Countdown on Saturday nights beginning August 4 and The Bud Grant Show, which will be co-hosted by Ryther, before Monday Night Football starting September 20.
Lions: WJBK-TV will air three preseason games. Announcers haven't been named yet.
Two Lions preseason games will be nationally televised by CBS: their visits to Miami on August 29 to take on the Dolphins and Philadelphia on September 12 to face the Eagles. More information will be provided in the AFC East and NFC East posts respectively.
Bears: WBBM-TV will air all six preseason games. One will be aired live, the other five on tape delay. Advertising will be sold on a participation basis. Ray Scott and Brent Musburger will split the play-by play, with George Connor handling color,
Packers: WBAY-TV will carry all six games. Some will be live and some will be tape-delayed; the article doesn't specify which games fall under which category. Chuck Ramsey, sports director for WBAY, will call the play-by-play, while Packers publicity director Chuck Lane handles color.
The Dan Devine Show, a thirty-minute show featuring the Packers' head coach, will be presented during both the preseason and regular season.
Now let's talk about television in the NFC West in 1971:
Saints: WWL-TV will carry three preseason games. Sponsors for a one-eighth share include Old Milwaukee Beer, McKinnon Chevrolet, King Cotton Meats, and Shell Oil (spelled "Sheel" in the article). Announcers weren't mentioned,
Rams: Six of the seven Rams preseason games will be shown by KNXT-TV. Three games will be live; the other three will be tape-delayed. Gil Stratton and Don Paul will call the action. Sponsors weren't mentioned.
The other game is the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on July 31 against the Houston Oilers, which will be televised by ABC. Information can be found in my AFC Central post.
49ers: Two of the Niners' six preseason games will be aired by KTVU-TV Oakland, with the feed also going to KVOR-TV Sacramento, Bob Starr will call the play-by-play. Sponsors weren't mentioned.
The Niners will take on the Dolphins at the Orange Bowl in Miami on Friday, August 13. Information can be found in my AFC East post.
Falcons: WQXI-TV will air all five preseason games. Skip Caray. the voice of the NBA's Hawks, will call the play-by-play while Alex Hawkins provides color, Sponsors signed so far are Country Club Malt Liquor, Atlanta Gas Light Company, and the local Ford Dealers Association.
During the regular season, WQKI will air The Norm Van Brocklin Show at 8:30 PM Eastern on Monday nights, before Monday Night Football. The show will be sponsored by British Petroleum Company and First National Bank of Atlanta.
Now let's discuss television in the AFC East for 1971:
Colts: The team's preseason TV rights are held by Dennis Dunn Inc. of Baltimore. WJZ-TV will televise the August 21 game against the Lions from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jim Karvellas and John Kennelly will call the action. Sponsors will include Schmidt's Beer, Coca-Cola, Esso, BP Gasoline, Personna Razor Blades, Esskay Meats, and Aamco Transmissions.
Two Colts preseason games will be nationally televised. On Friday, July 30, the Colts will participate in the College All-Star Game at Soldier Field in Chicago. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM Eastern, with Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson, and Howard Cosell calling the action. On Friday, September 3, they'll host the Dallas Cowboys in a Super Bowl V "rematch" at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9PM Eastern on CBS, with Frank Glieber and Pat Summerall on the call and Don Criqui in CBS Control.
WBFF-TV will televise two Colts games in as many weeks during the month of October. On Sunday, October 10 (Week 4), the Colts invade War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo to take on the Bills. In Week 5, on Sunday, October 17, they make their way to Yankee Stadium in New York for an interconference showdown with the Giants. Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 1PM Eastern; Karvellas will provide play-by-play, with Kyle Rote doing color commentary.
Bills: WKBW-TV is televising Bills preseason games for the sixth consecutive year. This year, it will carry three preseason games. Rick Azar will call the play-by-play. Genessee Beer will be a game sponsor.
WKBW will also televise the Bills' Week 6 visit to San Diego. where they'll square off against the Chargers. Kickoff on Friday, October 22 (or Saturday, October 23, depending on your perspective) is scheduled for Midnight Eastern, with a replay at Noon Eastern on Sunday, October 24. Azar will call the play-by-play, with Paul Maguire providing color commentary. As of press time, four Western New York stations have signed to take both feeds.
A week earlier, on Sunday, October 17, WBEN-TV will show the Bills' trip to Shea Stadium in New York, where Joe Namath and the Jets await. Kickoff is scheduled for 1PM Eastern, with Al Michaels and Dick Rifenburg calling the action.
Patriots: WSMW-TV Worcester will broadcast all six preseason games (three home. three away) and feed them to a three-station network in Massachusetts. Bob Fouracre will call the play-by-play, with Larry Garron on color commentary. Sponsors are Schaefer Beer, Cooper Tire, Merit Gasoline, and State Mutual Life Insurance of Worcester.
WNAC-TV will televise the Pats' Week 5 visit to Miami to oppose the Dolphins on Sunday, October 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 1PM Eastern, with Bill Enis and George Ratterman on the call.
Dolphins: As was the case last year, WPLG-TV will televise two preseason road games: August 21 against the Packers in Milwaukee and September 11 against the Vikings in Bloomington, Minnesota. Joe Croghan, WPLG's sports director, will call the play-by-play. Sponsors are Johnnie and Mack Automotive Services and First National Bank of Miami. A possible Monday night show with Croghan and head coach Don Shula that would precede Monday Night Football was being discussed at press time but hadn't been finalized.
Two Dolphins home preseason games will be nationally televised. On Friday, August 13, the Fins will host the San Francisco 49ers, Kickoff is scheduled for 8PM Eastern on NBC, with Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis calling the action. On Sunday, August 29, the Detroit Lions will visit the Orange Bowl. The game will be televised by CBS, but the original post forgot the kickoff time. Ray Scott and Pat Summerall will call the action. with Don Criqui in CBS Control.
WPLG will also televise the Dolphins' Week 4 visit to Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium to battle the Bengals on Sunday, October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1PM Eastern, with Croghan calling the play-by-play and Dave Kocourek providing color.
Jets: WOR-TV will carry Jets preseason games for the seventh year in a row. It will carry five games, with Don Criqui and George Ratterman describing the action. Participating sponsors are Ballantine Beer, BP Oil, Toyota, Volkswagen, Eastman Kodak, Miles Laboratories, Warner-Lambert Company, and Seven-Up.
The Jets' visit to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on August 30 will be nationally televised by ABC. Information can be found in my AFC West post.
Next: We wrap up our team profiles by examining the NFC East.
We continue with the NFC East in 1971. Here's a look at television:
Eagles: WCAU-TV will show Eagles preseason games for the eleventh straight year. It will carry all six games. but some of them will be on a delayed basis. Andy Musser will call the play-by-play. with station sports director Tom Brookshier handling color. Brookshier will also host the pregame and postgame shows, which will only air if time permits. Household Finance and Schaefer Brewing have signed on as sponsors, with the rest of the commercial time sold to participating advertisers. The games will also be shown by WLYH-TV Lebanon-Lancaster and WDAU-TV Wilkes Barre-Scranton,
On Sunday, September 12, the Eagles will host the Lions in their final preseason game of the year, which will be nationally televised by CBS. Kickoff is scheduled for 9PM Eastern, with Jack Whitaker and Tom Brookshier on the call and Don Criqui at CBS Control.
Redskins: WMAL-TV will air Redskins preseason games for the first time since 1954. It will show three road games live and in color on Saturday nights and three home games on tape delay. Steve Gilmartin will call the play-by-play; no color commentator was named in the article. There are twenty spot availabilities in each game; six of them have been sold to Maulamut Opticians, Koons Ford, Utz Potato Chips, Country Club Lake. the local Datsun Dealers, and Bill Bogley Lincoln-Mercury.
Cowboys: KDFW-TV will carry four preseason games. Twp of them will be live, the other two on tape delay. The tape-delayed games will be shown the day after they take place. The first live games, which will be on Friday, August 6 against the Rams in Los Angeles, will be carried by nine other stations. The second live game, against the Oilers in Houston on Thursday, August 26, will be carried by three other stations. Frank Glieber and Eddie LeBaron will call the two live games; no announcers were named for the tape-delayed games.
The other two Cowboys preseason games will be nationally televised. Their September 3 game in Baltimore against the Colts has already been documented in the AFC East post. Two weeks earlier, on Friday, August 20, the Boys will host the Cleveland Browns at the Cotton Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM Central on NBC, with Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote describing the action.
Cardinals: KMOX-TV will televise four preseason games. The two home games (August 14 against the Oilers and September 11 against the Browns) will be tape-delayed, while the two road games (August 21 at Washington and August 28 at Cincinnati) will be broadcast live. No announcers were mentioned in the article.
The Cards' preseason visit to Kansas City on Saturday, September 4 to take on the Chiefs will be nationally televised by NBC, as I documented in the AFC West post.
The last part of the article doesn't make sense, especially when home games were still automatically blacked out: it says that during the regular season, when KMOX produces home games, it will feed their broadcast to a special network of fourteen stations.
Why would KMOX produce broadcasts of games it couldn't show no matter what? If CBS was thinking about bringing back team-specific broadcasts, why experiment in St. Louis? KMOX was an O-and-O at the time, but so was WCBS in New York, and the Giants still had a reputation dating from their days in the fifties and sixties as one of the NFL's best teams. Could Broadcasting have meant to say that the road games were the one to be networked? Of the seven Big Red road games, two were national telecasts. The other five were called by Jack Buck, with either Irv Cross or Alex Hawkins as the analyst. That's the sort of arrangement that regional networks make all the time.
Giants: WCBS-TV will carry Giants preseason games for the twelfth consecutive year. It will carry all six preseason games, two live and four on a tape-delayed basis. There will also be a half-hour pregame show called Warm-Up before two of the game. Sponsors include Ballantine Beer and the local Volvo Distirbutors. Announcers include Ray Scott, Jack Whitaker, Pat Summerall, Frank Glieber, and Tom Brookshier. They will call the games on a rotating basis. (If you use Scott, Whitaker and Gileber as play-by-play and Summerall and Brookshier as analysts, each of the six combinations would have called one game.)
Local Radio Crews
Originally written by garretta
Now for radio in the AFC Central:
Oilers: KILT-AM is the head of a ten-station network that will broadcast all twenty-one scheduled games. The station is in its eighth year of carrying Oilers games, and it retains radio rights for itself this year after serving as the flagship of a network put together by Majestic Advertising of Milwaukee for the past three years.
As of July 12, Falstaff Beer had bought half of each game and the Houston Area Ford Dealers had bought a quarter. Other participating sponsors are Ryder Truck Rental, Gates Tire Company, Morgan Homes (realtors). and Union Carbide. Dan Lovett, sports director of KTRK-TV, and Ron Franklin, sports director of KHOU-TV, will split both play-by-play and color commentary. There will be a pregame Ed Hughes Show with the Oilers' new head coach and a halftime show sponsored by Southwestern Bell. Franklin and Lovett will also host a ten-minute pregame show and a five-minute wrap-up show.
Bengals: WLW-AM will feed all scheduled games to a thirty-one-station network in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Birger Brewing and Tresler-Comet Gasoline will each sponsor a quarter of each game. Half a quarter each will be sponsored by Ohio Appliances, Union Central Life Insurance, and B.F. Goodrich. This leaves a quarter and a half of each game still unsold at press time. Phil Samp and Jimmy Crum will call the games.
WLW will air three pregame shows: Coach's Corner, sponsored by First National Bank of Cincinnati; Warm-Up, sponsored by Partridge Meats; and Bengals Football Preview. sponsored by Cincinnati Milk Sales. Two halftime features will be sponsored by Shillito's Men's Store and Central Trust Bank respectively. The postgame highlights show will be sponsored by Carter's Restaurants, and the Star of the Game show will be sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.
WLW will also air The Paul Brown Show daily for twenty-six weeks. Sponsorship will be local.
Browns: WHK-AM has renewed its contract for the next three years and will carry all scheduled games as part of a regional fifty-station network that includes stations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The network is approximately the same size it was last year. Gib Shanley will call the play-by-play, while Jim Graner handles color. There will be a pregame show (Browns Report with head coach Nick Skorich) and two postgame shows (Locker Room Report and Scoreboard Show)
Participating advertisers include:
Benjamin Moore Paints
Hilltop Realty
East Ohio Gas
Union Carbide
McDonalds
Duquesne Brewing
Cleveland Area Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers
State Savings and Loan
Retail Clerks International
Household Finance
Beef Corral
Coca-Cola
Steelers: WTAE-AM is the team's flagship for the second year in a row. It will head a forty-five-station network in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia that carries all scheduled games. The station will also take over game production duties from last year's network packager, Empire Sports Productions. Tom Leslie will direct the broadcasts while Jim Greenwood (no relation that I know of to L,C.) handles technical operations for the network.
Game sponsors for a quarter apiece as of July 13 are Union Carbide, the local Oldsmobile Dealers (known as The Grand Olds Gang), Pittsburgh National Bank, and Iron City Beer. Jack Fleming and Myron Cope will return as the announcers; Cope will also host a pregame show with head coach Chuck Noll and a postgame Locker Room show. Tom Bender will host the halftime show and the postgame pro scoreboard show.
(The article has both Jack and Myron on staff at Sports Illustrated. which is absolutely untrue. Myron wrote freelance articles for them with the title of Special Contributor, but as far as I know Jack was never a print journalist of any sort, let alone a writer for SI.)
Now let's look at radio in the AFC West for 1971:
Chargers: KDEO-AM El Cajon is entering the third year of its five-year contract to broadcast all scheduled games. It will serve as the flagship of a fourteen-station network. Texaco, Toyota, and Rancho De Los Penasquiotes Land Developers have each taken one-fifth game sponsorship shares, while Dow Sound City (Studio 5) has a one-tenth share. Three-tenths remain open, as does the postgame show. The pregame show will be sponsored by Piccadilly Book Stores.
Stu Nahan and Ralph Lawler will call the games; according to the article, Nahan will concentrate on offense while Lawler concentrates on defense. (The easiest way to do this would have been for Nahan to call the Chargers' possessions and Lawler to call the opposition's possessions. I have no idea how they actually worked it out.)
Broncos: KOA-AM will carry five preseason games and all fourteen regular season games as the flagship of a forty-three-station network. This is the second year of a multi-year contract, and the network is the same size as it was last year. Participating sponsors for games are Texaco, Sigman Meat Company, Royal Crown Bottling Company, Majestic Savings and Loan Association, State Farm Mutual, Schlitz Brewing Company, and the Greater Denver Ford Dealers. Bob Martin and Larry Zimmer are your announcers.
Participating advertisers for the pregame show are GAC Finance Corporation, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Johnny Haas Lincoln-Mercury. The Lou Saban Show, featuring the Broncos' head coach, will be sponsored by NAPA Distribution Center. GAC and NAPA are also sponsors of the postgame show along with Holly Inn and Golden Ox Restaurant.
Chiefs: KCMO-AM will air all scheduled games and is the flagship of a thirty-nine-station network in five states. All games will also be simulcast on KCMO-FM. This is the first year of a four-year contract. Game sponsors, each with a one-fifth share, are Fairmount Country Club Dairy, Interstate Securities Corporation, Vickers Oil Company, Continental Airlines, and the local Schlitz Wholesalers. Right participating sponsors share the pregame and postgame shows. (The article doesn't name any of them.) Dick Carlson and Bill Grigsby will describe the action.
Raiders: KNEW-AM will air all scheduled games and head an eighteen-station network. This is the last year of their contract. Raider Pregame will be co-sponsored by Pacific Southwest Airlines and Central Bank, with each taking half of the show. Postgame Review will be sponsored by Central Bank and C. Markus Hardware.
Game sponsors, each with a quarter of each game, will be Toyota, Smith Clothiers, Union Oil Company, and Pacific Stereo Stores. Bill King will call the play-by-play, with Scotty Stirling providing color.
Now here's radio in the NFC Central for 1971:
Packers: WTMJ-AM Milwaukee will be the flagship of a thirty-six-station network. Seven stations are considered the basic network; the others comprise a bonus network. All games will be broadcast. Gary Bender and Jim Irwin will call the games and host the pregame and postgame shows. The pregame show will be sponsored by Slocum Pontiac, while the postgame show will be sponsored by Ruby Chevrolet. Game sponsors are Thorp Finance Corporation, Mars Candy Company, and Pabst Brewing Company.
Lions: The team has moved to WJR-AM after three years on WXYZ-AM. WJR will originate five preseason broadcasts and thirteen regular season broadcasts, which will in turn be fed to a regional network of thirty-three stations. There will be two ten-minute pregame features: The Joe Schmidt Show, featuring the Liions' head coach, and Pro Football Today.
There will also be two ten-minute postgame features: The Bill McPeak Show, which features the team's offensive coordinator, and Scores and Highlights. Union Carbide has bought a half=sponsorship in the pregame shows, and Household Finance has purchased alternating sponsorship in both the pregame and postgame shows.
Marathon Oil and Detroit Bank and Trust Company have each purchased a one-fifth share of each game. Other sponsors include Hamm's Brewing and Ford Motor Company. Van Patrick and Bob Reynolds will call the action.
Bears: WGN-AM will carry two preseason games and twelve regular season games; the first two regular season games will be preempted by Chicago Cubs baseball games. (That's probably why only two preseason games were broadcast as well.) A regional radio network is being planned.
The Standard Oil Division of American Oil is the Bears' radio rights holder for the twenty-sixth consecutive year and will sponsor one-third of each game. Household Finance will sponsor one-third as well. Jack Brickhouse and Irv Kupcinet will call the action.
Pregame shows will be sponsored by Robert Hall Clothes and International House of Pancakes. The postgame scoreboard show will be sponsored by the Chicago Metropolitan Buick Dealers. A few sponsors have purchased sixty-second spots just before or just after a segment: Horn Oldsmobile (the minute before warmup), Cotter and Company Hardware Stores (the minute before the game), Sun Drugs (the minute after the game), and Seno and Suns Clothing Store (the minute after the scoreboard show).
(I wonder if any Chicago station picked up the two regular season games that WGN couldn't air. The same goes for the regular season Lons game that WJR couldn't air.)
Vikings: KSTP-AM Minneapolis-St. Paul will be the flagship for a network numbering about seventy stations in six states. Calle and McVoy Advertising Agency is assembling the network under the direction of the team's radio rightsholder, Twin City Federal Savings and Loan,
Football Sundays will feature three hours of pregame programming and two hours of postgame programming. The entire day is known as "Vikings Day' and will be tailored to tailgaters with music, helicopter traffic reports, scores and news from around the NFL, and interviews. A centerpiece of the package will be Coach's Corner with Bud Grant, featuring the Vikings' coach and sponsored by Rock Springs Beverages.
Each hour of the coverage goes by a different name; the pregame show will be divided into The Pregame Tailgate Show, Grandstand Quarterback Show, and Vikings Countdown Show. while the postgame show is divided into Point After Show and The Postgame Tailgate Show.
Twin City Federal will sponsor half of each game, while Stephens Buick will sponsor the halftime show, The team's new play-by-play voice is Jo McConnell, who called Denver Broncos games last season and also served as the voice of the NBA's Phoenix Suns last season. Paul Hornung will provide color.
Now for the NFC West in 1971.
49ers: KSFO-AM will be the Niners' flagship station for the fifteenth consecutive year. It will head a group of twelve Golden West Radio Network stations. which will broadcast all scheduled games. Pre- and postgame sponsors will be Air California and Household Finance. Game sponsors for a quarter apiece will be Chevrolet, Roos Atkins Clothiers, Metropolitan Life Insurance, and Standard Oil of California. Lon Simmons and Hugh McElhenny will call the games.
Rams: This gets a bit complicated.
All fourteen regular season games will be fed to the full Rams network of nineteen stations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Thirteen of them will be broadcast in Los Angeles by network flagship KMPC-AM. The other one will be broadcast by KABC-AM due to a conflict with California Angels baseball.
In the preseason, which will total seven games, five games will be fed to the network, but three of those games will be heard on KABC due to Angels conflicts. Two games will only be heard on KMPC: the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio against the Oilers and the local charity game, which I'd be grateful if someone can tell us about. As an aside, the number of Rams radio affiliates has fallen for the first time in three years.
Pre- and postgame shows will be co-sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken and Sears. The Tommy Prothro Show, featuring the Rams' new head coach, will be sponsored by American Bakery. Game sponsors, each with a one-fifth share, are Standard Oil of California, Schlitz Brewing Company, Household Finance, Continental Airlines, and Datsun. Dick Enberg, Dave Niehaus, and Steve Bailey will call the games.
Falcons: WQXI-AM will be the team's flagship station for the sixth consecutive year. All games will be fed to a network that's expected to number fifty-five stations by the time the preseason starts. There will be two pregame shows fed to the network: a fifteen-minute show featuring coach Norm Van Brocklin and sponsored by Miller Beer, and another show sponsored by Union Carbide and Ellmans' of Atlanta Gift Shop, which will also co-sponsor the postgame show that's fed to the network. There will be a fifteen-minute Monday show only on WQXI that will be sponsored by Chris Volkswagen Motors.
Game sponsors, each for a quarter apiece, are Falstaff Brewing, Cities Service (which I believe is now Citgo). the Atlanta Ford Dealers, and First National Bank of Atlanta. Jack Hurst will call the play-by-play, while former Colt Jimmy Orr comes aboard to do color.
Saints: WWL-AM will carry all scheduled games. Announcers aren't set. Sponsors are DeVoe Paints, Falstaff Brewing, and Texaco.
Now it's time to discuss 1971 in the AFC East. We begin with radio:
Jets: The Jets have moved to WOR-AM after six years on WABC-AM. WOR will be the flagship of a network thar numbers about thirty-five stations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The only sponsor to sign in so far is Mobil Oil, who has a one-fifth share of each game. Color commentator Sam DeLuca will co-host a ten-minute pregame show as well as the postgame locker room show. There will also be a fifteen-minute pregame Don Criqui Show. Merle Harmon will call play-by-play.
Patriots; WBZ-AM has just signed a new five-year contract to remain the Pats' flagship station. They will head a seven-station network. Gil Santos and John Carlson are your announcers. Santos will also host a ten-minute pregame show, a ten-minute halftime show, and five-minute postgame show. Rotating sponsors are Hills Foods, Union Carbide, and Household Finance. Game sponsors signed so far for a quarter apiece are Schaefer Brewing and the New England Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers.
Bills: WBEN-AM will be the team's flagship station for the twelfth consecutive year. It will carry all scheduled games and feed them to a network of around twenty-five stations serving upstate New York. Buying time on local stations are M&T Bank, Hongerar Department Stores, and Genessee Brewing, Ford and Mobil Oil will sponsor on both the local and network levels.
WBEN-FM will simulcast the AM feed but has sold its time separately. Its sponsors are Dekdebrun's Sporting Goods, Park Edge Liquors, the United Florists of Western New York, Liberty National Bank, and Village Lincoln-Mercury Sales. Each sponsor has a one-fifth share of each game. Van Miller and Stan Barron will call the games, with Dick Rifenburg as the sideline reporter. Miller will host a ten-minute pregame show called Buffalo Bill Forum, while Barron will host the ten-minute postgame Locker Room Show. Alternating sponsors of these shows will be Sears and Milk for Health on the Niagra Frontier.
Dolphins: WIOD-AM will lead a ten-station network that will carry all scheduled games. Network sponsors will be Ballantine Beer, Cities Service, and Union Carbide. Additional participating sponsors on WIOD are Household Finance and Southern Tackle Company. Rick Weaver will call the play-by-play, with Larry King providing color and Henry Barrow acting as a field reporter. The time immediately before and after each broadcast will be sponsored by William Lehman Buick, Northside Shopping Center, and Bonfire Restaurant.
WIOD will also air a two-hour pregame show called The Orange Bowl Express and a one-hour postgame show called the Rolling Home Show. Express's main sponsor is Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has bought two fifteen-minute segments. Each of the following companies have purchased one fifteen-minute segment: Ryder Trucks, Leon Ray Volkswagen, Orange Motors, Harry Rich Carpets, Tall & Big Men's Shop, and Bernard Litman and Associates Insurance. Rolling Home has four fifteen-minute segments that have been bought by Bonfire Restaurant, Bernie Blanck Menswear, U-Haul Rentals, and Bob Houston Volkswagen.
Colts: WCBM-AM will once again be the flagship station of a network that numbered more than thirty stations as of July 12. Ted Moore and Ordell Brasse will describe the action. Brasse will also do a locker-room show after every preseason game, while Moore will host a fifteen-minute warmup show. The John Unitas Show before each regular season game, and a scoreboard show will air after each regular season game. Game sponsors, each with a one-fifth share, are Commercial Credit Corporation, National Brewing, Black and Decker, the local Ford Dealers, and Humble Oil.
Now let's look at radio in the NFC East in 1971:
Cowboys: The Texas State Network has bought the radio rights from the team. The network will consist of 127 statins, which is five more than the league-high total of last year. KFJZ-AM Fort Worth will be the flagship station, with KLIF-AM serving as the Dallas affiliate.
Warmup, halftime, and postgame locker room shows are all planned, with commercial time on the warmup and locker room shows still unsold. Sponsors signed so far include Texaco, Schlitz, d Devoe Paints. Development Corporation of America (construction firm) will also buy time on some network stations. Bill Mercer will call play-by-play for the sixth year in a row, while Verne Lundquist provides color.
Giants: WNEW-AM is going into the second year of its current three-year contract and its eleventh year overall of broadcasting Giants games. It is the flagship of a twenty-five-station network with stations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Game sponsors are Getty Oil, Volkswagen of America, Union Carbide, Schaefer Brewing, and Manufacturers Hanover Trust. Marty Glickman and Chip Cipolla will call the action.
Cipolla will host a twenty-five-minute pregame show; he'll also host the postgame Locker Room Showwhen time allows one. Sponsors of these shows are Garrity Industries (manufacturers of cigarette and pipe lighters and flashlights) and American Airlines.
Redskins: WMAL AM/FM will broadcast all scheduled Redskins games for the eighth consecutive year. It will serve as the flagship of a network numbering thirty to thirty-five stations in five neighboring states. National Brewing and the local Ford Dealers will sponsor a quarter of each game apiece. Steve Gilmartin and Mal Campbell will describe the action.
Separate pregame and postgame broadcasts are planned for WMAL-AM and FM. The only broadcast definitely slated for FM is Len Hathaway's postgame Pro Scoreboard. On AM, Campbell will host both pregame and postgame shows; the pregame show will be sponsored by Union Carbide. There will also be a halftime news summary and linebacker Chris Hanburger's Locker Room Reports, sponsored by Koons Ford.
Eagles: WIP-AM will head an eight-station network that will broadcast all scheduled games. Sponsors are Schaefer Beer, Girard Bank, Abbots Dairy, Merit/Safeway Gas Stations, and Ron Levitt Used Cars. Charles Swift and Al Pollard are your announcers; they'll also host a five-minute pregame Warm-Up pregame show and a five-minute Wrap-Up postgame show. There will also be a twenty-minute pregame show with John Deignan and an untitled twenty-minute postgame show. Pregame and postgame sponsors are Cottman Transmissions, Penn-Jersey Auto Stores, Union Carbide, Arrow Stores, Lianarch Gun Shop, and Canada Dry.
Cardinals: KMOX-AM will carry Cardinals games for the eleventh consecutive year. It will broadcast five preseason games and all fourteen regular season games. It will also head a regional radio network that currently numbers around twenty stations, half as many as last year's forty. Key sponsors on the network are STP and Krey Packing. Additional sponsors on KMOX only are Union Carbide, Household Finance, and Anheuser-Busch. Ray Geracy and Jim Butler will call the games. Geracy will also host the postgame Star of the Game show, which will air only on KMOX.
Two pregame shows will also air exclusively on KMOX: Coaches Corner, hosted by Jack Buck, and The Larry Wilson Show, which will be co-hosted by Buck and the Cards' safety.