Pat McAfee Critiques University of Utah After Uncomfortable Experience

ESPN’s Pat McAfee recently expressed his discomfort with the University of Utah over a social media post he found unsettling just before the “College GameDay” broadcast. McAfee mentioned that he stumbled across a video on the university’s Instagram account that requested students to do impressions of him, which included unflattering comments describing him as “corny” and “creepy.”

The video has since been deleted from the university’s platforms. McAfee, a former NFL punter, stated that he wouldn’t have been bothered if the students had made those comments themselves. However, he felt it was inappropriate for the university to share them just moments before he was set to perform in front of a large crowd.

“It felt like the university released this right before I was going to promote them in front of thousands of fans,” McAfee said during “The Pat McAfee Show.” He added that this situation made him feel “uncomfortable.”

He admitted that the post “set me off a little bit” and left him feeling “a little weird.” In light of recent events, including the tragic shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September at Utah Valley University, McAfee questioned whether the university should be highlighting why people may dislike him.

During the segment, he brought attention back to the previous incident, emphasizing that the post contributed to the hostility he faced just moments before going on air.

Reflecting on his experience, McAfee said he felt “very, very uncomfortable,” which impacted his morning. The University of Utah later issued an apology, explaining that their intention was to foster a lighthearted engagement surrounding McAfee’s visit, but they acknowledged that they “missed the mark.” They stated that their staff is responsible for the content posted on official social media accounts and took full accountability for that decision.

The university clarified that they reached out to McAfee to express their regret, emphasizing that there was no intention to make him feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus.

Despite the awkward experience, McAfee acknowledged Utah’s football team and complimented their student section as “incredible.” However, he also shared a humorous moment during the visit when a student participating in his “Kicking Is Easy” contest questioned why the prize was only $1 million after it had been $3 million at a previous event.

In a tongue-in-cheek remark, McAfee stated he might not want to return to the university and joked about the possibility of having COVID if “College GameDay” returns to campus. Regardless of his frustrations about the social media post and the kickoff contest, he expressed gratitude toward the fans who attended that Saturday.

On the field, Utah managed to secure a victory against Houston, winning 21-13 that day.