I could’ve easily predicted the reaction to this week’s College GameDay. The last minute edition of NFL veteran turned multi-media superstar Pat McAfee was always going to be polarizing. McAfee is loud and brash, he doesn’t follow the traditional rules of television. You will not see him in a tailored suit with a tie and pocket square. He uses more casual profanity on air than any other ESPN host. He is anything but the cookie cutter analyst you often see on studio shows.
There is one important thing Pat McAfee does, however, he appeals to a young audience. It is unlikely most of McAfee’s audience has any memory of him punting for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Some may remember his days with the Indianapolis Colts. What they all know him for is his high energy, edgy, out of the norm daily sports show. McAfee has realized what several others have, the non-traditional media platforms are a gateway to a more youthful audience and he has capitalized on it.
This is why ESPN has brought brash back to GameDay. They know something I wrote about a couple of weeks back: Lee Corso’s time on the set is, unfortunately, in its final moments. When Corso leaves, the role of comedic foil is open for audition. What’s a better way to audition than to be part of the cast? How serious is ESPN about McAfee being a long term part of that cast? They may have tipped their hand during Saturday’s telecast from Austin prior to the Alabama v. Texas game.
There is no more high profile real estate on the GameDay set than the spaces during the picks segment. The entire show builds up to that moment, culminating with Corso’s famous headgear pick. That 15 minutes of programming has traditionally included Rece Davis as host, Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard as analysts and a celebrity as the guest picker.
No matter the quality of their contributions, other show cast members don’t make the desk. Not David Pollack, not Chris Fallica and not Tom Rinaldi in his time with the show. That is, until last Saturday. There was McAfee, shoulder to shoulder with all the analysts and Top Gun: Maverick actor Glen Powell. This was a significant inclusion and will be even more significant if it continues in future stops.
Think of it this way: at the height of popularity for American Idol, could you have imagined a new judge walking in mid-season and asking Simon Cowell to slide to his right so they could have room at the table? That’s exactly what happened Saturday. McAfee is announced as a new College GameDay analyst and, in his first show back, is prominently featured in the main event.
I think this is a clear signal from ESPN that McAfee is, at very least, the leading candidate to fill Corso’s seat. That decision would be the proverbial killing of two birds with a single stone. First, you have someone who is not afraid to do the unusual to bring more entertainment to a show that doesn’t just break down film. Second, you take a man that is already appealing to younger fans and make him a centerpiece of your show. This potentially resets the shelf life of College GameDay by a considerable amount.
That does, though, lead to a new problem. No show can “go younger” without leaving a segment of their audience feeling disenfranchised. It is difficult, if not impossible, to phase in a youth movement. GameDay has shown this season they are going to be somewhat aggressive about it. Week one’s show from Notre Dame-Ohio State in Columbus featured a concert by Grammy nominated musician Jack Harlow and then Harlow later was featured as a guest picker. Then, McAfee is dropped into the cast week two.
The text conversations go the same:
“Who is this Jack Harlow?”
“He’s a musician.”
“What does he have to do with college football?”
“Nothing, really. He’s there to boost ratings.”
“Well, I don’t get it.”
“I’m not surprised you don’t, you aren’t the audience.”
For the most part, you can replace Harlow’s name with McAfee’s and the conversation changes very little. The only thing that changes is the “What does he have to do with college football” part. Many people are surprised when you tell them, “Well, he actually played college football and in the NFL.” That is almost always followed by some variation of, “Well, I don’t like him because…”
It is hard news when you are told a show you enjoy is catering to an audience that doesn’t include you. Especially because you have been that show’s target audience for a couple of decades now. Any long-running show has had to make that change and continue to push the envelope of what an older audience may not like but a younger audience will devour.
In the case of College GameDay, it is a loud, tank top wearing former punter. And, if you keep seeing him on the desk when the final picks are made, you better learn to like him. If not, the games start at 12 ET/11 CT.
Ryan Brown is a columnist for Barrett Sports Media, and a co-host of the popular sports audio/video show ‘The Next Round’ formerly known as JOX Roundtable, which previously aired on WJOX in Birmingham. You can find him on Twitter @RyanBrownLive and follow his show @NextRoundLive.
