Fans slam ‘race-baiting’ ESPN reporter for ‘totally unacceptable’ question to Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman
ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath has been slammed for trying to ‘race-bait’ Marcus Freeman in the wake of Notre Dame’s incredible victory over Penn State.
The Fighting Irish’s 27-24 win takes them to this year’s National Championship and in turn makes Freeman the first Black and Asian American coach to achieve the feat.
But while Freeman has continuously tried to shut down any talk of race, ESPN still tried to ask the question – and it left social media furious.
Speaking on the field after the game, McGrath told Freeman: ‘You are the first Black head coach to go to a National Championship game in college football. Just hearing that response alone, how much does this mean to you?’
In response, Freeman quickly shut down that line of questioning and said: ‘I’ve said this before, I don’t ever want to take attention away from the team.
‘It is an honor and I hope all coaches – minorities, Black, Asian, White, it doesn’t matter, great people – continue to get opportunities to lead young men like this.
Marcus Freeman batted away a question about his race from ESPN reporter Molly McGrath
Fans hailed Freeman, while also slamming ESPN for the ‘race-baiting’ question to the coach
‘This ain’t about me, this is about us, and we’re going to celebrate what we’ve done, because it’s something special.’
Fans quickly took to X to both slam ESPN and hail Freeman for his response to the line of questioning, with one writing: ‘What a disgusting network [ESPN] has become. Good on coach Freeman for shutting down your “reporter”.’
Another added: ‘Why does ESPN try to make everything about race or gender? Kudos to Marcus Freeman for interrupting the pattern of the reporter.’
Meanwhile, Outkick founder Clay Travis threw fuel on the fire by posting: ‘Notre Dame just won its biggest game since 1988. How does @espn react? By focusing on one half of Marcus Freeman’s race.
‘Freeman absolutely crushes his answer and says he hopes all coaches regardless of race get great opportunities like he did.’
It is not the first time in recent weeks that ESPN has found itself in hot water, after the network decided against broadcasting the national anthem at the Sugar Bowl, 24 hours on from the terror attack in New Orleans.
The New Year’s Eve attack forced organizers to push the game back 24 hours, where they then held a minute’s silence for the victims and the traditional American national anthem.
McGrath is a sideline reporter for ESPN who regularly covers college football around the States
ESPN were slammed for ‘throwing the race card’ at Freeman ‘multiple times’
Neither of which were played out by ESPN on the broadcast, leading to fury from those watching at home.
‘Not showing the national anthem after a damn terrorist attack just miles away is classic @espn f’you…,’ wrote one user on X.
Another posted: ‘Did I miss the national anthem at the sugar bowl, or did woke @espn not show it?’
It is understood SportsCenter had finished an interview with former quarterback Tim Tebow and cut to a commercial before the moment of silence started. Coverage only resumed midway through the national anthem.
