In May, Auburn play-by-play man Rod Bramblett and his wife Paula were killed in a car accident. Auburn played their first home football game since the tragedy on Saturday against Tulane, and paid tribute to Rod and Paula with a video before the game.
Forever Auburn#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/IMjvYpGFPl
— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) September 7, 2019
The game was shown on ESPN2, with Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Rod Gilmore (color commentator) on the call.
In the second quarter, the broadcast camera focused on the Auburn student section, featuring students that had “Ride Rod” painted across their chest. That was in honor of Rod Bramblett.
However, when Benetti saw the “Ride for Rod” students, he joked that it was in reference to his broadcast partner, Rod Gilmore.
https://twitter.com/DrunkAubie/status/1170500866283057153
“They’re spelling Rod by the way. That’s very nice. It’s for Rod Gilmore. They’re spelling your name. They’ve got a heart for you. That’s just for you. Beautiful.”
Many viewers immediately tweeted about the awkward moment (and clear misunderstanding).
The ESPN 2 broadcast crew working Auburn mistakenly thought a shot of the crowd painted w/ "Ride For Rod" was for commentator Rod Gilmore
Used it as a moment of levity.
While it wasn't intentional, it was lazy & a major mistake. Producers weren't on it either
Should apologize.
— Tim Melton (@MeltonTalks) September 8, 2019
ESPN announcers just made a joke about students' "Ride for Rod" shirts in the Auburn student section.
Maybe they didn't know, but distasteful nonetheless.
— Chip Brownlee (@ByChipBrownlee) September 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/hersch256/status/1170499650907967489
My God these tv announcers showing the painted people spelling out “Ride For Rod” in honor of Rod Bramblett and they are joking around about it saying Ride for Rod Gilmore who is an espn announcer… like you are either clueless or heartless… #ridiculous
— AUBURN SUPERFAN (@CFullman30) September 8, 2019
Wow, @espn this is next level bad.
Your announcers at Auburn are so disengaged they don’t know why students have spelled out “Ride for Rod?”
And then they make light of it, saying it’s for @RodGilmore
— Josh Decker (@J_Decker84) September 8, 2019
In the third quarter, Benetti issued a heartfelt apology:
ESPN did the right thing as Jason Benetti formally apologized in the third quarter. https://t.co/ultUGdxlKa pic.twitter.com/22lIYV8vCX
— Tim Melton (@MeltonTalks) September 8, 2019
“We showed the student section earlier today, and I made mention of my partner’s name, Rod Gilmore, while we were showing the letters that spelled out Rod and a heart on somebody’s chest. The day Rod (Bramblett) died… I have a number of friends who knew Rod very closely. You work long enough in the media field, and you get to know people through others. And Rod was a dear person, and I apologize for putting any further sting into a death that was so important to the Auburn family. I didn’t mean that in any way, shape, or form.”
“I am deeply sorry, and crestfallen that anyone took what I said and, rightfully so, that I said what I said without knowing what the body paint was for. Because Rod Bramblett is a dear person to so many people here. And so, my condolences to the Auburn family. The last thing I want to do is make this any worse for people who are really hurting.”
[ESPN2]
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.