‘SEC on ABC’ Music Debuts Receive Mixed Reviews

In introducing the SEC back to ABC, ESPN has chosen to revive a fan favorite from the early 2000s.

Everything old is new again.

Ahead of the SEC’s debut on ABC, ESPN announced Thursday that it has revamped its iconic college football theme song from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The refreshed tune will premiere on Saturday, Aug. 31, during the Miami-Florida game at 3:30 p.m. ET and the Notre Dame-Texas A&M game at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The updated theme is a collaborative effort between the SEC, ESPN Music, ESPN’s college football production team, and renowned composer Bob Christianson. The aim is to capture the nostalgia and excitement of the SEC’s early days on ESPN while appealing to a new generation of fans.

Christianson, who also created the renowned NHL on ESPN theme, played a key role in this project.

“Music is a crucial element in shaping the storytelling of any broadcast,” said ESPN president of content Burke Magnus. “The opportunity to resurrect a theme song that means so much to college football fans, and so many of us at ESPN, was important as we start this new chapter in our relationship with the SEC.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey added, “By reaching into the past and connecting with the present, ESPN is bringing a touch of tradition to a new era of televised SEC sports. This re-orchestrated composition will enhance the presentation of SEC football on ABC by bringing a bit of nostalgia to the SEC’s new Saturday television experience.”

The composition will accompany the Southeastern Conference’s exclusive coverage on ABC and other ESPN platforms. It will be exclusively featured in SEC home games on ABC, expanding its reach beyond the traditional 3:30 p.m. ET time slot. Fans can expect to hear the revamped theme during ABC primetime Saturday Night Football games and noon SEC contests.

The decision to use the updated theme was met with mixed reviews. After the SEC on ABC logo received varied feedback, the revamped theme music prompted similar reactions. Fans across social media expressed differing opinions about what they would have preferred to be re-orchestrated by the Worldwide Leader (and Disney), but there were still some positive responses mixed in.

It’s not the SEC on CBS by any stretch, but for many, it will serve just fine.

Source: ESPN PR