Shanna Marie McLaughlin is making headlines all over the word for her sexy photo shoot in a UCF locker room. The University is getting plenty of attention as well, although it’s not the attention UCF administrators want.
UCF Playboy Controversy Hits ESPN, Click for Video
After Local 6 broke the story Friday, the Orlando Sentinel broke a new detail over the weekend — that UCF coach George O’Leary was the one who gave the OK for the aXis magazine shoot.
See the video that sparked all the attention below:
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjM40QeAuZs
The story has exploded since then, making its way on to Huffington Post, USA Today and even a news outlet in the United Kingdom.
Orlando station WOFL Fox 35 jumped on the story today, and interviewed a marketing expert about the effect of this publicity on UCF. The expert said more people are aware of UCF than before, and it may attract more applicants to the school.
As for Shanna Marie McLaughlin, she spoke out on a radio station today defending what she did and telling those who were making a fuss about it to back off.
“I think they need to get over it a little bit and just recognize that it’s great publicity for the school and for the football team,” McLaughlin said during the radio interview on Real Radio 104.1 FM.
She made a point to defend herself — and her intelligence after earning an MBA — to critics.
“I just think that they should recognize that, you know, I am a very smart, intelligent girl and I know what I’m doing and my business background,” she said during the interview. “Like I’m not doing it to be like, `Hey, this is my ass all over UCF’ trying to portray the school in a negative way.”
Even though O’Leary reportedly gave permission for the shoot, UCF administrators have issued a public apology to media outlets covering the story.
