Dave Revsine is a 1991 Northwestern graduate who spent 11 years at ESPN before taking a job as the lead studio host for the Big Ten Network last year. The DAILY's Andrew Simon caught up with Revsine at Big Ten Football Media Day in July and talked to him about NU football, his career and former NU basketball star Tim Doyle's hair. Here is an excerpt of the conversation.
AS: How do you think the perception of the football program has changed from when you went to Northwestern until now?
DR: You know, it's weird. Sometimes I feel like it hasn't changed that much. I feel like people are still living in this era when they were a pushover. Look, when I was there they won six games in four years, so they were a pushover. So, six games in four years versus six games in one year, but people still sell them short. I don't think it's changed in terms of the public, but I think other teams know now. They know it's not a certain win. Coaches respect them, other teams respect, but for whatever reason I don't think the media always respects them.
AS: What do you think is the ceiling for the program?
DR: I think the goal should be that you don't have any years when you don't win a game in the Big Ten or you only win one or two. I think the goal should be that this is as bad as it gets, that 6-6 is a disappointing year. And I think they're in a position where they could easily do that. To me, the missing piece has always been support … I think it's got to be hard when you're recruiting against Penn State when they've got 105,000 people there, and you're Northwestern and you don't have the same kind of support. It's a tough sales job. The university has a lot going for it, but at the end of the day, kids want to play in a full stadium, and I don't think it matters if that stadium only seats 45,000 people. I think it just has to be full.
AS: What's you favorite Northwestern football memory?
DR: I think my favorite memories are since 1995, being able to go to the Rose Bowl with my dad. It was unbelievable. I don't think you can even fathom how bad they were. It was just a joke. (Former head coach) Dennis Green told me they didn't even have a weight program. I mean, they had weights, but nobody was actually saying, "You need to go and lift." He told me he asked for money to paint the coaches' offices, by himself, and they said, "No, you can't do that." So to see where it got, I think that was really gratifying for people who have followed the program for as long as I have.
AS: How does working for the Big Ten Network compare with working for ESPN?
DR: They're very different. I mean, working for ESPN was such an incredible experience for me … The difference was, you felt like, particularly covering college football let's say, when your universe is 75 teams, it's hard … It's hard to really know all those teams. What's been great about the Big Ten Network for me is we've been able to say, hey, we're going to go to all 11 schools and sit down with the coaches and watch practice and sit down with the players. I felt we really knew the teams last year. I feel much more a part of what I'm covering than I did at ESPN. When you're covering the World Cup in Bristol, Conn., (home of the ESPN studios) and the World Cup is in Germany, it's hard to feel like you're really a part of it. Here, I feel like I'm a part of what's going on, and that's neat.
AS: What's it like working with former NU basketball player Tim Doyle on the basketball studio show?
DR: He's a character. I really enjoy him. You know, I feel like I got five years of pre-Tim Doyle experience by working with (ESPN analyst) Doug Gottlieb. They kind of remind me each other in that they were born tragically without a filter between the brain and the mouth. It's great for a sportswriter, and it's fun to be alongside them. You never quite know what Timmy's going to say, and that's what makes it fun. I love his enthusiasm. I love the fact that he wants to be good at this and works really hard at it. He's a fun guy to be around, and how can you not like him, right?
AS: And the hair.
DR: And the hair. The bouffant. You know, there's a little bit in the front that's thinning out a little bit, and it's worrying him. His signature hair!
andrewsimon2007@u.northwestern.edu
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