Utah University Issues Statement Apologizing to Pat McAfee After On-Campus Criticism

The University of Utah apologized to ESPN host Pat McAfee on Monday.

The statement addressed student remarks made during McAfee's assignment to Salt Lake City last week. Several students described the former Indianapolis Colts punter as corny and creepy. The university had recorded the comments and published the footage on its Instagram account. The video has since been removed from the platform.

McAfee said the criticism itself was not his primary concern. He expressed frustration that the school used its official social media channel to share the student opinions. He noted that individuals often critique his work on personal blogs without issue. However, he felt the university was endorsing those specific views by posting the content.

The university issued a formal response on social media. It stated that it sincerely apologized for creating any perception that McAfee was unsafe or unwelcome on campus. The statement clarified that the host and the entire GameDay crew are always welcome. The school also expressed appreciation for the opportunity ESPN provides to showcase the university and community.

McAfee discussed the incident on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. He described the experience as uncomfortable because he was walking in front of thousands of people while the university posted the clips. He compared the situation to the shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10 last year. He questioned whether the school should be amplifying reasons why people might dislike him so soon after that event. He said he had mixed feelings about the timing and the platform used for the comments.

McAfee is frequently discussed in sports media circles for his polarizing presence. Last year, he apologized to a University of Mississippi student after he amplified a false rumor regarding her relationship. That incident followed a separate dispute where he reacted to online speculation about the student's personal life. The current apology marks another instance of public reconciliation following on-campus interactions.