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Michael Wilbon, a prominent figure in traditional sports media, has stepped forward to acknowledge a truth that many outside the industry already recognize: the major sports networks have significantly damaged college football.
During Monday’s episode of his ESPN show, Pardon the Interruption, Wilbon directed his criticism at Fox Sports for their dramatic overemphasis in covering last weekend’s college football games. This included their attempt to propel Arch Manning to stardom ahead of his inaugural start as the main quarterback.
“I don’t want mass media, major media, networks, even those we consider friends, ruining my enjoyment of college football by excessively hyping everything,” Wilbon stated. “Everything is being overstated.”
“Arch Manning isn’t quite at the level of Peyton, Eli, or Archie yet. Give him some time to develop. Jeremiah Smith is not Jerry Rice at this point. I heard someone, whom I probably respect and possibly covered, declare, ‘He’s the best college football player I’ve ever seen.’ My suggestion would be to watch more college football from the past 50 years because he’s not the best I’ve witnessed.”
“Can we just stop. The greatest weekend of… all of it was just slobbered over.”
While Wilbon accurately criticized the over-the-top commentary of Fox Sports’ coverage during the Texas-Ohio State game on Saturday, similar scrutiny could easily be applied to his own network. ESPN heavily promoted Bill Belichick’s presence at North Carolina’s game against TCU, sparing no expense or superlative.
Throughout the night, ESPN focused extensively on Belichick, his presence, and the celebrities in attendance with little acknowledgment of TCU’s involvement in the game.
This left broadcasters Kirk Herbstreit and Rece Davis scrambling when TCU ruined the ESPN party by blowing out the Heels 48-14, much to the delight of those sickened by the coverage.
But, I digress.
Wilbon’s central point, even if only narrowly applied, is entirely accurate: The media presentation of college football has become a multi-hour yuck and hype fest that resembles a circus more than anything associated with actual sports coverage. No statement is too absurd and no take is too hot, as long as it fuels the ratings and social media buzz for what has become the nation’s second most popular sport.
To be clear, not everyone is part of this vile hype machine: Joel Klatt, Kirk Herbstreit, this is not directed at you.
But those few and far between voices of sanity are frequently drowned out by the hysterical bleatings of hot-take artists bent on creating hysteria. It’s about time someone pointed it out.
