David Pollack defends Kirk Herbstreit after bowl opt-out comments

ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit has gotten a lot of heat for his controversial comments about players opting out of bowl games on Saturday. Herbstreit questioned whether or not players in today’s day and age truly love the game of football. In the midst of all of the backlash from the comment, fellow College GameDay host David Pollack has come to the defense of Herbstreit.

“I can speak to my 10 years being around (Kirk Herbstreit),” Pollack said. He cares about the sport of football more than anyone I have ever met. He is constantly trying to make it better. He has pulled me aside many a times and talked about ways we (could) make the game better.”

Herbstreit originally slammed players for opting out alongside GameDay co-host Desmond Howard.

“What’s the difference as a player in saying these games are ‘meaningless’ when, Des, we played in quote-unquote ‘meaningless games,’” Herbstreit said. “I just don’t understand if you don’t make it to the playoff, how is it ‘meaningless’ to play football and compete? Isn’t that what we do as football players? We compete?

“So I don’t know if changing or expanding it is going to change anything. I really don’t. I think this era of players doesn’t love football.”

Pollack’s defense of Herbstreit comes after some strong responses

After seeing all of the backlash from his comments, Herbstreit tweeted a message to try and clarify what he was trying to say. He apologized for generalizing and putting all players into the same category.

“Just wanted to clarify some of my comments from earlier today,” Herbstreit tweeted. “Of course some players love the game the same today as ever. But some don’t. I’ll always love the players of this game and sorry if people thought I generalized or lumped them all into one category.”

Despite Herbstreit attempting to clear the air, Notre Dame star safety Kyle Hamilton had a strong and passionate message in response to the clarification.

“Another sports broadcast offers you the opportunity to make ‘X’ amount of dollars that would help you and your family in ways you couldn’t in the past, but there’s a possibility that you don’t get the job if you film another College Gameday,” Hamilton said. “What would you do?”

Desmond Howard had a similar comment to Herbstreit when originally discussing the topic on GameDay.

“Now, kids don’t really care about that,” he said. “They have a sense of entitlement, and it’s like if [they’re] not going to the one that matters, it just doesn’t have as much value to them as it did us growing up.”