Update: ESPN apologizes for ‘classless’ Urban Meyer sign

 ESPN’s College GameDay has apologized for giving ‘sign of the day’ honors on Saturday to a fan-made placard that the family of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer called ‘classless.’

The backstory below explains why the Meyers found the sign so insulting.  The highlighting of the sign on Twitter brought quick reaction from Coach Meyer’s wife and daughter. On Monday, GameDay offered this on Twitter.

You never solve anything in the digital conversation by just hitting delete. We apologize. We’re going to be better.

– ESPN College GameDay

Previous: Urban Meyer’s family angered by ESPN College GameDay 9/21/2015

You see them every weekend on television. College football fans create and brings sign with them to games and tailgates with hopes of getting the attention of TV cameras…all designed to help the carrier to secure their single nanosecond of fame. Each week, the crew at ESPN’s College GameDay selects one fan-made sign as their ‘GameDay Sign of the Day.’ Usually, this is a sign that the ESPN folks think is funny. Ohio State football coach Uban Meyer’s family was not amused by ESPN most recent selection.Backstory: In 2009, Urban Meyer’s University of Florida team lost the SEC title game to Alabama. Hours later, Meyer went to the hospital complaining of chest pains. Doctors said that the coach was dehydrated. They treated him and sent him home. Weeks later, Meyer said that he had taken a look at the priorities in his life (including his health) and would be leaving his post. He later changed his mind and decided to simply take a leave of absence. He coached the Gators the following season and then…again citing his health and family…again announced his retirement. His last game with the school was on New Year’s Day 2011. In November of 2011, Urban Meyer accepted the head coaching job at Ohio State.

This past Saturday, the sign shown here featuring Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn was ESPN’s ‘GameDay Sign of the Day.

Shelley Meyer, Urban’s wife, reacted with a tweet to College GameDay and sponsor Pizza Hut:

https://twitter.com/spinnershells/status/645701805611986946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Meyer’s daughter Gigi also reacted.

Makes me sick. “Appropriate” my a**. Stick to what happens on the field. That’s all y’all know anything about.

– Gigi Meyer via Twitter

Shelley Meyer says that Urban Meyer will be ignoring the matter. So far no response from ESPN to the family’s outrage.  (jj)

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