When a sports personality has a personality like media star Pat McAfee, she certainly lends herself to an automatic percentage of observers who almost automatically dislike her.
I understand. It’s not easy at all and it’s 180 degrees different from the old school. It’s clearly not for everyone, I understand. But let’s be realistic for a minute.
McAfee saved ESPN College journey the last two seasons.
The show became stale.
Desmond Howard joined the show over a decade and a half ago and his protecting Michigan at all costs part has aged around the same time as the Lou Holtz-Mark May studio part has aged.
Kirk Herbstreit used to be a superstar in College journey. So much so, in fact, that he landed a spot in the Amazon TV booth for Thursday night NFL games a few years ago, and since then it’s been hard not to think he’s spread himself a little too thin.
Lee Corso, bless him, is a trip down nostalgia lane every Saturday he shows. The last decade has been a bit rough on the trainer’s health, and despite his best efforts, the helmet selection at the end of each show doesn’t work like it used to.
We already know that legendary coach Nick Saban will be joining the show this fall, which will provide a change that will hopefully be for the better.
But how McAfee remains unsigned for the show in 2024, fears are starting to creep in that he might be gone.
McAfee sells the pomp and pageantry that makes college football special. He seems to truly believe in every campus he visits, both with his own show airing on Fridays and during Saturdays. College journey showing.
Leading the Tennessee Band in Rocky Top, calling the Dawgs just to spit in their face, and ride a bull while in Montana are just some of the highlights he had. I’m not going to sit around and defend all the things McAfee said that got him some hot water. However, I’m going to sit here and say that the show has been more fun with him in the last two years than the previous decade combined.
If McAfee wants to free up some of his busy schedule, since he’s still a relatively new father, no one will think any less of him for leaving Gameday. If he’s leaving because his act really wasn’t well-received by “college football’s distinguished crowds,” then this decision will turn into an ESPN regret before long.
McAfee may not be for everyone and that’s okay, most artists aren’t. But without him, I imagine the number of college football fans who flea College journey for Fox’s Big Noon Launch as your pre-game choice will only increase.
Related: Notre Dame’s history of 34 all-time College Gameday appearances
