Ah, sugar!
I mean, Georgia's offense was unsophisticated in Thursday's Sugar Bowl vs. Notre Dame, but the least graceful handoff of the night had the Bulldogs going back to the locker room scratching their heads and wondering what the problem was. It was after I asked him if that was the case.
And while the Fighting Irish's 23-10 victory in the College Football Playoff semifinal game was certainly a game to remember, the trophy ceremony was one to remember.
The misfortune began when ESPN's Molly McGrath, who was leading the postgame process, ceded the floor to Sugar Bowl president Walter Becker.
But she didn't give him the microphone.
Mr. Becker opened his mouth to begin his speech, but suddenly stopped. video of failure Posted in X by Terrible AnnouncementBecker could be heard asking McGrath for permission to take the microphone.
Mr. McGrath nodded, “Yes,” but didn't let go of his grip. As Mr. Becker congratulated him, the two shared a pleasant moment, hands clasped over the microphone's casing.
“On behalf of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the College Football Playoff, I would like to congratulate two great teams this afternoon for their efforts during this game and throughout the season,” Becker said.
After the president pulled his hand away and McGrath returned to sole control, the ESPN reporter walked over to Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman in preparation for presenting the trophy.
However, Becker wasn't quite finished.
John Marsitz/CSM/Shutterstock
He patted McGrath on the shoulder and placed his hand on top of hers, which was resting on the microphone case.
Becker picked up where he left off, McGrath bursting into laughter for the camera, and Freeman, ever professional, bit his lip and slightly turned the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“And now, I am honored to present the All-State Sugar Bowl Trophy to Notre Dame Fighting Irish Coach Marcus Freeman!” Becker concluded emphatically.
Further embarrassment was avoided as the flags flew and the crowd jumped out.
But of course, a laugh on live TV stays on the internet forever.
“Molly McGrath on the mic like a real pro,” one X user wrote on the Awful Announcing video.
Another official commented, “There is no coordination between the parties.''
“Because he talks like the sloth from Zootopia. She thought he was done,” said a third.
Most succinctly, the fourth word, or one word, is “awkward.”
