While Notre Dame is focusing on the Transfer Portal and getting ready for spring practice in just a few months, Marcus Freeman is dealing with a spot of legal trouble stemming from a situation that occurred over the weekend. Just what will come of it is still up in the air, but it could be decided first thing on Monday morning.
According to the South Bend Tribune, the issue came when Freeman and his family were in attendance at Mishawaka High School to watch the Notre Dame head coach's son, Vinny, wrestle on January 3.
The alleged incident involved the Notre Dame head man and a New Prairie high school wrestling assistant coach, Chris Fleeger. Both were at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational, with Freeman there to support his son, Vinny, a Penn High School senior, and Fleeger in a coaching capacity with the Cougars.
Notre Dame responds to allegation stemming from Marcus Freeman incident
Fleeger filed a police report this past week, accusing Freeman of battery. Law enforcement investigated and turned over the completed report to the prosecutor's office to determine if any charges would be filed. It is unknown how long that charging decision will take and if any charges will be filed at all.
The situation allegedly took place after Vinny Freeman’s match against Hanover Central senior Israel Sinnott, which Vinny lost. As Vinny was escorted off the mat and out of the gym by Marcus and Penn head coach Brad Harper, Fleeger allegedly began exchanging words with the trio.
It's then said that when Marcus was walking through the doorway, he made some kind of physical contact with Fleeger. Police did not disclose the extent of the alleged contact. Once in the hallway, Fleeger and Freeman's wife, Joanna, reportedly engaged in a shouting match before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials separated the two groups. The Freeman family then left the gym.
Since the report of the incident emerged, Notre Dame issued a statement strongly denying any allegations that Marcus Freeman assaulted Fleeger.
"Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach. Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At 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 totally unfounded.”