Marcus Freeman apologizes to Notre Dame's Aneyas Williams after penalty
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 21, 2026, 9:40 PM
Last updated Sep 21, 2026

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman expressed regret for his reaction towards running back Aneyas Williams after Williams received a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration during a game against Michigan State. Freeman acknowledged his disappointment in how he handled the situation on the sideline, stating he reached out to Williams afterward to reaffirm his support for him. Freeman emphasized the importance of maintaining positive communication with players, clarifying that he would rather focus on constructive feedback in public. Williams had limited touches in the game following the penalty, with backup Nolan James Jr. taking on a larger role. Freeman also discussed lessons learned regarding end-zone celebrations.
- •Aneyas Williams received a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration.
- •Marcus Freeman apologized privately to Williams after the incident.
- •Williams had only two touches after the penalty, both late in the game.
- •Freeman intends to learn from this experience in future interactions.
- •Backup Nolan James Jr. had a career-high performance in the game.
- 9:40 PMYahoo Sports — Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman apologizes to penalized player
"Notre Dame junior Aneyas Williams would get just two more touches the rest of the game, both coming in the fourth quarter, after his 15-yard penalty.
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