Home / Sports / ESPN Defends Pat McAfee Amidst College GameDay Criticism
ESPN Defends Pat McAfee Amidst College GameDay Criticism
14 Jan
Summary
- A survey indicated nearly half of readers dislike McAfee on College GameDay.
- ESPN executives cited record GameDay ratings and daily show reach.
- McAfee is credited with attracting a younger audience to the show.
ESPN executives have publicly backed College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee following a recent reader survey that indicated a decline in his popularity.
The survey suggested that 49.5 percent of respondents did not favor McAfee's role on the weekly pregame show. However, ESPN's president of content, Burke Magnus, countered by emphasizing the show's record-breaking consecutive seasons of high viewership, arguing that ratings are a more accurate measure of success.
Further defense came from senior vice president Mike Foss, who highlighted the substantial weekly audience of College GameDay and the reach of McAfee's daily program. Despite mixed opinions, McAfee is widely recognized for injecting energy into the show and attracting a younger demographic, a key reason for ESPN's continued support.
