Pat McAfee says he felt uncomfortable during ESPN College GameDay at University of Utah
ESPN analyst Pat McAfee said a University of Utah Instagram post and the campus atmosphere made his recent College GameDay appearance uncomfortable, though he praised the event overall.
ESPN personality Pat McAfee said his recent appearance on College GameDay at the University of Utah was uncomfortable after a university Instagram post asked students to imitate him. He described the post, which featured comments calling him "corny" and "creepy," as unsettling and said it contributed to a feeling of "shrapnel" from the crowd.
"One kid goes, 'Ah, he's corny.' Another kid calls me creepy," McAfee said on his daily show.
He added that the university’s promotion of the post made the experience feel hostile, especially as he was preparing to address a large audience. Despite the discomfort, McAfee proceeded with the broadcast, briefly explaining his game pick before selecting Houston to win.
"It's hard to pick against this mighty Utah student section, but I'm gonna do it 10 times out of 10," he said.
McAfee reflected on broader concerns, mentioning a past shooting incident at a Utah college and a student request for more money during a segment, which added to his unease. He noted that Utah has hosted several College GameDay shows and praised the student section and football program, but said he would prefer not to return.
"I’ll hopefully never go to that place," he said.
He concluded by acknowledging the overall quality of the GameDay event and thanked those who attended, highlighting a conversation with former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid.
"It was a phenomenal GameDay. Thank you to everybody that showed up," McAfee said.