'It's an uncomfortable feeling': Pat McAfee goes off on the University of Utah after video of students mimicking him surfaces

College football has embraced Pat McAfee ever since he became a full-time analyst on ESPN's College Gameday. The former Colts Punter brings his infectious energy to campuses, and students often embrace his larger-than-life personality. However, his over-the-top antics have also drawn criticism in the past.

McAfee recently visited the University of Utah to cover the Saturday matchup between Utah Utes vs Houston Cougars. However, this trip to Salt Lake City did not go as planned. Following the game, ESPN analyst aired his frustrations in an on-air rant, calling out the university and its students.




The ESPN analyst stated that he didn't like his visit and felt uncomfortable. According to him, he felt disrespected and weird about the whole situation. He didn't mince his words, expressing hate for the University of Utah. Reminding everyone that Charlie Kirk was assassinated at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem last year, McAfee hinted that he felt unsafe and vowed to never return.

"Didn't enjoy University of Utah. I'm walking in front of thousands of these people. This is how the university feels about it. It's an uncomfortable feeling. I'm getting a lot of shrapnel from a lot of places. That is something I just had never experienced really in my entire life. It kind of set me off a little bit. It made me feel a little bit weird. It was a lot of mixed feelings for me going out there."



McAfee also didn't like the kicker in his pre-game show questioning the prize money of $1 million. He did, however, compliment their football team, the Utah Utes. He also clarified that the video of students mimicking themselves wasn't the issue. What truly ticked him off was the University sharing the video on their official social media account, which he found offensive and unwelcoming.

Why did a video trigger such a reaction from McAfee? What did the students really say in that video that offended him?

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH POSTED VIDEO OF STUDENTS MOCKING MCAFEE

A blogger posted a video before the game day, challenging students to do their best impressions of Pat McAfee. The students obliged, with one fan calling the ESPN analyst corny before mimicking his popular college gameday catchphrase. The rest of the crowd cheered him on, much like football fans do when McAfee makes his presence felt in the show.

Another Utah fan placed a bet on McAfee ripping his shirt off during College GameDay, something that the former Colts Punter has repeatedly done in the past. Fans poked fun at his habit of taking his shirt off, urging him to stop doing that in front of college students.

"I'd say like Pat McAfee, he's gonna say corny lines be like, 'Houston, we got a problem! Give me the Utah Utes'. I would actually spend my money on the odds of Pat ripping his shirt off this morning. Pat, Pat, we love you bro, but like keep the shirt on. No one's trying to see that; like we don't care. These are college kids, bro. Keep your shirt on, homie."



To add insult to injury, the University of Utah posted the video on their official Instagram account. Following McAfee's rant, they deleted the video from the account, issuing an official apology.

The University apologised to McAfee, expressing gratitude for him and ESPN's crews for visiting the campus. Officials clarified that the video was intended as light-hearted banter to create engagement on social media, but it failed to achieve its intended purpose. Taking accountability, the University reached out to the former punter, and apologized for making him feel unsafe.