Three years ago ABC’s Monday Night Football initiated a new interactive way to introduce the starting lineups of each team’s offense and defense.

This is part of a history that this production has been known for since Roone Arledge introduced primetime football in the 1970s.

However, the intro has turned into a joke created by the players involved in the starting lineups. The short beginning is created as follows: a graphic with the players name, number, position and one honor like (Pro Bowler or rookie) to identify him.

Initially, it was found to be a good way for the offensive guard of the Chicago Bears to get some face time seeing as how his name is never called unless he commits a penalty. It’s only taken three years to turn this innovative gesture into a sideshow circus.

While watching the St. Louis Rams/Seattle Seahawks Wild Card match-up Saturday, ABC was introducing the Seahawks offensive starters.

However, they got to tight end Itula Mili, and I did a double take. Honestly, all that was heard while getting up was Kahuku Elementary School. Did he just announce to a national television audience where he went to second grade?! After calling a friend of mine who was watching the game, my suspicion was confirmed.

Two things are important here.

Number one: Mili is an eight-year veteran and a sixth-round draft pick of the Seahawks from Brigham Young University (which he should’ve said on the air).

Number two: a majority of people watching the telecast doesn’t care where he went to school from kindergarten to eighth grade.

An example that proves my point is Dallas Cowboys’ second-year quarterback and Eastern alum Tony Romo.

Let’s say Vinny Testaverde retires, Drew Henson is let go and America’s Team decides to put the ball in Romo’s hands.

The ‘Boys would still be on Monday Night Football because of Head Coach Bill Parcells.

Therefore, I can imagine a great deal of frustration in the offices of Director of Athletics Rich McDuffie and Sports Information Director Dave Kidwell if Romo got in front of the camera and did such….”Tony Romo – Burlington High School.”

Even though I’ve played basketball in that school’s gym, 95% of the people won’t know where Burlington, WI is. For that matter, 60% of the states in this country have a town called Burlington, including Illinois.

Think about how many schools have an NFL starter and the importance of that player saying the school’s name for publicity.

The athletic representatives at Brigham Young University have every right to be infuriated that Mili took it upon himself to not acknowledge them. If Romo or any other future Eastern alum in the NFL committed this act, this institution could rightfully do the same.