Former college football player calls out Pat McAfee, ESPN College GameDay: ‘Has to stop’

SportsPat McAfee has been on ESPN College GameDay since 2022. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)By Matt Connolly | mconnolly@pennlive.comESPN College GameDay needs to get back to being a family-friendly show, according to former college football player Jake Olson.The former USC long snapper took to X Saturday morning and expressed his displeasure with the cursing that is regularly occurring on GameDay.“Obviously love Game Day, but as a kid who loved it too, and now with kids of my own who I hope grow up to love it, the cursing has to stop.” Olson posted. “It’s unbecoming of that show. It adds nothing and subtracts a lot from the fun, wholesome roots the show was founded upon.”There were some on X who had an issue with Olson’s post. Later Saturday night, he shared his message to those people.“Take note of all the ‘men’ who call this ‘soft’ or dismiss it with bravado,” Olson said. “It may finally help you understand how our culture slid into harming the very kids we were meant to protect. It starts with those who prize their own selfish impulses more than the responsibility to guard what’s innocent.“If you won’t protect their ears, why would anyone believe you’ll protect the rest of them? Protection isn’t something you switch on only when the stakes are high. If you won’t step in on the small things, you won’t step in when it actually matters.”While some disagreed with Olson, he also had plenty of supporters.Many fans shared that they are tired of inappropriate language on College GameDay and called out Pat McAfee in particular.“Agreed. GameDay is a fun show but would be so much better without the language,” one post said. “All @PatMcAfeeShow adds to the show with how smart and funny he is is lost when the cussing starts…would love to hear it change.”Another added: “I’m with ya. We don’t watch anything with McAfee anymore for several reasons, but the cussing is one of them. McAfee thinks it keeps him ‘cool’ within his bro circle. But, I hope to raise my children with a more kind & comprehensive vernacular.”Matt Connolly is a Sports Trending Reporter for PennLive, writing about the NFL, college sports and other topics. He has covered college football and college basketball since 2010 and was on the Clemson beat...