Eli Manning says his nephew Arch Manning has a lesson to carry with him after the latest media flare-up: be careful with what you say when the microphones are on.
The former New York Giants quarterback addressed the situation in an interview with Front Office Sports, and his advice was pretty straightforward. Arch Manning, the Texas Longhorns junior quarterback, drew criticism last week after laughing with reporters about an AI edit that showed Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe in a postgame interview following a 24-23 Week 2 win over the No. 7-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1).
In the real interview, Sarkisian ditched Rowe. Both the coach and quarterback have since apologized.
Eli Manning said he didn’t reach out to Arch right away once the moment became a national story, explaining that the two usually keep their conversations centered on football. But he still made clear that the young quarterback has to learn how the media can twist a joke.
"He'll have to figure out that media stuff on his own, and a lot of it is just kind of growing pains," he said. "You feel like they're your pal, you relax with them a little bit, you try to be funny, and they can take it and run.
So you just gotta be careful; you gotta find moments where you can be funny, you can be relaxed, but there's certain things that you know you just gotta learn and deal with. And I think he has learned, and he apologized and did the right steps in handling that."
Arch Manning seemed to take that message to heart. During his Monday news conference before No. 1-ranked Texas (3-0) visits No. 14-ranked Tennessee (3-0) on Saturday on ABC at noon ET, he was far more guarded with reporters. He answered 19 questions in a 2:47 session.
The point, as the situation has made clear, isn’t that Arch Manning can’t joke around the media. It’s that some subjects aren’t built for laughs, especially when they involve something that bothers a lot of people. For now, that appears to have changed the tone around his media availability, with a cooler dynamic emerging with outlets in Austin and beyond.
In Other News...
College GameDay Guest Picker For Tennessee Texas Could Spark Vols Debate
ESPNs College GameDay is headed to Knoxville for Tennessees showdown with Texas on Sept. 26, and the familiar guessing game is already underway around who will handle the celebrity guest picker role. When the show comes to a host campus, it usually leans into local flavor, and Tennessee has no shortage of recognizable names to choose from after years of memorable selections that mixed sports, music and comedy.
Rick Barnes, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney are among the names being floated, which gives the Vols plenty to debate before the cameras ever arrive. The decision will matter less for the picks than for the vibe, since GameDay guest spots tend to become part of the weekends identity, especially when a major SEC matchup brings the kind of attention Knoxville is about to get. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Kaleb Beasley Is Creating An Uncomfortable Tennessee Question
Kaleb Beasleys move from Tennessee to Louisville has already turned into one of those transfer stories that lingers a little longer for Vols fans. The Nashville product was once viewed as a highly rated local recruit, and after spending time as a backup safety in Knoxville, he has started to find a bigger stage elsewhere. His recent showing in Louisvilles win over SMU made sure the attention followed him, because he was all over the field and came away with a performance that drew national and conference recognition.
For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is simple: Beasley is suddenly looking like the kind of defensive back the Vols could have used. He led Louisville in tackles and picked off two passes in that game, then added the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors to the resume. When a former in-state recruit starts stacking that kind of production after leaving town, it naturally invites a second look at how his path unfolded and what it means for the roster Tennessee is trying to build now. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Just Added More Emotion To Tennessee Vs Texas
Rick Barnes added a little more emotion to an already charged matchup by leaning into the history on both sides before Tennessee meets Texas. The Volunteers coach spent 17 years running the Longhorns program, so his perspective on this one comes with a built-in layer of familiarity, and he made clear he still carries good memories from that time while also showing appreciation for the athletic directors at both schools.
Barnes, though, left no doubt where his focus sits now. Ahead of the game, he spoke as a coach invested in Tennessee and its basketball program, which gives this meeting a little extra edge beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. For Tennessee fans, it is another reminder that this game is more than a reunion for Barnes, even if the details of that Texas connection still linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]