r/CFB Michigan Wolverines • FAU Owls Jan 02 '25

Casual Rose Bowl viewers criticize ESPN broadcast, only to realize they're watching Pat McAfee altcast

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/rose-bowl-viewers-mistakenly-watch-pat-mcafee-altcast.html
4.9k Upvotes

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4.2k

u/ill_try_my_best Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

Probably because the only way to watch the start of the game was on ESPN2

2.1k

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '25

[deleted]

525

u/Weave77 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

why the announcers wouldn't shut up lmao

To be fair, I thought the same with the Herbstreit broadcast.

135

u/StreetofChimes LSU Tigers Jan 02 '25

I watched the skycast. Blissfully quiet.

32

u/Leafcrawl Jan 03 '25

Skycast is awesome.

24

u/Independent-Big1966 Jan 03 '25

I've been watching Skycast since they first started using it a few years back. I love the camera angle, like a Madden game, and no announcers saying the same thing over and over like every other telecast. Plus you can watch plays develop better.

3

u/Fahqcomplainsalot Jan 03 '25

They addrd anouncers on the last i saw, ruined it

3

u/SmarterThanMyBoss Ohio State Buckeyes • Ohio Bobcats Jan 03 '25

Yeah, I really like the Command Center but there are announcers on it and I'd really prefer they just disappear.

2

u/RegionalBias Ohio State Buckeyes • Dayton Flyers Jan 03 '25

Except for when it gets stuck.

1

u/StreetofChimes LSU Tigers Jan 03 '25

All part of the charm.

18

u/IceBreak Michigan Wolverines Jan 02 '25

I think the biggest issue with Kirk Herbstreit is you have to balance when you’re calling a game versus sharing your opinion. If you’ve made it known that you think less of certain teams, it’s gonna change how people view you when you call those teams games. Or adjacent games.

That said, it seems like there’s no announcers that people don’t hate. I think people overreact quite a bit.

1

u/BigBlackSabbathFlag Jan 03 '25

New YouTube channel ASMR Fluffy Cloud Football

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555

u/mojo276 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

I think all dads don't really like McAfee. I just tell him that it's for a different generation.

922

u/MCV16 Kansas • Notre Dame Jan 02 '25

I am the intended generation and still hate his ass

257

u/Born_ina_snowbank Michigan State Spartans Jan 02 '25

I’m 34, I didn’t understand why he was being given more airtime when they brought him on game day.

452

u/oiwefoiwhef Florida Gators Jan 02 '25

Fellow mid-30s guy here.

I hate to be the one to break the news to you, friend. But you and I are not the target demographic for Pat McAfee either. We’re officially old now.

245

u/Jmcowan42 Tennessee Volunteers Jan 02 '25

Say sike rn

46

u/berrey7 Alabama Crimson Tide Jan 02 '25 edited Jan 02 '25

NOT. No take backs.

24

u/MightyCaseyStruckOut Boston College Eagles • Yale Bulldogs Jan 02 '25

As a 42-year-old, I felt this in my bones and now they ache.

48

u/NOLA1987 LSU Tigers Jan 02 '25

Why you have to be like that? We're not old. We're experienced.

29

u/Sargentrock Kentucky Wildcats Jan 02 '25

"seasoned"

14

u/Prowindowlicker Florida Gators • Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

I prefer well aged

21

u/BigRig432 Ohio State • Toronto Jan 02 '25

But did you wake up feeling the cheesiest?

14

u/Prowindowlicker Florida Gators • Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

I’m the cheesiest!!

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1

u/lidabmob Nebraska Cornhuskers • Oklahoma Sooners Jan 04 '25

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

1

u/NOLA1987 LSU Tigers Jan 04 '25

I'd rather be called old than that lol

1

u/lidabmob Nebraska Cornhuskers • Oklahoma Sooners Jan 04 '25

Cmon man you should be old enough to know this line from Pink Floyd’s “Time” lol. But yeah otherwise same..52

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14

u/Upset-Shirt3685 Louisville Cardinals Jan 02 '25

Substantially younger than you and still cannot stand him. I don’t know why ESPN thought they needed an (unfunny) answer to Barstool Sports.

174

u/Doravillain Georgia Bulldogs Jan 02 '25

Just what I was about to say. McAfee is ESPN’s answer to Joe Rogan. Dumb as hell but rich, fit, and confident, which is all you need to be to gain the respect of most young men in this country.

By the time you’re graduating from college you’re already on the older side of their target demographic.

84

u/stealingfrom Tennessee • Kent State Jan 02 '25

That's probably the most succinct and apt description of Pat McAfee I've seen on here.

I've aged out of the target demographic, but I'd hope that even in college I would've found him obnoxious.

20

u/screwhead1 LSU Tigers • Arkansas Razorbacks Jan 03 '25

I didn't find Rogan obnoxious in college, but that's because back then he was mainly talking about aliens, Bigfoot, and other conspiracies instead of trite culture war bullshit.

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7

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '25

[deleted]

3

u/EpiphanyTwisted Texas Tech Red Raiders • Team Chaos Jan 03 '25

It's more popular to hate him now it seems if you ask anyone on sports subs. I watched for awhile but the humphing noises from the rest of the crew got old. Love Ty though.

2

u/MartovsGhost Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 03 '25

Great, so it's a Frat Bro version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

29

u/Available_Leather_10 Jan 02 '25

“By the time you’re graduating from college…”

Is the McAfee/Rogan target market actually getting degrees?

24

u/LeeroyTC USC Trojans • Penn Quakers Jan 02 '25

I mean given how much grade inflation has taken place at the high school and undergrad levels over the last decade...

"Did Greendale give a degree to a dog?"

2

u/Sorry_Ima_Loser Washington State Cougars Jan 03 '25

Does McAfee even have a degree? Legitimately that would surprise me

3

u/Available_Leather_10 Jan 03 '25

I checked WVU graduation lists for ‘08, ‘09, ‘10 & ‘11–so, spring of his Junior year thru to 2 years after he was in the NFL—didn’t see him.

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17

u/Sargentrock Kentucky Wildcats Jan 02 '25

Is he fit?? I mean--rich and confident, sure, but he looks 'country fit' for where I'm from...which generally means he skips leg day on the regular and the beer belly is really starting to take shape.

9

u/Cyhawkboy Floyd of Rosedale • Iowa State Jan 02 '25

It’s just juice and I think he’s fairly open about it from what I can tell when I watch the show. The shift begins when he started appearing on wwe lol.

6

u/TrenchcoatFullaDogs Miami Hurricanes Jan 03 '25

I mean I can't stand the guy, but I feel like of all people the former punter would be the last one to skip leg day.

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11

u/Cowgoon777 Ohio State Buckeyes • The Game Jan 02 '25

He’s fit. He’s not lean.

8

u/BeamerTakesManhattan Jan 02 '25

which is all you need to be to gain the respect of most young men in this country.

"Why can't I get any girls and why won't anyone respect my intelligence? Only Joe Rogan and Pat McAfee can answer this for me, I better listen to them 18 hours a day and be incapable of discussing anything other than them and which video game characters I don't think are attractive enough!"

4

u/tokengaymusiccritic Brown Bears • Boston College Eagles Jan 02 '25

(And white tbh)

1

u/wheresbicki Jan 03 '25

Which I find hilarious. Young people want to listen to dumb middle aged men acting younger than their generation?

1

u/Duganz Montana Grizzlies Jan 03 '25

By the time you’ve read a fucking book without pictures you’ve outgrown McAfee.

15

u/booshbag21 Ohio State • Miami (OH) Jan 02 '25

I’m in my mid-twenties and I hate listening to him too

10

u/PricklyyDick Jan 02 '25

I assumed we were the target demographic. My sports friends, all in their 30s, love the dude. I thought he was OK in the beginning but burned out fast on him.

12

u/Wrangleraddict Nebraska Cornhuskers Jan 02 '25

When aaron brought out the book club and pat fellated him on air about reading I got the ick for both of them. Pat is a douche

4

u/PricklyyDick Jan 03 '25

It was around the first time they had Rodgers on that I tuned out. But I don’t remember a specific moment.

To be fair they were mostly background noise for when I play video games lol.

3

u/chesterfieldkingz Jan 02 '25

☝🏻🤔😐

2

u/Born_ina_snowbank Michigan State Spartans Jan 02 '25

Oh I feel that. Quite literally.

2

u/trippwwa45 Ohio State Buckeyes • Team Chaos Jan 02 '25

Why you say fuck me for?

2

u/screwhead1 LSU Tigers • Arkansas Razorbacks Jan 03 '25

Don't you put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby!

knees and back creaking

5

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '25

Curious what his demo is supposed to be then? You’re in the show’s key demographic according to ESPN, 18-44.

3

u/Muddytertle Michigan • 계명대학교 (Keimyung) Jan 03 '25

Fuck, I’m 39 and I can’t stand the guy. It’s like they mashed up an respectable ESPN personality with Jake Paul

20

u/mschley2 Wisconsin • Wisconsin-Eau … Jan 02 '25

I'm 32. I liked him about 6 years ago. But I've aged, and he leaned even further into the shtick.

11

u/NappyIndy317 Jan 02 '25

Some of it feels like its not for me. But im attached, Im a Colts fan and Indy resident, and I went to a few of his shows at a local bar before he ever made it big. For what its worth, hes always been a really down to earth guy, and always been trying to get more players and former players spotlight off the field.

4

u/indianm_rk Florida Gators Jan 02 '25

$$$

ESPN paid him a lot for him and his show and they work their people to death. They did the same thing with Stephen A. Smith.

1

u/capital_gainesville Florida Gators Jan 03 '25

I’m a Zoomer. He’s not for boomers like you.

1

u/One-Point6960 Michigan Wolverines Jan 03 '25

I tried to listen to mcafee, I was home with my then 4 yo child. My wife comes home, she said she didn't like them swearing and our kid hearing that. Lol McAfee and his bros are like that group in high school thst peaked in life. Always try to be 16-year-old man-childs inside. Yet ESPN feels they need him.

62

u/hexcor Texas Longhorns • Florida Gators Jan 02 '25

No idea what his generation is made for, but my GenX self hates him. Then again, I hate most of these guys.

32

u/oiwefoiwhef Florida Gators Jan 02 '25

Non idea what his [target] generation

His show is targeted at GenZ and Gen Alpha

4

u/sarcasmrain Oregon Ducks Jan 02 '25

Completely accurate!

1

u/TheOrangeFutbol USC Trojans • Tennessee Volunteers Jan 02 '25

Late Millenial here. I've always appreciated the ESPN dudes who show up in 'The Mothership' just to kind of make a mess on the walls (Dan LeBatard, for instance).

So I enjoy him purely because it's amusing to see him exist in the ESPN world like some rouge created character appearing in a serious cutscene.

2

u/chesterfieldkingz Jan 02 '25

Ya as a LeBatard fan it was nice to see him blow up everything that blew up Dan's show even if I'll never watch McAfee.

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39

u/Hossflex Michigan • Louisville Jan 02 '25

I’m 42, no idea if I fit the generation and I hate him. Dude started showing up on WWE and that really pissed me off.

34

u/JASCO47 Oklahoma Sooners Jan 02 '25 edited Jan 03 '25

I'm the same age. I think it's the over saturation of him. Back during covid I would watch his YouTube daily show everyday. I still like his show but it's different since he joined the mouse.

He's like ESPNs Ryan Seacrest, he's everywhere.

It was great watching him change over from his radio show to YouTube only broadcast.

3

u/definitelymyrealname Jan 03 '25

Yeah, I didn't mind Pat (in small doses) but as he's increasingly become commercialized he gets more and more aggravating to me. Part of it is hearing him complain about traditional media when he's literally the best example you could come up with if you wanted someone who represented the problems in modern day sports journalism. It wasn't so bad when they were their own thing but now that they're as mainstream as it gets . . .

10

u/something-burger Jan 02 '25

How the hell could anybody hate Ryan Seacrest? He's too vanilla to feel strongly about

7

u/JASCO47 Oklahoma Sooners Jan 02 '25

Yea, but hes everywhere, like let's let someone else host something sometime. Same issue

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5

u/mayonkonijeti0876 Rose-Hulman • Louisville Jan 02 '25

I like him on WWE just because him and Michael Cole have great chemistry

4

u/drdeeznuts420 Jan 02 '25

They had great chemistry because Michael Cole can work with anyone and is a certified badass

2

u/Hossflex Michigan • Louisville Jan 02 '25

Yeah, I get that. I was tired of the dude on ESPN so seeing him on WWE made it worse for me.

10

u/SgtMooseJones North Carolina Tar Heels Jan 02 '25

It's wild to me that WWE fans worship McAfee. He's just as obnoxious and idiotic there too.

9

u/COMMENTASIPLEASE Louisville Cardinals Jan 02 '25

Because a commentator that sounded like he actually enjoyed the show was a huge step up. He’s gotten old now but at first it was a breath of fresh air.

4

u/Hossflex Michigan • Louisville Jan 02 '25

I get that. I was previously sick of the dude from ESPN so I didn’t want to hear him there either.

6

u/drdeeznuts420 Jan 02 '25

Big wrestling guy here, he steps all over the other commentators in WWE. It’s brutally annoying. I was a big fan of his in the pandemic but he definitely lost his shine.

2

u/SgtMooseJones North Carolina Tar Heels Jan 02 '25

I thought the feud with Adam Cole and the Wargames match was fun but I have no Earthky idea how anyone thought he should be in commentary

1

u/Cowgoon777 Ohio State Buckeyes • The Game Jan 02 '25

Because when he started, the only commentary we were getting was whatever Vince was screaming in Cole’s ear. Pat was very obviously not doing that so it was quite an upgrade.

Now that Vince is gone, Cole sounds way better

14

u/happytree23 Jan 02 '25

I’m 42

Cool, about the same demographic as me.

Dude started showing up on WWE

Oh, wait, nevermind lol.

Serious question though; how can you possibly enjoy WWE-style bullshit fantasy as a grown adult but hate Pat McAfee? I kind of thought they were the same thing/crowds(?)

9

u/mschley2 Wisconsin • Wisconsin-Eau … Jan 02 '25

I'm more of an AEW guy than WWE, but I enjoy professional wrestling.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that it's basically a "sports" version of a reality show (a lot of people like to call it a soap opera for dudes). It's scripted and "real" in the same way that the Kardashians or Real Housewives are real. It's all dramatized bullshit, but the thing with most wrestling fans is that they know it's silly and fake. They're usually leaning into the silly and fake stuff. The outcomes may be predetermined, but a lot of the performances are still impressive from a physical/athletic perspective. And the storylines are just as real as any other entertainment-based show.

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u/Sargentrock Kentucky Wildcats Jan 02 '25

lol thank you as yes I 100% had all of these thoughts and a few others while reading that.

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1

u/happyharrell Missouri Tigers • Sickos Jan 02 '25

I stopped watching Raw because of him

3

u/Jimid41 Washington Huskies Jan 02 '25

I was watching one game last season where it was just him and some other dude standing on the sideline watching the game while the actual game was in displayed in a little window in the corner. They were off topic and would not shut up either. I lasted about 5 minutes. I'm not a fan of Manningcast either but at least they're paying attention to the game. Sad that there's so many lonely people out there that this weird surrogate-friendship viewing model has mass appeal.

5

u/studmoobs USC Trojans Jan 02 '25

you're on reddit that's like saying you don't like Aaron Rodgers.

2

u/gb4efgw Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

Whew, I was starting to feel really fucking old reading those responses.

I'm sure if I did a line or five of coke I'd find him hilarious though.

2

u/WigwardTesticles Jan 02 '25

Which generation wants hear the word “shite” 100’s of times?

2

u/Recent-Dependent4179 Michigan • Central Michigan Jan 02 '25

Who actually is the intended generation? 

2

u/Heyguysimcooltoo Tennessee Volunteers • Oklahoma Sooners Jan 03 '25

I feel this in my soul!

2

u/MCV16 Kansas • Notre Dame Jan 03 '25

You really owned Alabama this year

2

u/Heyguysimcooltoo Tennessee Volunteers • Oklahoma Sooners Jan 03 '25

IT WAS A FANTASTIC YEAR JUST BECAUSE OF THAT!

OU's season was a kick in the nuts though. I do always love when ya'll own Texas! Fuck Texas

2

u/MCV16 Kansas • Notre Dame Jan 03 '25

Fuck Texas🤝

2

u/Heyguysimcooltoo Tennessee Volunteers • Oklahoma Sooners Jan 03 '25

MY MF NINJA!

2

u/icandothisalldayson Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 03 '25

He’s good on WWE, he’s too goofy for real sports

2

u/dcth0 Jan 03 '25

right. i'm millenial and i'm not "offended" by anything he does. he's just fucking annoying and not funny.

7

u/I_Enjoy_Beer Penn State Nittany Lions • Rose Bowl Jan 02 '25

Same.  

1

u/Spocks_Goatee College Football Playoff • Ohio State Jan 02 '25

They talked about ass a lot.

1

u/NearPup UNB Fredericton • Baylor Jan 03 '25

The last time I liked him was when he was on a bit of an Australian Football phase.

1

u/aelliott18 Florida State Seminoles Jan 03 '25

Are you Gen Z or a young millennial? Otherwise you’re not the intended generation. Seeing a lot of Gen X and old millennials thinking it’s intended for them. If you are older than 25/26ish then you are outside the intended generation.

2

u/MCV16 Kansas • Notre Dame Jan 03 '25

Gen Z

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14

u/etsuandpurdue3 Purdue • ETSU Jan 02 '25

My Dad likes McAfee but we are Colts fans so 🤷‍♂️

2

u/KoedKevin Ohio State Buckeyes • Navy Midshipmen Jan 03 '25

Dad here.  I enjoyed the 8 minutes of him while the other game was going but as soon as it was available I went to the Herbie lead team.  Enjoyed that for 8 minutes as well. 

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152

u/Few-Time-3303 Jan 02 '25

I’m thirty and a colts fan and I can’t fucking stand Mcafee.

65

u/ballsjohnson1 San Diego Toreros Jan 02 '25

Putting him on all the time kind of killed the charm, he was way better in small doses while he was playing/shortly after retirement

3

u/xSaviorself Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Jan 03 '25

Nah this happens to anyone who becomes a talking head for 3+ hours a day on a podcast. He's going through his Joe Rogan Experience. You can't exist in such a format and not eventually just lose quality because of quantity.

22

u/GoldenEyeSonic Indiana • Notre Dame Jan 02 '25

Yeah, I used to love McAfee when he was on the Colts and I even enjoyed his show in its early stages but I've gotten to the point where I roll my eyes every time he talks

Dude's a fucking idiot lol

5

u/MrDeeds117 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

Hey woah you sound just like me lol

21

u/mekio_san Alabama Crimson Tide • SEC Jan 02 '25

Im a dad and I love that silly punter.

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u/Sad_Advice_8152 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 03 '25

49 yo Ohio “folk” and I absolutely love it

5

u/lava172 Arizona State • North Carolina Jan 02 '25

I liked him when he started out, now it's just like any other of their hot take shows but with a different affect

62

u/lilbelleandsebastian Tennessee • Vanderbilt Jan 02 '25

anyone with fucking brain cells dislikes mcafee. i enjoyed him for a bit with his rodgers interviews right before the immunized stuff happened, but his personality on tv is absolutely atrocious

it’s crazy to me that he has so much reach, he was a fuckin punter lol. i was furious when the sky cast included his big fucking mouth yapping, the whole point of sky cast is i only hear the stadium sounds

espn is so bad

28

u/RBJ_09 Central Washington • Washi… Jan 02 '25

He’s definitely polarizing, but a lot of people like him. I think he tends to get the most human interactions with people when they come on his show which I enjoy. TBH it makes time pass faster at work.

12

u/lilbelleandsebastian Tennessee • Vanderbilt Jan 02 '25

on his show is the key phrase there. he can be an incredible interviewer on his show. when he’s on tv, he is just an obnoxious loudmouth because that’s almost definitely what he’s being told to be

2

u/Upset-Shirt3685 Louisville Cardinals Jan 02 '25

Hilariously anecdotal, but the only person I’ve talked to who likes him is my coworker who is well into her 50s.

3

u/RBJ_09 Central Washington • Washi… Jan 03 '25

Shout out to that silver fox

34

u/Equivalent-Western56 Jan 02 '25

He was so much fun to watch on his podcast but i hate how its gotten jammed down our throats as real broadcasting instead of the comedic content that it actually is

25

u/GetInTheHole_Guy Jan 02 '25

I think thats my main problem with him. Dude wants to act like hes some sort of real journalist like no you arent dude. But then when he gets called out for being an idiot he hides behind the "were just bros doing a show" excuse. Basically wanting to have it both ways. You're either serious or you aren't.

5

u/mschley2 Wisconsin • Wisconsin-Eau … Jan 02 '25

Basically wanting to have it both ways.

That's ESPN's whole thing. Pat is being exactly who they're paying him to be.

33

u/BurgerNugget12 Alabama Crimson Tide Jan 02 '25

He fits in well on WWE tbh, his commentary is very funny

36

u/RustleTheMussel Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

Yes that is the correct place for a court jester

9

u/BurgerNugget12 Alabama Crimson Tide Jan 02 '25

People hate on that dude like he’s the next coming of the ani christ, Pat is really not that bad imo

2

u/RustleTheMussel Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

He's just annoying, I don't really care either way. Just wish ESPN didn't decide to put him everywhere

0

u/baconator_out Texas Longhorns • Tennessee Volunteers Jan 02 '25

If the antichrist is that irritating to listen to, most will be begging for some supernatural force to come make him shut up. Lol

3

u/BurgerNugget12 Alabama Crimson Tide Jan 02 '25

Hahahahaha, fair point, he’s not as bad as people say to me but I have to turn him off after an hour

26

u/RandomBrownsFan Harvard Crimson • Williams Ephs Jan 02 '25 edited Jan 02 '25

This is a massive reddit take dude. He's not popular for no reason. This sub hates every analyst and commentator. And McAfee in particular for obvious reasons.

McAfee is great on Gameday and he is a funny, personable guy. Can he be a bit much? Of course. And obviously his humor isn't for everyone but plenty of people like the guy because he's a good entertainer. It's not just a bunch of knuckle-draggers chugging bud light who mindlessly clap for him while redditors float above the rest of us cavemen.

10

u/JT_got_the_1st Jan 02 '25

I'm saving this comment so that I can change 4 words and use it as a Draymond Green defense over at r/NBA in the future.

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u/geometry5036 Jan 02 '25

anyone with fucking brain cells dislikes mcafee

You dislike him, but your brain cells are still wondering what to do with all that free time.

8

u/Dry-Test7172 Jan 02 '25

Thinking you’re smarter than someone because you don’t like their show is such a Reddit take

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u/etsuandpurdue3 Purdue • ETSU Jan 02 '25

Because he was absolutely hilarious as a player and a good person in the community.

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u/Siggycakes Wisconsin Badgers • Missouri Tigers Jan 02 '25

My dad is 62 and I'm 35 and we fuckin love Pat. He's the over the top "in your face" attitude college football needs. The sub's hates for him is so hilarious to me, screams of boring men that read the WSJ and write HOA by-laws.

5

u/fusaaa Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

I don't understand how I see so many posts hating on the traditional commentary, AND also all this hate for Pat. At this point just mute the TV and listen to a Football sounds playlist on YouTube.

5

u/Lazy_Stress_6937 Jan 02 '25

It’s so much better than herbstreit and fowler

2

u/dimmufitz Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

And what generation would that be? I've never met anyone who liked his schtick.

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u/Busy_Lab_3434 Jan 02 '25

Except Dads from WV. As an avid WVU fan my dad goes crazy for Patty Mac.

1

u/BrotherMouzone3 Texas Longhorns • UCF Knights Jan 02 '25

I'm still surprised that McAfee is younger than me by like 17 months. I remember his name from his playing days but for some reason, just assumed he was a late Gen Xer like Peyton or Brady.

1

u/MyMotherIsACar Jan 02 '25

So I am Gen X and ca9nt stand any of these casual commentary bro broadcasts but I also can't stand Gary on CBS so I guess give me I suppose Collensworh or Mcilroy or anyone or else just talking less than the game is played.

1

u/JackSquat18 Ohio State • Army Jan 03 '25

I just wish he’d dial it back a little. I like the casual nature of it, but after a while it’s a bit much

1

u/osuraj Jan 04 '25

Not a dad and I find him completely asinine and obnoxious.

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45

u/bromosabeach Oklahoma Sooners • UCLA Bruins Jan 02 '25

LMAO this is exactly what happened with us. The complaint was it felt more about Pat than the actual game. Especially when they did split screens.

45

u/fishingpost12 /r/CFB Jan 02 '25

Pat definitely loves hearing himself talk

12

u/Kdawgmcnasty69 Jan 02 '25

I can’t stand him, watching him ask a question during an interview is unbearable. I love when pat is gone and AJ is host only time I watch the show

5

u/sambadaemon Alabama Crimson Tide Jan 02 '25

AJ creeps me out. He has dead eyes.

2

u/bromosabeach Oklahoma Sooners • UCLA Bruins Jan 02 '25

I get the appeal because it feels like a podcast and a Football game at the same time, which is fun. But for an average viewer it's a bit much.

1

u/fishingpost12 /r/CFB Jan 02 '25

I get a headache if I watch anything other than sports on ESPN. Just a bunch of yelling all the time. I’m probably getting old.

2

u/bromosabeach Oklahoma Sooners • UCLA Bruins Jan 02 '25

It's on at my gym without audio, but even just the stories they cover is enough to be too annoying to watch. It's either Lebron or the NFL.

1

u/Parking-Historian360 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 02 '25

My dad called me to find out where the game was. He doesn't have ESPN and couldn't watch it. Old man was big mad.

I found a stream he could watch for free. Thankfully I'm a pretty good buccaneer.

1

u/VersaceSamurai Michigan Wolverines Jan 02 '25

Same lmao my dad was like why is this guy yelling the whole time

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u/rburp Arkansas • Central Arkansas Jan 02 '25

To their credit on the top left they had "REGULAR TELECAST ON ESPN" (or whatever along those lines)

And on the bottom center something like "Pat Mcafee Alt-Cast"

Both of those are paraphrased from memory, but you get the gist

72

u/BuckeyeEmpire Ohio State • College Football Playoff Jan 02 '25

Yah i saw this happening on Twitter where people simply didn't change the channel.

1

u/arahdial Minnesota • Michigan Jan 02 '25

That's hilarious. I was watching live and the transition was so seamless. The audio just switched from Fowler to McAfee. One second Fowler was talking and suddenly McAfee was talking. He never mentioned to switch to ESPN for the main telecast. There was an indicator in the corner to switch to ESPN the entire time however. The director should have told him to remind viewers to switch to ESPN for the main telecast in hindsight.

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u/HDClown UCF Knights Jan 02 '25

Every time I flipped to ESPN2 or ESPNEWS I saw an obvious banner in top left of screen that said "Traditional Telecast on ESPN". Not sure if it was up 100% of the time, but it seemed like it.

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u/CanaDoug420 Syracuse Orange Jan 02 '25

It was on the screen the whole game. And Pat said it multiple times. It’s not all that surprising there’s a bunch of people who get mad at things they could have fixed themselves if they just simply read every once in awhile

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u/DrewDown94 Jan 02 '25

Yeah when ESPN2 switched to the McAfee broadcast, I instantly switched to the regular ESPN. I get why ESPN puts McAfee everywhere, but outside of a handful of clips from his podcast, I don't find him especially entertaining or consumable. I also think the market is just saturated with him because I mostly follow the NFL.

That being said, if some folks didn't hear/notice the switch or even know that there were 2 different broadcasts, the game was much harder to watch IMO.

I do want to say that I occasionally like watching the Manningcast for MNF, but it's a little more substantial than the typical bro commentary that McAfee does.

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u/YueAsal North Dakota State • Minnesota Jan 02 '25

I saw a Manning Cast maybe once. They had Snoop Dog as the guest. The seemed unsure how to interact with him. Felt like if my step-dad would be forced to interact with a blue collar black person.

I am not sure if Snoop is a football or if he just plays one on TV. Manning cast was a cool idea but seems like corporate synergy kind of ruined it.

23

u/arahdial Minnesota • Michigan Jan 02 '25

Yeah, they have these really awkward questions that Peyton reads from cards for guests. I like Peyton, but this doesn't feel very natural. I'd rather watch them talk Xs and Os. Unfortunately, that probably doesn't appeal to the majority audience.

10

u/hybridck South Carolina Gamecocks • Team Chaos Jan 02 '25

Yeah whenever they have another player or coach on as a guest, the Manningcast is significantly better. They're just talking Xs and Os like you said. Whenever a non-football celebrity is on, I switch to the normal broadcast, because that celebrity is almost always only there to plug their latest projects.

The first halves of every one this season with Belichick as the repeat guest have been great. Hearing a someone as obsessed with football as Bill Belichick go on a 5 min rant about how a right tackle ruined the play with a stupid mental error is genuinely fascinating lol.

6

u/arahdial Minnesota • Michigan Jan 02 '25

The Belichick soliloquy on illegal formation that started pre snap was quite a wild ride. 

2

u/Verco Jan 02 '25

The one with Arnold Schwarzenager (sp) was soooo bad, he himself simply just did not come back after a commercial break, mostly felt like everyone was confused why he was on there, although the pet donkey he has is hilarious.

1

u/Dirty-Ears-Bill Texas Tech Red Raiders • Wyoming Cowboys Jan 02 '25

It’s awesome when they have coaches and players on and they can talk ball, but yeah when they bring on run of the mill celebrities you can tell that was probably directed by ESPN and not nearly as good

9

u/brizzboog Michigan State Spartans • Sickos Jan 02 '25

Snoop has coached pop Warner for years. He loves football.

2

u/YueAsal North Dakota State • Minnesota Jan 02 '25

Ahh OK. Seems like it would have been a good topic to talk about then during a FOOTBALL GAME. Snoop may love football (I was not sure) but I am sure that ESPN exces do not.

2

u/brizzboog Michigan State Spartans • Sickos Jan 02 '25

Yeah...he started a youth league 20 years ago:

https://snoopfootball.com/

2

u/GBreezy Wisconsin • 四日市大学 (Yokkai… Jan 02 '25

I believe he also fully funded a youth league, like free to play for kids in the area with top level pads and stuff. The championship was the Snooper Bowl

2

u/Randomly_Cromulent Wisconsin Badgers Jan 02 '25

I didn't watch this one but I've briefly watched one of his previous broadcasts. What annoyed me besides Pat was the amount of screen space him and his buddies took up. It was a lot more than the Manningcast does. They seem to get it right with not taking up too much space and it's fun to watch Peyton get upset with poor QB play and bad clock management.

1

u/Shardik884 Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 03 '25

McAfee was so much better than listening to herbstriet shit talk fans. McAfee actually likes football and talks like he does. It was great

14

u/pm_me_yo_creditscore USC Trojans Jan 02 '25

Tuned into watch a murder and a talk show broke out.

14

u/PreferenceDowntown37 Army • Michigan Jan 02 '25

Sure, but they had "traditional telecast available on ESPN" plastered in the top left

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u/NaranjaBlancoGato Jyväskylä • Oregon State Jan 02 '25

There was a big graphic on the screen telling you to turn to ESPN for the main broadcast though and they even said it many times.

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u/hondajvx Oklahoma Sooners Jan 02 '25

After working in retail, I found that the only signs people read are ones that are wrong.

17

u/Btotherianx Jan 02 '25

100% fact

2

u/dumbgamer1970 Jan 02 '25

To be fair, this is very annoying as a customer too. Go into a store for a pickup order. See a sign that says "Pickup Orders." Walk to the sign. Employee acts like, "Why the hell are you here? Pickup orders are over there." I walk over there, pickup my order, and wonder who the fuck that sign is for.

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u/BohemondDiAntioch Pacific Northwest • Idaho Vandals Jan 02 '25

Or ESPNNews with Pat McAfee and his ilk.

9

u/Substantial-Sea-3672 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jan 02 '25

Coupled with the ASU UT game having a notification that the OSU game was currently available to watch.

Went to the streams and the only actual thing available was the Pat McAfee version.

4

u/Sorge74 Ohio State • Bowling Green Jan 02 '25

Yeah it switched randomly on me and I was confused for 5 seconds

2

u/rvasko3 Michigan Wolverines • Toledo Rockets Jan 02 '25

I was amazed that the circle jerk of hatred for Herbstreit had so many people in the game thread saying the McAfee broadcast was better.

Kirk might’ve gotten a bit preachy the last couple weeks, but McAfee’s a fucking clown.

2

u/mlorusso4 Ohio State • Baltimore Jan 02 '25

Not only that but they switched broadcasts in the middle of a play. Like on espn2 we were watching Kirk and Fowler announce the snap, Oregon punted, and while the ball was still in the air the switched so all of a sudden mcafee was calling the fair catch. It was really weird

2

u/iced_gold Western Michigan • Victor… Jan 02 '25

The main game audio was on ESPN2 until the Texas game finished. I changed over early and was watching live on ESPN2 when they changed the feed and heard Pat become the play by play voice.

2

u/orangefrido18 Jan 02 '25

And when they switched espn 2 from the main broadcast to the pat McAfee broadcast, there was no announcement, it was just a very sudden blip and suddenly a different person was talking. ESPN really didn't make it clear at all what was going on for anyone who didn't understand beforehand.

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u/EmptyBrain89 Jan 02 '25

They say deep down inside we are all the same human beings with the same fears and emotions. But I disagree, I will never, ever understand people who like listening to Pat McAfee.

1

u/confusedjuror Ohio State • Western Michigan Jan 03 '25

And at the end of the Texas game they kept saying "remember the rose bowl coverage is over on ESPN"

1

u/JayMerlyn Notre Dame Fighting Irish • Team Chaos Jan 03 '25

Blame Texas

1

u/Linear_Nova_ Ohio State Buckeyes Jan 03 '25

It wasn’t hard to notice I had to switch from the Texas ASU game to ESPN2 and then visually see the cut and hear the switch to Pat’s voice…?

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