The college football broadcaster’s “grooming” remark about Kentucky’s Ray Davis misses the mark
A broadcaster’s attempt to talk about Kentucky Wildcats running back Ray Davis and how he overcame obstacles to become one of the team’s best players was extremely awkward.
Davis had a solid game against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. He had 52 rushing yards on 12 carries as well as three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. ESPN broadcaster Pete Sousa seemed to mean well when he discussed Davis’ life in the fourth quarter. But it didn’t happen like that.
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Kentucky Wildcats running back Ray Davis (1) slides into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Kroger Field. (Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports)
“There’s Ray Davis. 51 yards on this drive alone. Running and receiving,” Sousa said. “He’s a guy transferring over from Vanderbilt. When he jumped through the portal nine months ago, everyone wanted him. Eleven years ago, as a foster child, no one really wanted him.”
Sousa’s comments were met with disapproval from college football fans on social media, describing them as ranging from “very disrespectful” to “totally inappropriate.”
Sousa tweeted a story before the game about Davis’ remarkable life on his way to becoming the Wildcats’ running back.
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Ray Davis, No. 1 of the Kentucky Wildcats, against the EKU Colonels at Kroger Field on September 9, 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“This great guy is a great story on and off the field,” Sousa wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Homeless at age 12, Kentucky running back Ray Davis hopes to inspire other kids lost in the system.”
The senior running back helped Kentucky open the 2023 season with two straight wins.
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Ray Davis, number 1 of the Kentucky Wildcats, scores a touchdown against the EKU Colonels at Kroger Field on September 9, 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Davis had 112 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in a 44-14 win over Ball State in Week 1. He helped Kentucky to a 28-17 victory over Eastern Kentucky.