“We got a threatening email from ‘noreply@espn.com’ late on Christmas, and then no one could log into the site,” said one CFB News Now deputy editor on the condition of anonymity.

“The message said, ‘All your news are belong to us,’ which kind of shook the whole staff to its core. There was a longer message, but we’re not at liberty to disclose anything else except that it was written in a fashion consistent with Joey Galloway’s speech pattern,” our source said. “It’s possible someone spiked his egg nog or over-served him mulled wine at his family gathering. At this point, we’re willing to give Joey the benefit of the doubt,” our source said.

The editor said it’s not clear what ESPN was planning on doing with the website. “They just sat on it for a few days,” our source said.

The editor did confirm that all staff now have restored access to their website accounts, and will resume publishing the latest breaking essential college football news as it develops.