For once I agree. I thought the commercial was stupid, degrading not only Tennessee but the whole South in general. As for Lee Corso, his comments made me believe that he helped write the script for that commercial.

I'm ready to see ESPN do one that's insulting to a NORTHERN school.

ESPN stops ad spot about Volunteers

August 28, 2002

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- ESPN has stopped a college football commercial that angered some Tennessee fans.

The commercial showed Lee Corso, one of the College GameDay analysts, waiting for an elevator. The doors open, and the elevator is filled with orange-clad Vols fans. A pig runs out, and an overweight woman holding another pig and wearing a shower cap and robe yells, ``Come here, Rocky Top!''

An elderly man wearing shorts and hooked up to an IV bottle is shown with a couple kissing in the back of the elevator. A sign mentioning Tennessee alumni is also visible.

The Tennessee football office said it was swamped with calls the past few days from fans upset about the commercial.

ESPN spokesman Mike Humes said Tuesday the commercial will no longer be shown.

``This spot was one of many we created for the tongue-and-cheek style College GameDay campaign,'' Humes told The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville. ``We've traditionally had the most fun at our own expense in our promotional spots. It is never our intention to offend anyone, and we are sorry if we did in this case.''

Tennessee opens the season Saturday against Wyoming in Nashville. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer had a tape of the commercial on his desk Monday, but said he had yet to see it.

``I've got a football game to get ready for, but I've heard it's in poor taste,'' he said.

I thought it was kinda funny, but then agin, I have learned to take anything that comes from the Gameday Crew with a grain of salt.