College GameDay host David Pollack gives brief message to fans following news of ESPN layoffs
There had been bad news looming for several months that ESPN was going to make massive layoffs this spring. We just didn’t know exactly how deep those cuts would go. On Friday afternoon, ESPN made a baffling decision to let College GameDay’s David Pollack go.
He will not be returning to ESPN or College GameDay this fall.
Pollack was without question, one of their best on-air college football analysts over the years. He did an extensive amount of homework in studying the matchups and game film leading up to each broadcast. It was easy to see during the College GameDay broadcasts over the years or in other shows that he worked on like “Palmer & Pollack”.
He developed a remarkably loyal following over the years, as college football appreciated him as a staple of the highly popular Saturday college football show.
Many die-hard college football fans and members of the media expressed how surprised they were that Pollack was let go on Friday via social media. On Friday evening, the former Georgia football legend took to Twitter to deliver a brief message to the fans and thank all of the people he worked with at ESPN over the years.
Check out his message below. You can also read the transcribed version below the video.
David Pollack gives a message to his fans following the news
“What is up everybody? Pollack began his brief message. “I think a lot of the news came out today and all of y’all heard that I won’t be brought back to College GameDay next year or to ESPN. And just wanted to say thank you to so many people. I just appreciate everybody along the journey. You know, 12 or 13 years ago, ESPN taking a chance on me and all the people that I [got] to work with. I got to work with so many great people. Do so many things. Things that [were] awesome for so many years. I’m just very thankful for it.”
The beloved college football analyst then said he has no idea what’s ahead in his career path. “And I don’t know what’s next. I have no clue what’s next in my life. But I have one thing God’s shown me all along the way, man, is he is for me. He’s not against me. And NFL, I broke my neck, career’s over. Find TV. And I found coaching the last couple of years. Found speaking the last couple of years. So I know, God’s got something amazing for me. I don’t know what it’s gonna be, but thank you to all my teammates and all of the people that played a part in it. And all of you that watched and cheered me on. And I don’t know what’s next, but I do know it’s gonna be amazing,” Pollack said late on Friday evening.
Pollack did an exceptional job over the years during his college football coverage with ESPN. He’s a man that will be missed by college football fans across the country. College GameDay simply won’t be the same without him. It will be interesting to see where he and many of the other ESPN employees that were laid off end up in the future. Pollack is remarkably talented. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him land a big-time gig very soon.
More information about the layoffs at ESPN and his career there
For more on Pollack’s firing and the rest of the layoffs at ESPN on Friday, check out the article below from On3’s Nick Geddes.
Pollack is the latest casualty at ESPN, which laid off many on-air talents Friday as part of Disney’s cost-cutting measures.
Steve Young and Suzy Kolber from the “Monday Night Countdown” crew, NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay and NBA announcer Jeff Van Gundy are among the former ESPN employees who were let go by the company. For a full list of ESPN employees who have been laid off thus far, click here.
Pollack, 41, joined the “College GameDay” crew in 2011. In addition to “College GameDay,” Pollack contributed to the “College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings Show,” “College Football Live,” “SportsCenter,” and College Football Playoff coverage. He was previously an analyst on ESPN’s “Thursday Night College Football” telecast and co-host of “Palmer & Pollack” on ESPNU.
Prior to joining ESPN, Pollack starred as a defensive lineman at Georgia (2001-04). Pollack racked up a school-record 36.0 sacks, which also ranks third in NCAA history. He earned three First-Team All-American selections, was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year two times and took home the Chuck Bednarik, Ted Hendricks, Lott and Lombardi Awards.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected him 17th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Pollack appeared in just 16 games, compiling 4.5 sacks before a serious neck injury forced him to retire in 2008.
On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.