Pat McAfee is one of sports media’s greatest success stories. He took an NFL career as a punter and single-handedly changed how younger audiences consume sports and engage in sports conversation. But McAfee’s success and insecurity have often intersected. This weekend at the University of Utah was just the latest example.
On Saturday’s edition of College GameDay, McAfee’s usual cheerleader-like enthusiasm seemed to sour. He once again took shots at The New York Times, appeared flabbergasted when his “kicking is easy” gimmick was questioned and wrapped up the show by saying, “I’ll never see you again, hopefully.” The same man who has cashed in on being a self-described polarizing figure is showing just how thin his skin can be.
Criticizing how McAfee has earned his wealth and fame is misguided. He’s done the work, networked with the right people and forged his own path. But throughout his rise, McAfee has faced criticism from the “old guard.” I’ve never shied away from calling him out when his actions stray from the norms of acceptability traditionally associated with the network airing his program.
Yet this weekend felt different. McAfee’s response did, too.
Soft Like Charmin?
Early Saturday morning, before College GameDay went on the air, the University of Utah posted a video featuring students preparing to welcome the program to campus. The premise was simple: Give me your best Pat McAfee impression. The video has been removed from the university’s account, but you can watch it here.
One student predicted McAfee would deliver a “corny” line. Another joked that he would bet money on McAfee taking off his shirt during the show. A third asked McAfee to keep his shirt on. The video ended with a student admitting he couldn’t do a McAfee impression.
If you were looking for the most devastating criticism a sports media personality could receive from college students, these comments wouldn’t make the list.
Nevertheless, the video caught McAfee’s attention shortly before he appeared on College GameDay. After watching it, he expressed displeasure with the university for posting something he considered foul and demeaning on its Instagram account.
“The university is putting this out? That’s something I never experienced in my entire life. It set me off a little bit. Made me feel a little bit weird,” McAfee said. “Then I thought to myself, has anything scary happened at a college gathering in the state of Utah recently? Should we really be amplifying reasons for why people hate my guts as a University?”
If you missed the reference, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered at Utah Valley University just over a year ago.
The same man who proudly labels himself a “polarizing figure” was now taking shots at college students over an Instagram video and raising the specter of deadly violence in response to their criticism. His comments invoked a high-profile murder at another Utah university a year earlier, despite the students’ video containing little more than lighthearted jokes about his on-air persona.
“I hate this place [University of Utah]. They got a good football team though,” McAfee clarified later Monday.
McAfee didn’t mention Kirk by name. However, his reference was difficult to miss. Much like lyrics built around generic clichés and grievance tropes, his remarks left room for interpretation while inviting audiences to connect the dots.
With Success Comes Spotlight
Success brings pressure. That pressure often amplifies criticism from those eager to tear down people who have made it to the top. Every major success story comes with its share of resentment, jealousy and people hoping to see the person behind it stumble.
Does McAfee receive plenty of attention for his opinions and the way he conducts his business? Yes.
Does he face criticism for how often ESPN features him across its football coverage? Of course.
Does the typical College GameDay viewer know what The New York Times wrote about McAfee? Likely not.
Does that same viewer know what the University of Utah posted on Instagram that soured McAfee’s mood Saturday? Probably not.
This is where McAfee continues to struggle. For all the success he has, giving his detractors a platform doesn’t help him. As he continues to build his brand at ESPN, he also has a responsibility to understand the role he plays on screen. When he loses sight of that responsibility, he misses the point of his inclusion.
Yes, McAfee is human. But he’s also likely to become one of the wealthiest personalities at a network that dominates sports media. It’s difficult to play the victim when you’re the king of the castle.
Positivity Always Wins
Pat McAfee built a brand on the energy, passion and positivity that make sports such a powerful part of people’s lives. His greatest strength has never been his ability to silence critics. It’s been his ability to connect with an audience that sees something different in him and wants to be part of what he’s building.
That connection has made him one of the most influential figures in sports media, and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by a need to respond to everyone who takes a shot at him. McAfee is too talented, too successful and too influential to spend his time wallowing in the shallow pools of resentment and hate that come with his success.
Moreover, he has spent years proving that doing things his own way can work.
Now, the challenge is to remember that the best way to win isn’t to fight every battle thrown his way. It’s to keep giving people a reason to tune in, laugh, engage and enjoy sports.
That’s the brand that got him here, and it’s the one worth protecting.
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