Greg McElroy issues on-air apology after taking shots at Tennessee coach Tony Vitello

Greg McElroy issued an on-air apology to Tony Vitello, the Tennessee Baseball program and Tennessee fans on Wednesday, a day after he said Vitello’s “antics” after the Vols won the national championship on Monday night were “embarrassing,” compared him to “a WWE character.”

McElroy took the shots at Vitello during his daily morning radio show, ’McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’ on WJOX-FM in Birmingham.

He issued the apology at the start of Wednesday’s show:

“Wanted to start by just apologizing to Tony Vitello and the Tennessee Volunteers. Took a shot at him yesterday and it wasn’t necessary. My frustrations about where we’re at in society boiled over. It was unnecessary. Yesterday should’ve been a day of celebration of what Tennessee accomplished on the baseball field, as opposed to a stream of consciousness, basically, diatribe about all the things that are bothering me right now in my personal life and all the things that are bothering me right now with where we’re at in society. 

“So I apologize to Tony Vitello, to Tennessee fans, the Tennessee Baseball program. And know that I’m as happy for you, for bringing it home two nights ago, as anybody that wears crimson and white in their college experience. It wasn’t the right place or the right time, so I want to make sure everyone understands that I am very, very sorry. And I will celebrate with you moving forward, as opposed to being frustrated by little, nitpicking moments that might have rubbed me the wrong way. So I really, really apologize. It wasn’t right and it won’t happen again.”

Vitello led Tennessee to its first national championship in win over Texas A&M

Vitello led No. 1 Tennessee to its first national championship on Monday night, with the Vols beating No. 3 Texas A&M 6-5 in Game 3 of the College World Series Final at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. 

The Vols (60-13) became the first No. 1 seed to win the NCAA Tournament since Miami in 1999. They came back from down 0-1 in the best-of-three series against the Aggies, winning two games after losing 9-5 on Saturday night. 

Tennessee also became the first SEC team to reach 60 wins in a single season.

McElroy on Tuesday morning took issue with how Vitello celebrated on the field with his players after winning the title:

“His antics after the game last night were embarrassing. Seriously. Have some class. You just won a National Championship. Have some class. The WWE, with all due respect, not class. Just not.”

“I just wish he doesn’t have the antics that he does. He’s like a WWE character and it’s embarrassing. Seriously, to be an adult and I’d be appalled. I really would. I know he wins and he’s great and the kids love him and all that stuff but if that was the leader of my organization I’d have to have a little talking to him. It’s unbelievable.”

‘Like I said, it’s a tough team to root for. Goodness gracious.’

McElroy also referenced the 2022 Tennessee Baseball team, the one that was ranked No. 1 for most of the season and set what at the time was a program record with 57 wins. The Vols were upset in three games in the Knoxville Super Regional by Notre Dame. 

That season falling short of Omaha, according to McElroy, was due to how that Tennessee team acted on the field.

“The team a couple years ago … they had the best team — that team was probably better than this team,” McElroy said, “and I think they lost it because they didn’t harness their emotions and it’s great to lean into that but man, like I said, it’s a tough team to root for. Goodness gracious.”