ESPN writer Ryan McGee changed a reference he made to Joseph Smith and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his Bottom 10 college football column , apologizing for “earlier insensitivities.”

McGee ranked previously unbeaten BYU No. 5 in his column after its loss to Texas Tech.

In the first version of his column, McGee said the following:

“Legend has it that after the angel Moroni showed Joseph Smith the golden plates upon which the Mormon Church was founded, he also warned Smith to make sure to heed the oft-forgotten inscription located on the scratched up backside of the plates: “BEWARE THE COVETED FIFTH SPOT LEST IT BITE YOU IN THE BEHIND IN LUBBOCK.”

The column, which was published Wednesday, came under scrutiny on social media.

McGee revised the column and took to

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