Just two weeks after being placed at the center of a controversy while trying to talk to the University of Texas’ head football coach, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe will be covering the Longhorns once again.
Rowe is the top sideline reporter at the network and is often assigned to cover Saturday Night Football, typically reserved for the biggest game of the week.
In Week 4, ESPN is giving the University of Tennessee the College GameDay treatment and will have Rowe on the sidelines at Neyland Stadium when the Volunteers host Texas.
This comes just weeks after Rowe was at the center of a scandal when she was blown off by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in a post-game interview after the Longhorns upset No. 1 Ohio State.
As Texas celebrated on the field, Rowe pulled the coach aside for a traditional post-game interview.
Rather than speak to the reporter, Sarkisian screamed into the microphone: ‘That’s called Texas fight! That’s called Texas fight! Hook ’em!,’ before running off to celebrate with his team.
ESPN college football sideline reporter Holly Rowe will be covering Texas this weekend
This comes two weeks after Rowe was blown off by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian in a post-game interview – leading to subsequent AI videos mocking the exchange and Rowe
A visibly frustrated Rowe was left in the lurch, but Sarkisian received criticism on social media for the move.
The viral moment spawned multiple AI edits, including one showing Sarkisian screaming in Rowe’s face before slapping her to the ground.
Days after the incident with the coach, Texas quarterback Arch Manning was criticized for laughing at one of those AI videos that showed Sarkisian violently backhanding Rowe.
Manning, the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, was asked about the videos and said: ‘Have y’all seen that one? That’s a good one. Of [Sarkisian] slapping Holly Rowe? That’s hilarious.’
The quarterback and Heisman Trophy front-runner was buried in an avalanche of criticism for his laughter and describing the video depicting an assault as ‘hilarious’ – ultimately leading him to apologize publicly.
‘In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it,’ Manning said in an apology post to his Instagram story.
‘It’s easy to say I didn’t mean it, but I know my words and actions were hurtful to a lot of people. I do not take that lightly and am deeply sorry for that.’
Manning added: ‘I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments. I have a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment.’
Texas quarterback Arch Manning published an apology after laughing at one AI video that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe to the ground and calling it ‘hilarious’
‘I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward,’ the quarterback concluded.
Rowe responded with an Instagram story of her own accepting the apology.
‘Thank you Arch. I appreciate our conversation about this – which will remain private. Apology accepted. We move forward with respect and kindness for one another,’ Rowe said.
In the midst of all that, Rowe announced on her X account on Wednesday that her mother died recently and was buried.
‘We buried my beautiful Mother today,’ Rowe wrote. ‘We honored her with the things she loves most…Dr. Pepper, Purple, Butterflies released and music.
‘So grateful for my amazing family. We laughed, cried and loved on each other today. Love you Momma, You raised an amazing family.’
Rowe shared images of herself and her family gathered for the service, an urn surrounded by flowers, a set dinner table and a violinist playing for the family.
