Stephen A. Smith thinks he invented calling out Jalen Hurts, proceeds to be mocked accordingly
A topic that has quickly become a hot-button issue around college football has drawn the attention of Stephen A. Smith. Hold on to the volume.
The ESPN personality on Monday opened a dialogue that saw his reaction — including taking off his glasses and raising his voice — get tossed right back at him. Reaction to Smith calling out Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts ranged from sarcasm to criticism given his lack of reputation analyzing college football, at least in comparison to pro sports.
Smith’s rant, largely about featured a series of adjectives, including embarrassing and impotent, ended with, “and I’m usually nice to college kids.”
Hurts drew headlines following his comments Saturday about how the quarterback competition has been handled since the national championship game.
“This is a situation that is uncontrollable,” Hurts told reporters Saturday. “Coaches can’t control this situation. They dictate who plays. But as far as variations to it, they don’t control it honestly. This whole spring ever since the game, they kind of wanted to let it play out. They kind of, I guess, didn’t think it was a thing or tried to let it die down like it wasn’t something there because it has always been the elephant in the room.
Here’s a collection of tweets reacting to Smith’s comments:
This is literally the most common opinion in college football. https://t.co/oJRXHVgDJB
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 6, 2018
Blowing up at a kid on national TV like this because he didn’t throw good passes is a bit much https://t.co/HihzsdByyd
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 6, 2018
The good news is I don't think anyone has listened to what @stephenasmith has said in years. The man is a loud and useless talking head.
— Pierce Wilford (@PierceWilford) August 6, 2018
And it seems to completely miss the point of what Jalen was saying. So congrats to @stephenasmith for trashing a kid on national TV.
— Cody Dubose (@CDDubose) August 6, 2018
When I look for solid, thorough analysis of collegiate QB play, my gaze always drifts to Stephen A. Smith. This is some of his best work. https://t.co/CJnM8aeN98
— David Ubben (@davidubben) August 6, 2018
This is one of the most tactless and "deplorable" hot takes I've ever seen. Jalen Hurts isn't Peyton Manning, but he's hardly an "impotent" QB. He's lost 2 games in 2 yrs, has great stats. Bama produces ho-hum QBs that win every game, and in that way, Hurts is a perfect Bama QB.
— Jordan L. (@JNice04) August 6, 2018
never been Hurts fan I think he's a great athlete but after displaying absolute class, we are now ripping the kid for talking through his feelings? yeh he stunk but he said no one on Bama even asked how he's doing since they chose not to so he'd stay at Bama (different convo)
— Adam Varner (@avarner_07) August 6, 2018