The answer to the question came less than 10 seconds later.
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As the analyst searched for the final words of his final college football broadcast to punctuate a 36-year career, CBS interrupted him.
In the corner of the frame, a hand can be seen counting down the final seconds of the former Purdue, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns quarterback’s farewell.
That’s when Danielson appeared to call an audible.
“Sometimes you can say, ‘How do you get off?'” Danielson said before pointing to his producer and adding, “This guy right here.”
Suddenly, CBS went to a commercial break, closing the broadcast. Tough outs are a part of live television, and Danielson, of course, knows it, but that commercial interruption brought a premature end to a beautiful tribute to one of the greatest voices in college football history.
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Minutes earlier, Danielson, flanked by announcer Brad Nessler and reporter Jenny Dell, heard and saw some of the great moments during his illustrious career in the booth.
“To have done it with someone who is unrivaled in what he does has been a privilege,” Nessler said. “It’s been an honor. I’m going to miss you. Our team is going to miss you. Our team is going to miss you. CBS is going to miss you.
“And damn, college football is going to miss you, buddy.”
Danielson has been part of CBS’ pair of major college football broadcasts since 2006 and is a six-time Emmy nominee.
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A mainstay in the afternoon slot, he became a staple in SEC coverage and had recently expanded his presence to the Big Ten with CBS.
“Everyone says, how do you want to be remembered? That’s great, but that’s what I want to remember. And this is what I remember,” Danielson says as a slideshow documenting his time with his coworkers at CBS is shown.
Those were not his last words on the air. But maybe they should be the ones we remember.