College Football Fans Roasted ESPN’s Cole Cubelic for Highlighting Player’s Homeless Stint
No. 14 Arizona notched a 10-win season with a victory over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday night.
After the Wildcats’ 38–24 win, ESPN sideline reporter Cole Cubelic flagged down Arizona senior defensive back Martell Irby for a postgame interview after a monster performance. Irby capped off his college career with seven tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in the victory.
Cubelic began the questioning by highlighting Irby’s background, including a stint during which he lived in a car and worked at a gym so he had a place to shower. After four seasons at UCLA, Irby retired from football after suffering injuries in a 2022 auto accident. He returned to the gridiron as a fifth-year senior walk-on this season, and ended his college career as a team captain in the Wildcats’ bowl victory.
Cubelic’s intent seemed earnest. He wanted to highlight a player who overcame significant obstacles to enjoy success.
Some college football fans didn’t quite see it the same way on social media, though.
Although fans had a bit of fun at Cubelic’s expense, the former Auburn offensive lineman defended himself on X (formerly Twitter) after seeing the reaction to his interview with Irby.
The situation likely is much ado about nothing, as Irby seemed to appreciate Cubelic’s highlighting Irby’s perseverance. After ending the interview, Irby shook hands with Cubelic and gave him a hug.
The Wildcats, who went 1-11 in coach Jedd Fisch’s first season in 2021, now have flipped the script. Arizona should be a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 in ’24, fresh off a 10-win campaign with much of the roster expected to return to the fold.
