Desmond Howard, the familiar face on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” is known for his infectious smile, but that hasn’t spared him from landing on 247Sports’ list of CFB Grinches this season.
In 247’s compilation of the season’s “Grinchiest” moments that evoke the holiday spirit, Howard secured the ninth spot. His ranking came in response to Pete Thamel’s decision not to report from the crowd during the Ohio State vs. Michigan game. Thamel had allegedly received threats from Michigan fans due to his coverage of the school’s cheating scandal.
Here's Pete Thamel's initial report from Michigan Stadium: pic.twitter.com/N3ktsHVHFx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 25, 2023
Howard expressed his surprise at Thamel’s absence from the crowd, noting that Thamel had been in the midst of the fans providing reports throughout the season. He suggested that Thamel should have stayed true to his usual style and reported from the crowd, stating, “Put your big boy pants on, do it in the crowd like you always do it! I’m surprised by that. We’ve got security, he’ll be OK. … These are nice fans. They’re not going to do anything. … He’d be OK. Put your big boy pants on.”
While the moment may have added some awkwardness to television, it paled in comparison to some of the other incidents featured on the list. For the full Top 10, you can refer to college football writer Brad Crawford’s compilation.