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ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit reveals reaction from network bosses over his comments about transgender athletes

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Longtime ESPN football analyst Kirk Herbstreit has revealed the reaction from the network after his recent comments on men in women's sports.

The 'College GameDay' host and color commentator on 'Saturday Night Football' says that the company hasn't once tried to control what he says on television or on social media in his 29 years with the company.

'This will be my 29th year [at ESPN]. I can say with 1000-percent certainty I have never in my life had a producer tell me what I need to say or "we like the SEC, you need to fake" β€” never in my life,' Herbstreit said in an appearance on the 'SI Media With Jimmy Traina' podcast on Thursday.

'… Never happened. Now, 29 years later, I've never had anybody say to me 'be careful' or 'you better not say that, ever. 

'Maybe other people that's happened with. I've never experienced that in my entire career.'

Kirk Herbstreit says that his bosses at ESPN haven't said anything to him about the college football analyst's recent comments about transgender people in sports

Kirk Herbstreit says that his bosses at ESPN haven't said anything to him about the college football analyst's recent comments about transgender people in sports

Herbstreit (R) has been at ESPN for 29 years and has co-hosted 'College GameDay' since 1996

Herbstreit (R) has been at ESPN for 29 years and has co-hosted 'College GameDay' since 1996

That came after Traina asked him if the Worldwide Leader in Sports tells him what he can and can't tweet.

He then pointed to the recent releases of Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III from the company as reasons why he asked.

'There is this theory out there, because obviously, last week Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III were let go, people are trying say ESPN is anti-religious or anti-people speaking out,' Traina said.

ESPN claims that the dismissals of Ponder and Griffin on August 15 were done for budgetary reasons. 

Herbstreit - an analyst on 'GameDay' since 1996 - then explained that he has been dealing with 'people attacking me' over his stance. 

'The stuff that happened last week, I got kind of caught up [when] I was talking with Dan [Dakich],' he said, referring to his appearance on the Outkick show last week. 'I am an introverted guy, but when you push my buttons, you can light a fuse and kind of get me excited about the things I'm passionate about.

'I think the reason I said I don't give a s**t is just, I get so frustrated with the country and being so divided and not liking each other β€” and people just not getting along and people are lashing out. And in the college football community, people creating conspiracy theories that aren't true or people attacking me.'

On Dakich's show - 'Don't @ Me! with Dan Dakich' on OutKick - Herbstreit said he's been 'biting [his] tongue' about trans people in sports for years and that he is now 'done giving any s**ts about it.'

Herbstreit said on Dan Dakich's show that he had been 'biting [his] tongue' on the issue

Herbstreit said on Dan Dakich's show that he had been 'biting [his] tongue' on the issue

A week before Ponder and Griffin's release, someone on Twitter asked Herbstreit 'Do men belong in women's sports?'

Herbstreit replied, 'Of course not. Ridiculous question.' 

Ponder then publicly supported Herbstreit at the time, replying to that tweet with two hand-clapping emojis.

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