ESPN "issued an apology" to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey after an appearance by "well-known political pundit and LSU fan James Carville on the 'College GameDay' show," according to Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. Carville appeared on the set Saturday from LSU’s campus, "taking issue with the ejection" of LSU LB Devin White from the Mississippi State game two weeks ago. He also cited the cases of defensive players from Texas A&M, Missouri and Tennessee "being ejected before or during games" against Alabama this season. Carville said that ESPN invited him to be on the show and "knew what he was going to say about the White situation and the suspensions involving the other players he mentioned." He wore a purple and gold sweatshirt that said “Greg Sankey (heart) Alabama” at the top, followed two phrases in French that mean “Kiss my ass, if you please.” Carville admitted that he "did not tell ESPN that is what the French phrase meant." An ESPN studio host read a statement apologizing for Carville’s appearance at halftime of the Texas A&M-Auburn game: “While appearing as a guest on College GameDay earlier today, James Carville offered his thoughts on SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. As we like to demonstrate here at ESPN, diversity of opinions are encouraged, however, these actions were over the top and we would like to apologize to Commissioner Sankey for them." Carville called the ESPN apology "gutless" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 11/4).
WHAT DID THEY EXPECT? USA TODAY's Dan Wolken wrote Carville's appearance was "not just unnecessary, it should be considered an embarrassment to all parties involved." Carville has made his feelings about the targeting call "well-known." In fact, he "pretty much said the same stuff -- suggesting an SEC conspiracy to help Alabama -- earlier in the week on the 'Paul Finebaum Show.'" ESPN "knew what was coming and had Carville on anyway." ESPN and the SEC have a "very lucrative relationship both as the primary carrier of television rights and in the SEC Network," and the conference's "sensitivity to criticism is not exactly a secret" (USA TODAY, 11/4).
