Viral Moment: ESPN Fumbles Notre Dame Coach’s Name On-Air

Not exactly a Golden effort by the Worldwide Leader in Sports

Sep 7, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish Defensive Coordinator Al Golden watches warnups before the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Notre Dame has one of the best defenses in the nation and it was on full display Saturday as the Irish routed Navy 51-14, forcing six turnovers along the way.

Navy entered the game averaging over 44 points per game, the fourth most nationally at kickoff.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden again had an impressive gameplan as Navy was constantly under pressure in the passing and option games, putting the ball in opposing hands all afternoon.

ESPN Misspells Notre Dame's DC's Name

In praising Golden, who has been a head coach at Temple and Miami previously, ABC/ESPN was unable to spell the six-letter last name correctly. Check it out below.

Al Goldon. pic.twitter.com/9pDfVl7c4P

— Paul Rigney (@PaulRRigney) October 26, 2024

Several of those on social media were quick to react to the mistake.

Al Golden has been around long enough and has accomplished enough in college football that ESPN should be able to spell his last name correctly in a graphic.
Seriously, who thinks it is spelled Goldon?

— Tom Luicci (@TomLuicci) October 26, 2024

ESPN spelling Al Golden wrong is hilarious

— Nathan Erbach (@Nathan_Erbach) October 26, 2024

Hey, @EHansenND and @TJamesND, did you happen to see an @NDFootball coach named Al Goldon on the sidelines? It's a new name to me. @ESPNCFB #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/qW43yfhrP2

— Andrew Barlow (@barlandrew) October 26, 2024

Notre Dame's defense under Al Golden, or Al Goldon, had allowed just 11.9 points per game entering Saturday - the third-fewest in all of FBS.

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Notre Dame Sinks Navy 51-14: Instant Takeaways and Highlights