Kirk Herbstreit blasts Caleb Williams, Lincoln Riley over painted nails at Pac-12 title game
Kirk Herbstreit took aim at USC quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Lincoln Riley Monday morning ahead of the Trojans’ game against Tulane at the Cotton Bowl.
Live during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast, Herbstreit blasted Williams for painting “F— Utah” on his fingernails during the Pac-12 Championship Game back in early December.
“That represents Lincoln Riley too, they need to clean that shit up,” Herbstreit said before catching himself.
Herbstreit just about says
“THEY GOTTA LEARN TO CLEAN THAT SHIT UP”
Panel loses it. 😆 pic.twitter.com/kbu5B6EQNu— kellkill (@kellkill1) January 2, 2023
Williams has sent various messages by painting his nails throughout USC’s season. Some of them have been part of social impact movements; two weeks in a row earlier this season, Williams painted his nails with the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
They haven’t all been positive, though. And Utah got the last laugh in the title game. The Utes won 47-24 to claim their second consecutive league championship, then had a little fun by photoshopping a different message onto Williams’ nails.
Utah’s Cameron Rising also got a barb in during the postgame media session.
“I don’t give a shit,” he told reporters. “Hope he liked it.”
Williams’ decision to paint on his fingernails is a nod to his mother, whom he calls his inspiration. She’s been a nail artist for all of his life.