ESPN is taking heat from critics online for its nine-minute interview with Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) on College GameDay Saturday morning.
Cruz sat for a one-on-one chat with the pre-game show’s host, Rece Davis, to talk about the Protect College Sports Act that is slated for a full Senate vote this month, potentially as early as next week. Cruz, a sponsor of the bill that is also backed by President Donald Trump, was booed repeatedly by the fans in attendance at GameDay.
Last week, Nick Saban, a national spokesman for the act, and fellow GameDay analyst Pat McAfee voiced their support for the federal legislation during a discussion about LSU potentially rostering former NFL players.
No opponents of the Protect College Sports Act have been interviewed on GameDay so far this season, or any major ESPN programs. Notable opponents of the bill include Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
247Sports Alabama reporter Mike Rodak noted Cruz’s interview was longer than Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s (just more than seven minutes) “without someone like Chris Murphy to balance the political perspective being offered.” Stewart Mandel of The Athletic asked: “Was there any thought that maybe someone on the other side of it should get a chance to rebut or no?” ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio wrote that ESPN “continues its not-so-subtle advocacy for the Protect College Sports Act” by “giving extended airtime” to Cruz.
