Oh boy. We’ve got some ESPN infighting going on, and it’s playing out on the air.
While broadcasting Ohio State’s big College Football Playoff win over Tennessee, Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler talked about “the lunatic fringe” at the school and talk about firing Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.
“First Take tried to fire him, they thought he was done,” Herbstreit remarked. “So I’ll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance.”
That was not taken well by both Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, who fired back on Monday’s First Take.
“Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you: if you ever mention any platform that I’m on again, and talking about ‘I wonder what they’re going to say as negativity,’ I promise you. ESPN ain’t got enough bosses to keep me off y’all for what I’m going to say,” Sharpe said.
Smith took a couple of minutes to address them. Watch:
Shannon Sharpe on Kirk Herbstreit's criticism of First Take: "If we're going to be on the same team, if we're gonna work for the same network, don't do that. Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform that I'm on again talking about 'I wonder what they're… pic.twitter.com/4IPLUU5rYy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 23, 2024
Stephen A. Smith responds to Kirk Herbstreit: "Stop it… 'First Take gotta get him fired.' That is not true. I did! Not First Take. That was me, Stephen A… don't misquote me. What I said was 'this man Ryan Day, if he doesn't get a national championship, he should go. Even with… pic.twitter.com/LKU4MkQPqE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 23, 2024
In defense of Ryan Day, Kirk Herbstreit took aim at:
– The "lunatic fringe" at Ohio State. "The lunatic fringe at Ohio State is as powerful as anywhere in the country."
– First Take: "They thought he was done. So I'll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday." pic.twitter.com/0Ovs0MBMOd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 22, 2024
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