{"id":516774,"date":"2026-01-15T01:20:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/516774\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T01:20:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:20:14","slug":"marcus-freeman-rips-media-for-dragging-family-through-the-mud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/516774\/","title":{"rendered":"Marcus Freeman rips media for dragging family ‘through the mud’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman said his family got \u201cdragged through the mud\u201d after a Jan. 3 incident at his son\u2019s wrestling match<\/a> was made public and \u201csensationalized\u201d in the media.<\/p>\n

During a press conference Wednesday, Freeman began by thanking the university for backing him after he was accused of battery by New Prairie assistant coach Chris Fleeger while at Mishawaka (Ind.) High School for a wrestling tournament. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is I behaved in a respectful and professional manner, while protecting my family, and that should have been the only headline,\u201d said Freeman, who was not charged<\/a> following an investigation by the Mishawaka police department.<\/p>\n

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Marcus Freeman opened his press conference addressing the incident at his son\u2019s wrestling match at Mishawaka High School. <\/p>\n

He expressed his thanks for reporters who waited for the facts and not \u201cdragging his family through the mud with clickbait headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI behaved in a\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PSkM53r6E5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bennett Wise WSBT (@BennettWiseWSBT) January 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cJournalistic integrity should matter [and] withholding ethical principles in news reporting with accuracy and fairness should matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I\u2019m a public figure and I understand the scrutiny that comes with that. That scrutiny should not extend to my children or any other child of a public figure.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the St. Joseph County prosecutors report \u2014 cited by the South Bend Tribune, which was the first to report the incident \u2014 a witness informed detectives that Fleeger had voiced his anger at the Freeman family, and was encouraging other wrestlers to harm Freeman\u2019s son, Vinny, who is a Penn High School senior.<\/p>\n

\"NotreNotre Dame Fighting Irish head football coach Marcus Freeman (R) and his son, Vinny, in attendance of the men\u2019s basketball game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on Jan. 13, 2026. Michael Caterina-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Fleeger filed a police report accusing Freeman of battery after an alleged altercation, which was captured on video<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The St. Joseph County prosecutors office announced Monday that\u00a0Freeman will not be charged<\/a>\u00a0following a review of video footage and Mishawaka PD\u2019s investigation.<\/p>\n

The story made national news. <\/p>\n

\n

BREAKING: <\/p>\n

The Mishawaka Police Department has released the security camera footage of the incident between Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman and New Prairie assistant coach Chris Fleeger.<\/p>\n

Freeman can be seen in a black jacket and gray hoodie near the exit doors. Fleeger can\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Ff4qcGojJu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bennett Wise WSBT (@BennettWiseWSBT) January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI want to commend the journalist who handled their reporting with integrity\u2026 I appreciate your patience in not rushing to report without having all of the facts and information,\u201d Freeman continued. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is also important for me to express my extreme disappointment with one local media outlet and a reporter who I believe chose to do the opposite,\u201d Freeman said, adding that as a result, the incident became a sensationalized story.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they choose not to do so, me and my family and I have been dragged through the mud with clickbait headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freeman said he was grateful to Notre Dame for their \u201ctrust and defense of me even before the video evidence was released.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HeadHead coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Stanford Cardinal in the first quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Stanford, California. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Notre Dame publicly backed Freeman in the immediate aftermath of allegations, calling the accusations \u201cunfounded\u201d in a statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cVinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman\u2019s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,\u201d Notre Dame\u2019s statement read. \u201cMarcus and [his wife] Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded.\u201d<\/p>\n

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