University of Utah apologizes to Pat McAfee after students mock the ESPN host
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- The University of Utah issued an apology to ESPN’s Pat McAfee after students mocked him as “corny” and “creepy” during his visit for a college football assignment, with the disparaging remarks posted on the school's Instagram account and later deleted.
- The university emphasized that McAfee and the ESPN GameDay crew are always welcome and appreciated, denying any intention to make him feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus.
- McAfee expressed discomfort not with the criticism itself but with the university using its platform to share the negative comments, especially as he was promoting the school during his visit.
- He referenced a recent violent incident at Utah Valley University to highlight concerns about safety and the impact of public negativity at college events.
- McAfee remains a polarizing figure in sports media, eliciting strong reactions from various audiences.
