The electric atmosphere at Neyland Stadium on Saturday was undeniable, but it was a moment of pure comedy that stole the show — at least for ESPN analyst Desmond Howard.
As the national anthem wrapped up before the top-ranked Texas Longhorns took on No. 14 Tennessee, the crowd was buzzing. A pair of F-35 Lightning Jets roared overhead, and the stadium was shaking with anticipation. But the singer tasked with delivering “The Star-Spangled Banner” struggled mightily, and Howard couldn't contain himself.
Caught on live TV, Howard let out a few seconds of uncontrollable laughter before trying to applaud the performer's effort. His reaction, however, did not go unnoticed by viewers, who quickly took to social media to call out the former Heisman winner.
“Why is Desmond Howard laughing at the end of the national anthem?” one fan posted. Another chimed in, “Why is Desmond Howard cracking up laughing after the national anthem?” A third simply wrote, “Desmond Howard can't help but laugh.”
The criticism wasn't just aimed at Howard, though. Many fans questioned Tennessee's choice of singer altogether. Barstool Sports' Jack Mac tweeted, “Did they get a random guy to sing the national anthem at Tennessee?” One reply called it “the worst singing performance of the year,” while another fan joked, “That National Anthem was so bad I have no choice but to switch my pick Texas -5.”
Even the anthem performance at the game became a trending topic, with many wondering how such a high-profile matchup could feature such a rough rendition. The game itself was a historic clash — the first meeting between the Longhorns and Volunteers since 1969 — and the hype had been building all week during College GameDay.
Howard, who was part of the pregame coverage, seemed to be enjoying the moment a little too much for some fans' liking. But others defended him, noting that the performance was objectively difficult to sit through.
This isn't the first time a national anthem performance has sparked controversy this season. Earlier, Kirk Herbstreit's stance on politics drew criticism after he said he wanted to keep politics out of sports. And Johnny Knoxville's appearance as the guest picker added to the chaos of the weekend.
Regardless of where you stand on Howard's reaction, one thing is certain: the singer's performance will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. And for a game with so much on the line, it was an unexpected twist that had everyone talking.
