More than a week after Michigan picked up a top-25 win over USC, Adam Schefter is still celebrating.
Only ESPN’s NFL insider isn’t taking the conventional route to bask in the glory of his beloved Maize and Blue. In fact, he appeared on Monday’s episode of ESPN’s Get Up donning a Trojans t-shirt.
Considering Schefter’s known allegiance to his alma mater, the wardrobe choice was a curious one. And after being asked about it by a fellow Big Ten alum in Mike Greenberg, we’re only more confused about why the 57-year-old was wearing cardinal and gold.
“What happened was I bet one of my buddies, [Fox Sports executive] Jacob Ullman, who went to USC, on the Michigan-USC game,” Schefter said. “Whoever won, the other team, the other person would send the other person a shirt. So Michigan beat USC. So he sent me this shirt. I’m displaying the fact that Michigan kicked USC’s butt.”
“OK, way to go,” Greenberg replied with a laugh. “Jacob Ullman: Take that. Well done.”
Noted Michigan alum Adam Schefter is wearing a USC shirt today… because he won a bet? pic.twitter.com/rxTxVJdlKy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 30, 2024
While the idea of two friends placing a friendly wager over a sporting event is hardly a new concept, this is certainly a new spin on it.
Traditionally, the loser would have to wear something representing the winning team — like fellow Michigan alum Tom Brady being forced to wear Ohio State garb all those years. So in this instance, it would be Ullman wearing Michigan gear as opposed to Schefter wearing the t-shirt of a team his alma mater had just beat.
Although my first thought — as the headline of this story suggests — was to criticize Schefter and Ullman for not understanding how rivalry bets work, is it possible that this is an even more sadistic version of such wagers? Rather than making his friends wear Michigan gear, Schefter is now taunting them while wearing their own t-shirts on national television, as if the $20 pieces of cloth are some sort of trophy for him to display.
If that’s the case, then to paraphrase Shaquille O’Neal, I owe you an apology, Adam Schefter. I wasn’t familiar with your game.
[Get Up]
