Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman nearly made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, but the plans collapsed amid Sherrone Moore’s explosive scandal. Comedian Shane Gillis, a devoted Notre Dame fan, disclosed that Moore’s arrest as Michigan’s coach overshadowed the opportunity just days before the scheduled episode.
SNL Appearance Falls Through
Gillis shared details on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, explaining efforts to feature Freeman on the December 13 episode of SNL. ‘It was close,’ Gillis stated. ‘We were close to getting it done. I was talking to [SNL creator] Lorne Michaels about it, and we were close. We were going to have him on “Weekend Update,” and then something happened at the Michigan program that became the biggest story in college football, not Notre Dame, so we couldn’t do it. It was that week.’
Moore’s arrest occurred on December 10, three days prior, forcing SNL producers to scrap the cameo.
Moore’s Firing and Arrest
University of Michigan dismissed Moore in December after learning of his prolonged affair with 32-year-old staffer Paige Shiver. Hours later, police arrested him near Shiver’s apartment following a 911 call reporting he had entered uninvited and threatened self-harm.
Moore, a 40-year-old married father, recently avoided prison by pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device. Prosecutors dropped more serious counts including home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering as part of a plea deal.
Shiver’s Account of the Affair and Aftermath
In a recent interview, Shiver revealed she became pregnant during the affair but terminated it due to health risks from Pompe disease, a rare muscle-weakening disorder. ‘Multiple doctors and experts told me that it wouldn’t be right or healthy for me to keep the baby,’ she said. Moore reportedly advised, ‘[You] have to do what’s right for your body.’
Shiver notified Michigan officials about the relationship on December 10, prompting Moore’s immediate firing. That evening, she described a frightening encounter: ‘All of a sudden, I hear footsteps, and they’re getting closer and louder, and I’m like “C**p!” and so I run to my door to try to lock it. He barges in, and he’s standing like this close to me, and he said, “You ruined my life. Why would you do this to me?”‘
She continued, ‘I start backing up, and he starts following me.’ When asked if she feared for her life, Shiver replied, ‘Oh my gosh, yes. He’s 6ft4, and he comes in with his hood up, looking down at me, saying I ruined his life, crying. And then [he] starts coming at me, and I tell him to leave… He’s not listening to me. And then he starts grabbing butter knives.’
Representatives for Freeman, NBC, and Notre Dame’s athletic department have not responded to requests for comment.
