Sports

Speculation On Tyler Buchner’s Private Instagram Sparked By NBC’s ‘Cruel’ Treatment During Broadcast

#Notre Dame Fighting Irish
by
Tyler Buchner, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

© Matt Cashore-Imagn Images


The Notre Dame football team fell at home to Texas A&M in Week 3, 41-40. Reserve quarterback Tyler Buchner landed a brunt of the blame due to a late-game mistake.

Buchner dropped a PAT snap that would’ve given the Fighting Irish a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. NBC cameras panned to the signal caller on the sidelines a number of times after the gaffe.

The fumbled exchange proved costly in Notre Dame’s one-point loss. The Aggies drove the length of the field on the ensuing possession to score a game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal.

The ending of that contest was mired in controversy. A missed holding penalty on the final score created a storyline given the officiating crew’s SEC affiliation.

Still, Notre Dame had chances to stop the Ags with a six-point lead. It could not. After each first down, it seemed the broadcast went out of its way to locate Buchner.

NBC under fire for ‘cruel’ treatment of Tyler Buchner.

Many took note of the quarterback’s frequent appearances on the air during the final drive. It appeared the NBC broadcast crew was pinning the loss on Buchner.

The overwhelming majority of viewers felt bad for the transfer passer. It was not his fault that the Fighting Irish lost the game.

Yes, the botched snap proved costly, but it would’ve only forced overtime. Notre Dame easily could’ve fallen in the extra session.

The defense also allowed 41 points and nearly 500 yards. Putting the result on one player is unfair.

“NBC hates Tyler Buchner,” said one college football fan on X.

“(Broadcaster) Noah Eagle continues to bring up Buchner’s hold when the defense gave up 41. Amateur broadcasting,” said another.

“Really ticks me off that the NBC broadcast team spent the entire final 15 minutes of the broadcast setting up Tyler Buchner to receive death threats from unhinged fans,” this fan wrote. “Literally spent every non-action moment panning to him. Unacceptable.“

The QB’s social media activity is now being questioned.

Tyler Buchner’s Instagram account is private. The timing of that privacy decision is not known, at least not by me. It is very possible that he opted to limit his online following prior to his most recent game.

As others insinuated in previous comments, though, it very well could’ve been an attempt to shut out unwanted hate from angry fans.

The fact that we’re even having a discussion on the topic is sad. Social media should not be an outlet to spew hate. Furthermore, it should not be used to directly target one player over an on-field mistake.

Unfortunately, it is the world we currently live in. Player payment at the college level has only provided more incentive for keyboard warriors to attack team members.

Tyler Buchner made a mistake. It proved to be the difference in a one-point defeat. He is not the reason Notre Dame lost the game. He shouldn’t be treated as the scapegoat on social media.