Ex-ESPN star Sage Steele says company deserved to be 'crushed' for failing to show anthem before Sugar Bowl

Former ESPN star Sage Steele discusses her former employer's decision to not show the national anthem before the Sugar Bowl. She appears on "OutKick the Morning."

Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele said the network deserved to be crushed for failing to show the national anthem on its main channel ahead of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans after the terrorist attack that took place in the city just the day prior.

Steele appeared on "OutKick the Morning" and appeared flabbergasted over ESPN failing to show the national anthem on that day, which the company chalked up to "timing issues."

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The national anthem is played before the 2024 Sugar Bowl between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

"It was so egregious, and I tweeted about it and I put it on my Instagram, and I really do try and stay away from too much that revolves around my former employer. That life is gone, and I am so glad to be past it, grateful for those years. I couldn’t help it Charly, because it was such, to me, a blatant decision to skip," Steele told host OutKick’s Charly Arnolt on Tuesday.

"You are a mile away, maybe less than in New Orleans, from where all of those people were murdered on the morning of what was supposed to be the game that was airing on ESPN. And you chose to ignore it when people are suffering and it’s so much bigger than football? They were crushed. They were crushed, and deservedly so, for not doing it."

Steele said ESPN showing the pregame prayer last week was a reaction to the backlash it received over the Sugar Bowl.

Sage Steele (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Bullseye Event Group/File)

ESPN AIRS PRE-GAME