After Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit made comments pertaining to the “lunatic fringe” at The Ohio State University and how the Buckeyes’ victory over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff would soften the blow from losing to Michigan, Shannon Sharpe took the time to respond on Monday’s edition of First Take.
Sharpe ostensibly took umbrage towards the discourse from Herbstreit when he stated that First Take tried to fire Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and that he was excited to see what the show would discuss on Monday after this victory. Stephen A. Smith addressed the situation and implored Herbstreit to quote him accurately, stating that he would have called for Day to be fired had Ohio State lost this past weekend.
Sharpe, however, issued a warning to Fowler and Herbstreit, stating that ESPN would not have enough bosses to prevent him from saying things if they ever mentioned a platform he was on and wondering what they would profess in a negative manner. The situation quickly gained traction on social media, and Sharpe ended up conversing with Herbstreit through a text exchange. As he recounted their discussion on the latest episode of Nightcap, Sharpe made it clear that his bosses from ESPN did not reach out to ask him to talk about what had taken place; rather, he decided to issue this explanation on his own.
“I think everybody knows Kirk Herbstreit went to Ohio State,” Sharpe surmised. “He mentioned someone sent me [this] thing that he and Ryan Day are very good friends, so I think he was taking up for his friend, but I believe you can take up for your friends without taking a shot at your teammates, and I felt he was taking a shot at First Take.”
Sharpe emphasized that even though he may not have been on the show during a particular episode he was referencing, he wanted to make it clear that Herbstreit had taken a shot at him nonetheless. In reflecting on the commentary, he conveyed that it was unwarranted, not additive and unnecessary, resulting in them having a conversation and Herbstreit apologizing. Sharpe also explained that he was not sensitive because if he had been, he would have really laid into this situation.
“Y’all know me – I don’t bite my tongue for nobody,” Sharpe said. “There are certain times that I felt that you should stand down in the situation before you say something that you will regret at a later date and time, but in that situation, I was very, very disappointed because I’m like, ‘Whoa, whoa, bro. This is not the time or place.’”
Sharpe referenced a previous situation in which he had an issue with Nightcap co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and emphasized in a conversation that the show needs to exhibit professionalism. Moreover, he stated that he wants to be professional at all times and is glad that Herbstreit reached out to clear the air regarding what took place. It was important for Sharpe to recognize if they were teammates or not, later stating that he would throw “caution to the wind” and take shots five nights a week until there was no more.
“Herbie and I are good now,” Sharpe said. “I’m glad we had the text communication, and that’s what grown men and adults, that’s how they should handle the situation. We shouldn’t have to go back and forth on social media. I wish that incident did not happen, I don’t think it had to happen, but I think we both learned from that situation and how to handle situations like that moving forward.”
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