Arch Manning, Holly Rowe and the Death of Accountability.
Accountability. A word that strikes fear into the hearts of so many, yet fully understood by so few. We live in a world where accountability, whether that be for actions or the consequences that follow, is to be belittled. Not trusted. That word again, feared. This comes from the office of the highest political power in the most powerful nation on Earth caught in political scandal number seven hundred and twelve that would ruin Ninety-Nine percent of political leaders stretching back centuries, all the way down to the seventeen year old stocking shelves in their local supermarket when they spill milk on Aisle three and blames a coworker. That is why when genuine accountability is found out in this social media wild west we find ourselves in in the year of the Lord twenty twenty six, we tend to not trust it. Or belittle it. And this happened this week for a certain young Arch Manning.
For context, this is a controversy so easily avoided at multiple turns. If ESPN didn’t keep Coach Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns waiting at half time for an interview whilst his team was in the middle of being branded on National television. If he swallowed his pride and gave a twenty second interview at the conclusion of the game, on which his team upset the number one ranked Ohio State with a late comeback. If Holly Rowe, the venerable veteran of ESPN College sideline reporting waited a mere 3 more seconds to express her distain at being denied an interview by Coach Sarkisian. If Arch Manning hadn’t have responded to reporter Evan Vieth of Inside Texas when asked about the incident, by stating, “I saw an AI edit of Sark’s interview” “Y’all see that one? That’s a good one. Of him slapping Holly Rowe. It’s hilarious”. Avoidable by at least three people, of which we now find ourselves in a thunderstorm in which no one expected.
Now, let’s break this down one by one. Yes, Coach Sarkisian could have been more professional. He could have stopped and offered twenty five to thirty seconds of his time, and then celebrated with his team. However, in the context of ESPN allegedly making him wait at half time when they were at their worst, you can make the argument he did not owe them when at his best. Holly Rowe could have waited five seconds to show her displeasure, yes. However, again, it is understandable in the context. She felt disrespected on National television. And then for the third protaganist in our story here. Arch Manning, twenty two year old scion of the Manning family dynasty, the next in line to the throne of America’s most famous football family. Were his comments in bad taste? Sure. He could have easily avoided this controversy. However, he is twenty two years of age. I cringe still at my antics at that age, as you will more than likely reading this column. We shouldn’t be expecting College athletes at twenty two to be the moral compass we strive to be. They will say and do inane stuff throughout the year, as they do every year, and this is expected. Besides, this will be by far the least controversial thing to happen in College Football this year. If this is the biggest issue College Football had this season, they will collectively jump for joy and toast in the offices of the NCAA in Indianapolis.
Manning, whether by his own volition of by pressure of the Manning family elders, issued a public and private apology to Rowe. This apology was accepted by Rowe herself. This, in any sane logical society, would be the end of the controversy. However, it has uncovered the lurking issues at hand not just in sports today, but with the whole of the Western World. Accountability, sexism, gatekeeping, pearl clutching. They are all at play in the backlash here.
What Manning did, again whether forced or sincere, was the right call. From a public relations standpoint, from a football standpoint. From a human being standpoint. Rowe graciously accepted the apology both privately and publicly. It showed maturity on both sides to quell any potential further backlash and move on. Especially in a week where Rowe buried her mother, which is an emotionally wrought time for any person of any age, it would have been a welcome call to her from Manning to apologize and set the record straight. A young college athlete saying something stupid and owning up to his actions. This example should be followed by so called media “personalities” who have dedicated their coverage for multiple days on this supposed controversy and made it their mission to attack Rowe for anything from being “arrogant” to “entitled” and many openly questioning her credentials to undertake the job she has carried out with distinction for thirty one years. To belittle the apology from Manning and to state it wasn't required. That accountability no longer matters in this society.
Chief in all of this is Clay Travis. The owner and operator of Outkick Sports. A media outlet who, at times, can display exceptional sports analysis. After all, Clay Travis is not an untalented man. His book, Dixieland Delight, is and has been a personal favorite of mine for some time. A classic reporting of the SEC and it’s quirks, this is a seminal work of College Football in the last 30 years. However, his insistence on chasing the gravy train of the right, often puts him at odds with decency on many topics. This is one. He has stated on his personal X account, on no fewer than ten occasions this past five days, personal attacks on Ms Rowe and her character. This is someone who should know better, however values the dollar bill revenue of attracting the right of society rather than taking his credentials as a sports journalist seriously. But this is to be expected. Temu Dave Portnoy has a track record of this.
Many others have waded in also, not just to point out Travis, although this was done so as someone who portrays himself as a somewhat serious sports journalist (you expect this nonsense from the likes of Laura Ingraham and her ilk). This is to show the blatant misogyny and ill intentions of those who argue these viewpoints. Whilst those attacking Manning are also at fault, as again expecting a College Athlete to be the moral compass of America is bizarre, attacking a woman for doing her job shows that they don’t care about accountability. They don’t care about reporting. They want the women off the sideline reporting. They want their voice to be the loudest. Accountability is to be feared. Long live the Idiocracy. God help us all.
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