University of Utah Apologizes to Pat McAfee Following Controversial Post

The University of Utah has expressed regret to Pat McAfee regarding a social media post that they admitted “missed the mark” just before last weekend’s “College GameDay.” This incident has become a focal point of McAfee’s dissatisfaction with how the university treated him during his visit.

During Saturday’s show, McAfee appeared more restrained and later shared on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he felt “very, very uncomfortable” at the event, particularly due to a video featuring students mimicking him.

In an effort to address McAfee’s public discontent, the University of Utah is now working on damage control.

“Our goal during the visit was to create lighthearted engagement regarding Pat being back on campus, but we missed the mark,” the university stated. “University staff are responsible for reviewing and posting content on official social media accounts, and we take full accountability for that decision.”

The school added that officials had reached out to McAfee to convey their appreciation and regrets. They offered a sincere apology for any impression that he was unsafe or unwelcome, insisting that nothing could be further from the truth. “Pat and the entire GameDay crew are always welcome at the University of Utah, and we deeply appreciate the opportunity ESPN provides to showcase our university and community,” they said.

Following the visit, McAfee mentioned he wouldn’t return to the university, drawing comparisons to other incidents he’s experienced.

In a statement shared with The Athletic, an ESPN spokesperson expressed support for McAfee, emphasizing that the safety and security of their team is paramount. “We are committed to ensuring a safe environment, and given the very real threats that members of our team face, we take issues involving their safety seriously. We support Pat and recognize the very real and valid concerns he has around safety and security,” the spokesperson said.

The social media post in question was removed from the university’s accounts but continues to circulate on other platforms.

McAfee described the unsettling nature of one segment where students commented on him, recalling a moment when one student called him “corny” and another said he was “creepy.” Despite usually being able to shake off criticism from the public, he felt differently when it originated from an official university account. “It’s an uncomfortable feeling,” he said. “This is how the university feels about it. That’s something I just had never experienced really in my entire life.”