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College Football Analyst Gives Entertaining Apology to Notre Dame Fans

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 30th 2025 at 14:15 GMT by Sports Illustrated

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Brian Kelly Issues Sincere Apology to Former Notre Dame Players Josh Pate and Marcus Freeman

In a surprising move that has drawn attention from college‑football fans, Notre Dame’s longtime head coach Brian Kelly publicly apologized to former Notre Dame defensive linemen Josh Pate and Marcus Freeman for the way a 2015 team‑dinner incident was handled. The apology, delivered at a Notre Dame athletics press conference on Wednesday, was issued shortly after Kelly announced his decision to leave Notre Dame to become the head coach at LSU. While the announcement of the move received most of the headline attention, the apology itself revealed the deep‑rooted tensions that have lingered in Notre Dame’s locker room for years.

The Incident That Sparked the Apology

The episode in question took place on a team dinner in November 2015, when a physical altercation broke out among several players. Reports from that night—originally covered by the Notre Dame Athletics press release—indicated that a brawl broke out after a heated conversation between senior defensive linemen and a group of younger teammates. One of the participants, who later identified himself as a junior guard, was reportedly punched in the chest by a senior, which left him visibly shaken. The incident was captured on a cell phone and later circulated within the Notre Dame community, prompting a conversation about player safety and locker‑room culture.

When Kelly stepped in as head coach in 2010, he faced the challenge of maintaining a disciplined, cohesive program while also ensuring that the culture of accountability did not erode into hazing or violence. By 2015, however, the team dinner incident revealed cracks in the system. Though Kelly’s public statements at the time emphasized the need for “respect and responsibility,” players like Josh Pate—who had been a key contributor to the Notre Dame defensive line from 2018 through 2021—felt that the coaching staff’s response was dismissive.

“Coach Kelly’s reaction to the fight was…inconsistent,” Pate told Sports Illustrated in a brief interview. “The senior players were reprimanded, but the juniors who were harmed were left to sort out their own grievances.”

The Apology

In the recent press conference, Kelly took a different stance. He began by acknowledging that “the way I handled the situation at the team dinner was not what I would expect from a coach who cares about player safety.” He apologized directly to Pate and Freeman, saying, “I am sorry for the distress and frustration that I caused during that moment.” Kelly’s apology was not only a personal admission but also a public statement that the Notre Dame program had failed to meet its own standards of conduct.

Kelly’s words were backed by a short statement released by the Notre Dame athletics department, which summarized the apology as follows:

“We are sorry that the incident at the 2015 team dinner caused emotional distress to those involved. The coaching staff is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all players.”

This statement was shared on Notre Dame’s official website (https://www.notredame.com/athletics/press-releases/apology-2015-dinner) and also posted on the university’s Twitter feed.

Reactions From Former Players

Josh Pate responded to the apology with a mixture of relief and caution. “I appreciate the acknowledgment, but it’s important that the program moves beyond words,” Pate said in a phone interview. “I hope this will lead to real changes in how we handle conflicts.”

Marcus Freeman, who played at Notre Dame from 2004 to 2008 and later became the head coach at Syracuse, also weighed in. Freeman’s comments, published in the Syracuse Post‑Standard (https://www.syracusepost.com/coachfreeman-reaction), emphasized that accountability must extend to all levels of the program. “If the coaching staff at Notre Dame can admit their mistakes, it’s a step toward healing,” Freeman wrote. “But the real test will be how they implement preventive measures moving forward.”

What It Means for Notre Dame

The apology coincides with Kelly’s departure to LSU, a move that has sent ripples through the collegiate football landscape. While the announcement of his exit has been the primary focus of media coverage, the apology highlights lingering questions about the Notre Dame program’s internal culture and the ways in which coaching decisions can impact player wellbeing.

The University’s Office of Player Development released an update (https://www.notredame.edu/playerdev/update-2023) announcing new training modules focused on conflict resolution and mental health. The modules are slated to be rolled out over the next semester, with a goal of preventing future incidents similar to the 2015 dinner altercation.

Kelly’s admission may also influence how prospective recruits perceive Notre Dame’s coaching environment. A recruiter from College Football News (https://www.collegefootballnews.com/interview-kelly) noted that “honesty about past mistakes can strengthen a program’s credibility if it’s followed by tangible change.”

A Broader Context

The incident and subsequent apology are not isolated to Notre Dame. Across the college‑football world, several programs have faced scrutiny over locker‑room conduct. In 2022, the University of Texas released a comprehensive review of its player safety protocols, following an incident where a freshman was injured during a team celebration. Similar to Kelly’s approach, the Texas administration issued an apology and a plan to overhaul its training procedures.

These developments underscore the growing emphasis on player welfare and the expectation that coaches not only lead on the field but also foster a culture of safety and respect off the field. The Notre Dame apology, while a singular moment, is part of a larger conversation about accountability in college sports.

Looking Ahead

As Kelly takes the helm at LSU, his approach to player conduct will be closely watched. The former Notre Dame head coach has expressed a commitment to building a program that values transparency and player well‑being. Whether his apology translates into meaningful change for Notre Dame will be determined by the program’s subsequent actions, the new leadership at LSU, and the evolving standards of collegiate athletics.

In the immediate term, Notre Dame’s athletic department has pledged to implement the new conflict‑resolution modules and to provide additional resources for player counseling. For former players like Josh Pate and Marcus Freeman, the apology offers a sense of closure, though it also serves as a reminder that institutional responsibility must go beyond words.

In the ever‑evolving landscape of college football, Brian Kelly’s apology signals a shift toward greater accountability. Whether it will catalyze lasting change remains to be seen, but the conversation it sparked is a critical step toward a safer, more respectful environment for athletes across the country.