Legendary ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman made his way to a Tennessee football game. He was supporting the Volunteers’ opponent, the Massachusetts Minutemen.
Notable broadcasters have made an enemies of Tennessee football fans in the past. Chris Fowler’s infamous statement after Peyton Manning lost the Heisman is one incident that obviously stands out.
Well, Chris Berman made his way to Neyland Stadium Saturday for a Vols game. The only problem is he came to root against the Vols.
The longtime anchor was on the sideline in a UMass Minutemen uniform.
Whoop! Boomer in the house! Spent some time with Chris Berman, who's a long time friend of UMass coach Mark Whipple @wvlt @wvltsports pic.twitter.com/NA8nLbxxaD
— Rick Russo (@wvltrick) September 23, 2017
A WILD CHRIS BERMAN APPEARS pic.twitter.com/iZFehfz6Ed
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) September 23, 2017
Berman’s allegiance to the Minutemen was no secret. He was a special guest coach for Team White in the UMass spring game earlier this year.
He and UMass head coach Mark Whipple have been friends for about 40 years. And, despite going to Brown, he grew up in the Northeast. Working for ESPN, he still is connected to the Northeast as well.
So he has plenty of loyalty to the area.
As a result, Tennessee football fans probably don’t feel any resentment towards Berman for rooting against them in this instance. UMass isn’t a rival of any kind.
And this is clearly no anti-Vols thing for Berman.
The longtime Sportscenter and NFL anchor is such a staple of ESPN that it’s hard not to like him.
Overall, it’s just good to see him out trying to stay involved with things after his wife’s tragic fatal accident earlier this year.
Vol Nation is too busy being distracted for the problems Butch Jones and his coaching staff have caused the program with their play-calling to worry about what Berman is wearing.