Former Heisman Trophy winner and longtime ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard made an unfortunate lapse on social media by referencing his alma matter in response to a tribute to the people of Ukraine.
Howard's longtime former College Gameday co-host Chris Fowler shared a photo on his verified Twitter account Friday (March 4) showing a bridge lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag amid the ongoing invasion by Russia of the neighboring Eastern European country.
Howard tweeted "Go Blue!" in response to the photo Saturday (March 5) morning, referencing the expression popularized by the University of Michigan, whose colors are maize (a specific tone of yellow named for the cereal sharing its name) and blue, similarly to those of the Ukrainian flag.
Numerous Twitter users screengrabbed the interaction Saturday before Howard eventually deleted his response.
Several users tweeted criticism and joked at the expense of Howard's negligence given the seriousness of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been the biggest global news story since Russia launched its invasion on February 24.