Social media has harsh words for Michigan writer who trashed Notre Dame recruits
EJ Holland has been no stranger to controversy since he started covering recruiting. Once a Notre Dame football beat writer, he eventually moved to the Michigan side of things.
There are different stories about why he made the jump, but none of them are particularly good for the analyst. While he has never received a great deal of respect from his contemporaries, his latest comments have drawn fire from among Fighting Irish faithful and those who aren't involved at all in the rivalry between the two schools.
Notre Dame football social media reacts to EJ Hollands dragging Irish recruits
The comments in question came when Holland was asked on an E3 board what he meant by "Michigan type kids." He went out of his way to take a shot at Notre Dame football recruits by responding, "High academic/character, but not a weirdo like a lot of ND kids.”
Social media was not at all happy about those comments.
So according to @EJHollandOn3 every kid who picks ND over Michigan is a weirdo? Is this really who ya want covering the beat @TheWolverineOn3 ?
— Ryan Fravel (@Fravel_Ryan) June 23, 2024
This is a bad look, if you're a recruit considering ND or Michigan I'd take this to heart. pic.twitter.com/3n1ml75Y6e
It wasn't just Notre Dame fans that had an issue. One Michigan State fan thinks Holland is a clown.
Biggest clown on that beat. And my god, is that saying something https://t.co/LVAmEBACTT
— Ryan (@SpartanRyan) June 24, 2024
Some thought the comments were just very embarassing for Michigan
Embarrassing if you are Michigan—but don’t go and tell them that. Their fans are delu lu- 🫨
— Jake Ryan ☘️ (@jakeryan2112) June 24, 2024
Normal for them so they’ll find a way to defend it. https://t.co/0eWyyYS9mu
Others thought it reflected negatively on Holland's employer
On3 employing a guy who routinely calls 16 and 17 year old weirdos is sadly par for the course. https://t.co/kxQ0z4QYuw
— College Football Watcher (@CFBWatcher) June 23, 2024
Others thought it was peak behavior for the analyst
This is as EJ Holland as EJ Holland gets https://t.co/Rj3GQRUjFy
— Justin Frommer (@JustinbFrommer) June 24, 2024
Others think that Holland just looks bitter and vengeful
@ShannonTerry don’t agree with the last statement but this is a really bad look for On3. EJ comes off like a scorned lover, bitter and vengeful. https://t.co/q8ttMqPHA1
— Jamie Looney (@IrishmanLooney) June 24, 2024
Even some Michigan fans didn't love that he was trashing recruits, rather than the coaches
Somebody better ask him about this https://t.co/59HjDec31X
— Go Blue x Hook ‘Em (@sleepymas415) June 24, 2024
Rivalries are of course what makes college sports so entertaining. Most fanbases in those rivalries have no lover for either the other fans or the opposing school, but Holland's comments were quite different.
Even if he considers himself a fan of the Wolverines, he's someone whose job requires him to talk to recruits on a daily basis. Some of them are Notre Dame football commits. One has to wonder if On3 is ok with an analyst taking an unbidden swipe at them.