Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is not a fan of Tony Vitello.
McElroy, the co-host of Birmingham radio show “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning”, ripped Vitello after Tennessee baseball won its first ever National Championship on Monday night.
“His antics after the game last night were embarrassing,” McElroy said. “Seriously. Have some class. You just won a National Championship. Have some class. WWE, with all due respect, not class. Just not.”
What exactly were Vitello’s antics? He said “holy shit” during his ESPN interview and he and one of his players did the “suck it” sign at one another. Other than that?
Vitello ran around the field looking for players to hug, he jumped into a crowd of Tennessee fans and signed autographs and took pictures with a multitude of them. He embraced his dad with a long hug after the finest moment of his college career.
“I just wish he doesn’t have the antics that he does,” McElroy said. “He’s like a WWE character and it’s embarrassing. Seriously, to be an adult and I’d be appalled. I really would. I know he wins and he’s great and the kids love him and all that stuff but if that was the leader of my organization I’d have to have a little talking to him. It’s unbelievable.”
More From RTI: Watch As Tony Vitello Embraces With Josh Heupel And Rick Barnes After Winning National Championship
McElroy, like so many that don’t like Vitello, discussed Tennessee baseball’s 2022 team which flamed out in the super regionals after setting the sport on fire with one of the best regular seasons in college baseball history.
That team lost to Notre Dame in the super regionals in large part because its emotions ran too hot. Star outfielder Drew Gilbert and pitching coach Frank Anderson were both ejected in game one of the best of three series.
“The team a couple years ago I think lost the National Championship, and they had the best team— that team was probably better than this team and I think they lost it because they didn’t harness their emotions and it’s great to lean into that but man, like I said, it’s a tough team to root for. Goodness gracious.”
There’s some truth in Vitello’s emotions running too hot hurting Tennessee in the 2022 postseason, but that’s where McElroy outs himself as someone who hasn’t watched Vitello’s program over the last few years.
Vitello is still fiery but he’s dialed back the most over the top parts of his program. Tennessee baseball’s 2024 team played with confidence but it never reached a boiling point like it did in 2022.
In that, Vitello deserves credit for finding the right balance and getting his program to the mountaintop.
68 Responses
Who cares what Karen McElroy says! Always judging people and crying about something! Lol
McElroy doesn’t get it because he’s stuffy . Vitello was filled with unbridled joy for his players, family,coaches and the Volunteer fans. There is not a more passionate real guy than Tony Vitello. His style is different than CEO Saban . There was nothing classless about Vitello , he was very respectful of Texas A and M and their fans .
Half VOLS Fans still in Omaha flights cancel due to weather.
Hey Greg, nobody really cares what you think! Get back to us when bama wins a natty in baseball.
Who cares what anyone thinks. Go Vols. It was a holy shit situation. Did you watch the game?
I agree with greg. Such language does not belong on national tv. He needs to clean up his comments like an adult.
Mcelroy is a joke wannabe commentator. Stick to football jacka$$! You were a mediocre QB and worse ESPN analyst. Suk it!
Hey McElroy, SUCK IT!!!
Getting pissy because someone offends you with exuberance for accomplishing something you never will is as classless as anything. Like you’ve never said Oh shit.
So when do we care about what EX-BAMA players say???? What a stuffshirt! Hey Greg, we already paid for the pizza. Now get off our porch.
College coaches have a responsibility to mentor young men in becoming, well, adults. If my son were playing for Vitello, I would seriously question Tony’s undoing of our family values. Congratulations to UT on its win. Maybe Vitello can hire a life coach?
Still crying after losing satin opps i ment Sabin
Who is
Greg
Mcduffus
Oh my goodness?!?!!!!
What in the world is wrong Greg McElroy???! It sounds like sour grapes to me, which doesn’t even make sense?!?!? I was born and raised in GEORGIA and once the DAWGS were out of the series my husband and myself were happy to see it was down to two SEC teams. We throughly enjoyed the last 3 games and ended up pulling for Tennessee. Coach Vitello was simply over joyed and overflowing with emotion and pure elation for all the hard work both he and his team had put in. I do not understand the negative reaction from Mr McElroy. I was happy and very proud for Coach Vitello. Neither team had ever won a world championship so this was EPIC!!!!!!!!!!
EXCELLENT JOB COACH VITELLO AND THE VOLUNTEERS!!
Karen, you have always had hatred for Tennessee sports in general. Let the man enjoy him else. Wow dude or dudet , you’re just pissed because you never made it out of college football . Putting everyone down because you’re a miserable person., not good or professional. How’s Bamas baseball been doing lately
This isn’t the first time for the Classless Tn Coach..
Jealousy is ugly! Get a life man.
We don’t care what you think you loser. He had a reason to celebrate and just showed his love for his father,his players and the fans
Who cares what an Alabama person has to say.,GO VOLS
My take on this is this: You are a representative of not only the University of Tennessee but also the SEC. Don’t lose your shit especially in front of a national audience. Doesn’t look good, at all. Do your unabashed celebrating with your team in the locker room or in someone’s home. Have some dignity. Try to maintain a low profile. That behavior with come back to haunt you,
Don’t know if you recall Tom Cruise on the Oprah Winfrey show. It was a few years ago.Made a spectacle of himself. He was getting married for the third time. Katie Holmes was the lucky recipient. He was jumping up and down on the sofa on the set. It was bizarre. You could see it made Opera (Oprah) as uncomfortable as it did most of us.
Just jealous cause bama couldn’t get it done stop whining
I’ve heard worse so if sh*t is the worse he says then it’s ok! Just not lest ye be judged!
For you people who are NOT Tony Vitello fans we at UT SAY PERFECT! we have him all to ourselves and u guys need to either have a sense of humor, some unbridled passion in your life or just keep your comments to yourself.
Greg is a has been POHS WASTE AND WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT HIS OPINIONS ALABAMA SUCKS AT BASEBALL AND PLAYS POCKET POOL WITH EACH OTHER IN THE SHOWERS GO VOLS
“Holy shit”
You can suck it McElroy!
What would we expect a Bama Alum to say? V kept his players and himself under raps during the games…then let loose after the win. Let it go Bama fans.
Who cares what all of you non-VOLS think. Hey, Crap-elroy, 2 words for yuh, SUCK IT!!!!!! HOLY SHIT GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!
Anyone remember Saban ever coming unglued, cursing and ranting… GDMF spewing out of his mouth again and again.
You’ll never hear the hypocrite McElroy dress little Nicky down.
Got to love the alabama Fans it’s a fact they hate Tennessee with no love lost see you 3rd Saturday in October…And do you know it’s a scientific fact that all the birds fly upside down over alabama and we all know why
Mr. McElroy;
1). Why don’t you address Alabama’s decades of compensating players on the periphery of the rules?
2). Why don’t you and your lousy cheating brethren look into the mirror?
Everyone likes to complain about a a little bad language in sports or in an interview. But everyone these karens takes their kids to movies and watch that dirty crap all day and it’s OK. Just shut up and complain in silence.
I hear worse language from kids when I walk down the street. You completely missed the emotion of winning a baseball natty. Poor, pitiful Greg!
Mcelroy doesn’t remember flipping double birds to auburn fans,when he thought he had won, only to almost having to be carried off the field,because he blew it.
Totally agree with McElroy…What a clown Vitello is. Emotion and excitement for your teamis one thing but running around acting like a classless, “I’ve never won anything before”, clown is a whole different ball of wax! He actually took away from his players celebration. Hopefully his AD or President will “school” him on class and refinement. Oh whoops…..I forgot it was Tennessee!!
ESPN please send this guy to Knoxville this fall for Game Day? I feel positive his reception will be epic.
We don’t have to win national titles in baseball we do it in football and we’re going to start doing it in basketball I mean it’s about time y’all finally won a national title and something besides women’s Athletics volunqueers. I totally agree with McElroy Tony is full of baloney and he needs a doll back his goofy ass antics there’s no need for that but he’s a meathead what do you expect. The Vols still suck $%#@.
Roll tide roll yep I just mailed a letter to Auburn and Tennessee and I just finished the toilet so it should make it there in a couple of days
Yeah I just mailed a letter to Auburn and Tennessee and I just flushed the toilet so it shouldn’t make it there in a couple of days and bologna Tony needs to dial back his Goofy Meathead antics and it is about time y’all won a national title and something other than women Athletics when is the first national title y’all had in a men’s sports since 1998 at least Greg McElroy has a national championship ring to show for it and he’s one of the classiest guys on TV and smart as a whip and if he wants to give his opinion he can and I totally agree with him my God y’all’s colors will make a man puke roll tide roll flush the volunqueers down the toilet bowl. Vols still suck %&#%.
I just mailed a letter to Auburn and Tennessee I just flushed it so it should make it there to y’all in a couple of days and it’s about time y’all won a national title and something other than women’s Athletics and this is I believe the first national title you have won in any kind of men’s sports since 1998 it’s about damn time. Tony is full of Bologna his antics don’t surprise me I mean he is your classic Meathead Jock. There’s no need for that nonsense on TV he should know better than that this is a one and done situation. And we don’t need to win in baseball when were the most dominant football program in college football history and we’re going to start winning national titles and basketball since we are favored to win the national title this year and with our new baseball coach he will eventually get us to the promised land. And if Greg McElroy wants to talk smack he will he’s got a national championship ring as a quarterback for Alabama to back it up and he’s smart as a whip and I’m right there with him I totally agree that full of Bologna Tony needs to dial back that nonsense. That’s the volunqueers for you. My God those colors will make any man lose his lunch orange and white oh yeah and roll tide roll flush the volunteers down the toilet bowl.
Roll tide roll flush the volunteers down the toilet bowl no I did mail y’all a letter though and Auburn so after I flush the toilet I don’t know how long it’ll take for it to get there but it’s about time y’all want a national title and something other than women’s Athletics what was the last time you won a national title in men’s Athletics 1998 I believe. And Tony is full of Bologna it doesn’t surprise me one bit how he acts freaking goofball. He needs a tone down that nonsense and if Greg McElroy wants to Express his displeasure he can I’m right there with him. Congratulations Lady Vols thank goodness those colors y’all have will still make a man lose his lunch. You’re dominant friend down south Big Al
Roll tide roll flush the volunteers down the toilet bowl. Yez I did mail y’all a letter Tennessee (that place I would not want to be)& the barners. So I just flushed the toilet so I really don’t know how long it’ll take to get to y’all! it’s about time you won a national title in something other than women’s Athletics, an when was the last time you won a national title in men’s Athletics 1998 I believe. And Tony is full of Bologna it doesn’t surprise me one bit how he acts freaking goofball. He needs a tone down that nonsense and if Greg McElroy wants to Express his displeasure he can I’m right there with him he can back it up with that Natty he got from 2009 is the quarterback of the greatest football program in college history the Crimson Tide oh yeah and we’ll win the national title in basketball this year too since we are favored to win it. And we’ll get to the promised land with our new baseball coach you better believe it I mean if y’all can do it with that goofball we can do it with our coach Congratulations Lady Vols!!!! those colors y’all have will still make a man lose his lunch. You’re dominant Tank down south Big AL! LANK!!!!!
Profanity is a sign of ignorance and disrespect. I agree wholeheartedly with Greg!
He’s authentic, what you want him to be like slossnoodle and attack the media for asking about the Texas job? Only to take the job 19 hours later. Only one e.barassing person at CWS, and that’s Jim from Yexas A&M.
Wrong place, Wrong time
Greg McElroy never heard of her
He was ecstatic. One off color word expressed in the joy of winning. As far as language, the public can read lips on TV to you know. Anyway, I do try to overlook these behaviors, for the joy of the game. Unbridled joy, pent-up emotions. I don’t know, but Mr. M. can you experience that much overwhelming joy?
Coach V is a player’s coach, not a critics coach. His guys would run through a wall for him and some of them even tried. We “adults” may not compare him to an altar boy, but I assure you those young men love him regardless of what some stuffy old guys think.
Who?
Frankly I don’t care what anyone from Alabama thinks. Tennessee loves Tony Vitello! Who asked for your stuffy opinion anyway?
I am proud to have him as a coach for Tennessee! His players and fans love and support him, he’s the type of Coach everyone wants to represent them. Shame on you for downing him, you’re just jealous.
Big difference between a clubhouse / locker room and national tv.
Vitello is a heckuva coach, it’s a shame that his antics sometimes overshadow the juggernaut he has built in Knoxville. Congrats Vol Nation. WDE
Good grief…let the man celebrate his team’s fantastic accomplishment..get over it!!
Typical snotty nose Alabama attitude. Shameful..from a one time upstanding guy..he needs seriously apologie to TV!!
Very unfair to create a conflict of interest.
This is cool and all for Rocky Top to take it to the house. Let’s see if they maintain it. That will tell you if Tony has what it takes to maintain a dynasty.
Kudos to you beating my Noles twice.
We have to rebuild for 2025 losing 2-6 hitters.
Who is Nate Oats? Oh, I think he was a baseball coach at one time.
Went to UT football games starting at 8. Set with my family in the same seats for 30 years. UT and other schools have all talked about how Alabama fans are the most obnoxious and vulgar and rude fans that come to their stadiums.
So I would say to Greg don’t complain about the spec in our eye when you have a plank in your eyes. Grow up sore loser.
Who cares what he thinks. If he won something he would celebrate too
Not even a Tennessee fan but love seeing the excitement by the players and coach. I bet the players won FOR him.
How rich coming from Greg McElroy. A s***** quarterback now relegated to being an announcer. What a pathetic piece of garbage.
And just why is McElroy behind a mike,hang your balls out and speak to Vols coach face to face,you may get your pussy ass face smashed
Who cares what McElroy says!! He was just excited for the fans and the players Tony Vitello is a passionate coach & cares about his players.
Who is McElroy? Never heard of her.
Greg needs to leave the WWE out of it. Stick to your football commentary. Yes, the coach has cockiness about him. He got what he deserved in 2022. But this team came through this year. From nearly losing in the regional to being national champs, he got his players to buy in. Congrats to the SEC for another championship and being the best in another sport. I still dislike rocky top. RTR!!
Alabama didn’t have anybody there so nobody had anything to worry about.
He doesn’t understand coaching. Look at his old coach.
The only thing appalling in all this is Greg McElroy.
Wow, must be a slow news day or something. His team just won a national title. Any of us would be excited for the team and the coach. Are you sure you’re a UT Alumni? Because I am and so proud of these guys, they worked hard and deserve to celebrate the big win.
There’s always gonna be the haters running their mouths over jealousy! It happens way more often than not!
If not for this post from the hater, the youngsters would probably not have even acknowledged or noticed that anything such as the so called, “sign”, as referenced in the celebration.
IMHO. BHIP.