Pat McAfee Faces Fan Backlash During Lee Corso‘s Final ‘College GameDay‘ Appearance
AUSTIN,TX – August 30,2024 – As legendary ESPN analyst Lee Corso made his final appearance on “College GameDay” today,Pat McAfee faced a wave of criticism from fans alleging he overshadowed the occasion and attempted to insert himself into a role traditionally held by Corso.The backlash unfolded on social media throughout the broadcast, with many expressing concern McAfee is trying to become the central figure of the show.
Corso, known for his iconic headgear picks predicting game outcomes, announced his retirement earlier this year, bringing an end to a decades-long run as a beloved fixture of college football coverage.today’s broadcast marked his last time making the signature prediction.
Fans voiced their frustrations online. “Hopefully Pat McAfee doesn’t try to make today about him,” one fan posted. Another wrote, “With this being Corso’s final show and final headgear pick…you retire the headgear but with him. I better not see mcafee start doing it.” Several other comments echoed these sentiments, with one user stating McAfee is “the absolute worst” and “tries way too hard to be funny.” Another declared McAfee had “ruined this show.”
Despite the fan outcry, ESPN’s Rece Davis has publicly stated he will actively prevent anyone other than Corso from adopting the headgear pick tradition. “I think I’m going to have to tackle anybody that tries to do a headgear pick, other than Lee Corso,” Davis told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins. “That, to me, is his signature moment and it should stay with him.”
McAfee joined the “College GameDay” crew in September 2022, bringing a distinct energy to the program. While his future role remains undefined, Davis’ comments suggest McAfee will be encouraged to develop his own style without attempting to replicate Corso’s legacy.