On September 10th, tragedy hit America when conservative leader Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old activist was answering a question on mass s——– when a sniper’s bullet struck him, ending his “American Comeback Tour” in horror. The tragedy shook both political and public spaces, but it also threw a spotlight on live, open-air events that thrive on big personalities and big crowds.

UNC insider Josh Graham spelled out what a lot of people are thinking. He posted on X: “The tragic news in Utah makes me think about the future of events held in open, outdoor spaces — even sports shows like GameDay. If you’re a polarizing figure like Dave Portnoy or Pat McAfee, how could you feel comfortable being among thousands of people on a campus right now?” His words cut deep into a growing unease: how secure can someone really feel when their fame draws both love and hate?

This weekend, No. 6 Georgia squares up against No. 15 Tennessee in Knoxville, and ESPN’s College GameDay is rolling into town. But in a clear nod to the mood shift, the University dropped a notice: no lining up between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. ET. Lines can form starting at 5 a.m., and the fan pit will open at 6:30 a.m. The timing rules might feel strict, but when headlines still scream about bullets ripping through crowds, every small move reads as a big precaution.

Pat McAfee is no stranger to open-air chaos. Just last year, he set up his show live at West Virginia University, his alma mater, pulling in massive student crowds. He thrives in that raw energy—rowdy chants, wild signs, shoulder-to-shoulder fans. Same with Portnoy. The Barstool boss just inked a deal with Fox Sports to pump Barstool flavor into college football, even landing spots on Big Noon Kickoff.

But controversy and his big mouth follow him everywhere. His Ohio State debut? Straight-up blocked by the university for his Michigan ties. That ban alone shows how polarizing personalities already stir the pot before the safety question even kicks in. Graham’s warning felt less like paranoia and more like common sense.

The Kirk tragedy served as a grim reminder: security detail doesn’t always guarantee safety. In 2025, sports personalities and media figures live on the same stage, attracting the same level of adoration—and the same risks. Even though Pat McAfee and Dave Portnoy don’t get the same level of hate and threats as Charlie Kirk did, it takes one lunatic to pull the trigger and destroy the livelihood.

Dave Portnoy’s Last Conversation With Charlie Kirk

As tributes poured in for Kirk, one message stood out. Dave Portnoy, Michigan alum and loudest man in sports media, hit X with raw words: “It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics. If you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history then you are part of the problem.”

On his Unnamed Show podcast, Portnoy spilled about that last convo. “I met him probably about two months ago at a conference, and I asked him two questions: A. how do you know so much about so many different things when you do these debates? And he just said he reads a lot,” Portnoy shared. The simplicity of Kirk’s answer hit harder after the tragedy.

But it was the second question that now haunts the rewind. “The second was security, actually,” Portnoy said. He explained that he pressed Kirk on how much backup he rolled with, given the blowback he took daily for his politics. “I was like, ‘How do you do this on college campuses? Do you have massive security?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I travel with a big security detail.’ He certainly was aware of the risks,” Portnoy added. That detail now reads less like a casual chat and more like foreshadowing.

Portnoy didn’t stop there. He admitted the tragedy forced him to rethink his own security game. “It doesn’t really bother me, but I think during that time I had for the first time in my life 24/7 security, because all it takes is one lunatic.” Even the sports world took a timeout to honor Kirk. The Green Bay Packers held a moment of silence before their Week Two game against the Washington Commanders. Liberty students organized a prayer vigil, lifting up his life as a Christian leader and defender of the faith.

Even outside politics, the man went viral once, proving his arm strength at Liberty University, tossing a football over 50 yards after critics joked about his athleticism. If a figure like Kirk could be taken down mid-sentence, what does that mean for the McAfees and Portnoys of the world who walk into stadium pits every weekend?