ESPN discontinues ad spot about Volunteers

Posted 7:15AM on Wednesday 28th August 2002 ( 22 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - ESPN has discontinued a College GameDay commercial that angered some University of Tennessee fans. The commercial showed Lee Corso, one of the GameDay analysts, waiting for an elevator. The doors open, and it's full of orange-clad Vols fans. A pig runs out, and an overweight woman holding another pig and wearing a shower cap and robe yells, ``Come here, Rocky Top!'' An elderly man wearing shorts who is hooked up to an IV bottle also is shown along with a couple kissing in the back of the elevator. A sign referencing Tennessee alumni is also visible. The Tennessee football office reported being swamped with calls the past few days from fans upset about the commercial. Mike Humes, a spokesman for ESPN, said Tuesday the commercial will not re-air on any of its networks. ``This spot was one of many we created for the tongue-and-cheek style College GameDay campaign,'' Humes told The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville. ``We've traditionally had the most fun at our own expense in our promotional spots. It is never our intention to offend anyone, and we are sorry if we did in this case.'' Tennessee, whose mascots include a blue tick coon hound and a young man dressed in Davy Crockett-style fringe, opens the season this Saturday against Wyoming at The Coliseum in Nashville. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer had a tape of the commercial on his desk Monday, but said Tuesday he had yet to see it. ``I've got a football game to get ready for, but I've heard it's in poor taste,'' he said. For the most part, Tennessee players shrugged off the commercial. ``I thought it was funny,'' said senior offensive tackle Will Ofenheusle, from Martin, Tenn. ``If anybody should be upset, it should be me. I'm from Tennessee, play here and grew up on a pig farm. ``I guess I should be the one upset, but I'm not. I think it's hilarious.'' The commercial was also a prime topic on radio talk shows around the state. Tennessee Athletic Director Doug Dickey said he was informed by ESPN officials Tuesday that the commercial had been pulled. ``They just said they didn't think it was something that needed to stay out there. They said they were sorry if they offended anyone and never intended to offend anyone. They thought it was funny when they cut it, but it didn't go over the way they thought it would.'' The GameDay show is scheduled to originate from Tennessee's campus twice this season, Sept. 21 for the Florida game and Nov. 9 for the Miami game.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/8/190836