College football fans are furious about ABC's split-screen broadcast of Aaron Judge's HR chase
ABC and ESPN chose to show live look-ins at Aaron Judge’s history-chasing at bats on Saturday afternoon, interrupting its college football coverage on multiple networks.
The networks chose to break into the game multiple times on Saturday afternoon to show Judge’s at bats. Judge is chasing his 61st home run of the season, which would tie Roger Maris for the most in Yankee history.
The live look-ins disrupted coverage of Clemson-Wake Forest on ABC and Missouri-Auburn on ESPN.
Judge’s third at-bat, which ended in a walk, disrupted a pivotal 2-point conversion attempt from Clemson. The Tigers converted the try. His second at-bat disrupted a Wake Forest touchdown pass.
While Judge’s chase is notable, the choice to break into the broadcast — including the audio feed — to show baseball was not popular amongst college football fans.
Here’s some of the reaction:
if Aaron Judge went 13-for-13 with 13 home runs today and was on the verge of passing Barry Bonds with 74 homers with his 14th at-bat I honestly think the cut-ins would be justified
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 24, 2022
CLEMSON GOING FOR TWO TO TIE IT. HERE COMES AARON JUDGE
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) September 24, 2022
We barely get to see one of the best 2-pt conversions of the year because *checks notes* Aaron Judge might set an American League record. 🤨pic.twitter.com/R8ZUcNr44x
— Pypeline (@Pypeline_) September 24, 2022
Cannot think of any sports thing that college football fans, on average, would care about less than Aaron Judge’s home run count
— Amanda Mull (@amandamull) September 24, 2022
Horrible timing, Aaron Judge
— Barstool Clemson (@BarstoolClemson) September 24, 2022
Me every time abc goes split screen with Aaron judge just for him to strikeout every time while Clemson and wake forest are tied pic.twitter.com/rLGfIyCKmz
— John (@iam_johnw) September 24, 2022
Another cutaway to an Aaron Judge at-bat during our college football game pic.twitter.com/AU4nzUfhFy
— Galen Bacharier (@galenbacharier) September 24, 2022
I’m serious. Find me one single human in America who wants Aaron Judge live look in’s. Find me a single solitary person who wants this from ESPN/ABC
— College Football Watcher (@CFBWatcher) September 24, 2022
"Southern college football fans vs. Aaron Judge" is becoming a great rivalry. Right up there with "SNL viewers vs. Notre Dame when they play night games"
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) September 24, 2022
Important college football update: Aaron Judge just walked
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 24, 2022
Me everytime ABC cuts into the Clemson-Wake Forest game to show Aaron Judge at bat pic.twitter.com/aZ6KJPCV2p
— Bustin Thomas (@bustin_thomas) September 24, 2022
Genuinely hope Aaron Judge never hits another home run in his life
— Super Barnio (@SuperBarnio) September 24, 2022
Espn making CFB fans watch every Aaron Judge at-bat pic.twitter.com/w6ibSq3ezo
— slapnick prospect (@electricsnuff) September 24, 2022
Wake Forest just scored a TD to go up on #5 Clemson and we missed it for an Aaron Judge fly ball lmaooooo
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 24, 2022
SAM HARTMAN: DIME! Wake Forest leads over Clemson👀
(Oh, and Aaron Judge with a pop fly to center field)
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022
Hey ABC. I cannot begin to tell you how little we care about Aaron Judge’s at-bats.
Sincerely,
College Football Fans Everywhere— Ira Schoffel (@IraSchoffel) September 24, 2022
Ok but what's his completion rate during Aaron Judge at-bats? https://t.co/z2lVPhB7n5
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 24, 2022
I don't know who needs to hear this but the people who want to see Aaron Judge's at bats can choose to watch the Yankees game. They have that option.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 24, 2022
