ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy, a former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback, has received quite a bit of criticism this season for his biased approach to calling games.

McElroy was practically giddy in the broadcast booth in the final moments of Alabama’s win over Tennessee earlier this season, which drew the ire of Vols fans.

The criticism didn’t seem to bother McElroy as he made light of it a few days after the game.

“We were all pulling for you (McElroy) when you did your hit on ESPN,” said former Alabama quarterback Tyer Watts on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning two days after the Tide’s win over the Vols. “Had you lowered your head, lit up a cigar, and walked off set, it would have been classic. It might have been your last ESPN game, but it would’ve been classic.”

“It would have been my last Bama/Tennessee game for sure,” responded McElroy. “I don’t think it would have been my last ESPN game, but my last Bama/Tennessee game. And it didn’t matter — Tennessee fans are going to think what they think. That’s beside the point.”

Greg McElroy offers pompous reaction to ESPN broadcast criticism

McElroy addressed the broadcast criticism again on Thursday during a conversation with former Alabama basketball coach Wimp Sanderson on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.

The former Crimson Tide quarterback offered a self-assured, perhaps even pompous, response to the criticism.

“I think they remember me as a player,” said McElroy. “I was a good player, and they associate me with Alabama. And the Bama fans get mad, and the other fans get mad. And frankly, Coach (Sanderson), I appreciate very much the endorsement. But according to ESPN, I get to call the second best game every week. And if the second best game involves Alabama, then it does.”

“(Kirk) Herbstreit gets to call the best game. We get to call the second best game. And if that game involves Alabama, it involves Alabama. But frankly, people’s opinion doesn’t matter. Because my employer likes me, so clearly I’m doing something right.”

ESPN seems to almost exclusively like personalities who create controversy or are polarizing, so I’m not sure that the adolescent-tinged, “My employer likes me, so clearly I’m doing something right” comment landed the way McElroy thought it would.

I think McElroy is a smart analyst. I really do. I think he’s insightful. I think if you get past the bias in his voice, he makes some excellent points. I’ve learned things from the guy.

But he is simply not good at hiding the Bama bias. It just naturally comes out in his voice — which isn’t a surprise considering this is the same guy who trashed former Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello for celebrating a championship (apparently McElroy believes you should only celebrate the Greg McElroy way or you’re in the wrong). McElroy also made sure to point out earlier this season that he’s “not the biggest fan of (Vols QB) Joey Aguilar”

I’m not hating on McElroy, who passed for 214 yards and one touchdown during three seasons in the NFL, for having a Bama bias. Most folks in college football (whether they admit it or not) have bias. There’s nothing wrong with that. He’s a fan of his alma mater. And I do believe that he tries to hide the bias. I really do. But it’s just not easy for him.

Maybe McElroy should just lean into the bias instead of trying to play it straight. Maybe a more authentic version of McElroy, combined with his usually sound analysis, would make him a bit more popular with opposing fans. After all, authenticity is something everyone can respect.

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