before Pat came along? Seems they have always had huge crowds.

I highly doubt a character like Pat is the difference in student’s interest in their team.

I’m sure ESPN had the data to show any bump in “excitement” by young fans was by far offset by loss of excitement in their show by others.

And in the end, that is what ESPN cares about: viewers to the Game Day show and subsequent games on ESPN. They aren’t the keepers of the sport long term. And if the sport relies on Pat-type clowns, then it is a doomed venture anyway.