Tennessee fans having a hard time believing Vols called out Alabama to ESPN sideline reporter
Tennessee hasn’t beaten Alabama on the gridiron since 2006. The Crimson Tide’s 12-year streak is the longest in the 100-year history of the series and considering only two of those matchups were decided by less than a two-touchdown margin, it’s hard for many to believe the Volunteers would be talking trash to Nick Saban’s program heading into Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa.
However, that’s exactly what happened this week, according to ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath.
McGrath will be working Saturday night’s game between Alabama and Tennessee but before she makes her way down to Tuscaloosa, the ESPN reporter worked Thursday night’s UCLA-Stanford game. During one point of that broadcast, McGrath was asked to discuss the 101st edition of the Third Saturday in October.
According to McGrath, Alabama is working hard to not overlook Tennessee.
“I spoke with Tua Tagovailoa the other day and Nick Saban has brought back the ‘rat poison’ comparisons so he’s keeping his team on top of it, they are not underestimating this opponent,” McGrath said on the air.
On the other hand, more than one Tennessee player apparently doesn’t have much respect for Alabama’s championship hopes.
“I talked to a couple of Tennessee players, they are very confident,” McGrath continued. “They said this doesn’t look like an Alabama team that can win a national championship. So there’s a lot of smack talking going on.”
McGrath later followed up with this statement once Twitter caught wind of her on-air comments:
I individually talk to players from every team before covering them that weekend. And this was an on the record conservation that I’ll expand upon in our game.
— Molly McGrath (@MollyAMcGrath) October 18, 2019
That comment caught the attention of many in Vol Nation wondering why Tennessee would poke the SEC’s most dominant program.
More like it's all kinds of stupid. Our players need to keep their pie holes shut. Why give Bama some bulletin board material and/or incentive to kick our heads in even worse.
— The Vol Colonel (@TheVOLColonel) October 18, 2019
While many others simply aren’t buying that Tennessee players would make these comments:
It’s not a weird statement… it’s a fake news statement.
— JoNathan (@JoNathanVol77) October 18, 2019
Because they didn’t. That’s the most garbage comment I’ve ever seen. Since when did this sideline reporter have contact with Tennessee players for this comment to be made? And why would they even be asked about Bama’a championship potential? I call BS.
— J (@jmor18) October 18, 2019
No names listed, lack of appeal for a viewing audience on Saturday, I'm not saying the quote is fake, but that doesn't add up
— OG Georgia Vol (@Georgia__Vol) October 18, 2019
Has to be fake. How could anyone associated with with Tennessee know what a National Championship team looks like?
— Jason Hurt (@RealHurtBasebal) October 18, 2019
Sounds like it’s fake
— cal (@Caljohn16) October 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/Volguy1971/status/1185087180026368001?s=20
Of the many comments, this may be the best response yet:
— Moore (@HextechEngineer) October 18, 2019
I doubt talking will have much of an impact on the game…
It won’t.
Arrkkk, talking no impact? Your a genius, duma$$, arrrkkk!
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Someone’s got a crush.
If they said it, then name them… If not it didn’t happen.sounds like they’re trying to drum up publicity for what should be a pretty one sided game. I would think they could have found a better to game for prime time.
To “ME” 9pm is not prime time, That’s Bed time.
They picked a really horrible time for this game to start. Especially since the MLB World Championship Series (Game 6) will be on at the same time.
I don’t know who molly macespn is but who cares. Football players talk crap all the time. Probably one of the younger kids who didn’t know she would be printing it or just a dumba$$ thinking its cool to talk Sh!t. I subscribe to the policy of keep your mouth shut and let your play on the field do your talking. But Im just shade over 20 now.
She is a well known espn reporter. You just showed how little you know about college football.
No I just showed how little I care about espn. I’m sure you are the resident expert on announcers so congratulations on that. Enjoy. I could care less what espn has to say about most anything. I listen to the radio and watch their games.
Get em fuzzy
Imagine defending espn, but his username might as well say “Bandwagon” on it. Also, is there anything more tiresome than being a “Captainsaveahoe” in 2019? Maybe he’ll get a smooch for his blatant white knighting of some Connecticut based “journalist” who regards him and everybody else from the south as toothless imbeciles.
If anyone would know what a national championship team looks like it would be this Tennessee team.
Agreed, they have gotten to sit home and watch national title caliber teams play for the title since sweet sweet 1998.
Unnamed source equals bs. We’re not talking the Panama papers here. ESPN has a well-documented history of severe failings of journalistic integrity. Given the history, generality of her statement, and using unnamed sources, I’m doubting the veracity of her story. As the network continually fails to get the scoop (see the timing of anything by Brett McMurphy vs ESPN), they have become more clickbaity to maintain their failing ratings and financials.
That’s such an odd way to call a team out prior to a game that it makes you wonder whether it really happened. Still, some of these reporters try to get a headline by trying their best to trick players into making stupid statements. I can imagine how a reporter might lead a player into that statement.
Don’t be scared Vols. Own it, lean in to it, otherwise they just sound scared. Which they do.
Who cares. Vols lose by 50 instead of 40. Big deal.
I don’t think it matters. Get your panties out of you ass.