Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman was reportedly scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live until the arrest and firing of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore disrupted the plans, according to comedian Shane Gillis.
Gillis Reveals SNL Plans
Gillis, a Notre Dame superfan and comedian, disclosed on the Bussin' With The Boys podcast that he had been working to bring Freeman onto the show for a Weekend Update segment on December 13. However, Moore's legal troubles three days earlier derailed the appearance.
"It was close," Gillis said. "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, and not Notre Dame, so we couldn't do it. For real. It was that week."
Moore's Scandal and Arrest
In December, Moore was fired as the University of Michigan football coach after the school learned of his affair with 32-year-old staffer Paige Shiver. He was arrested the same day near Shiver's apartment after a 911 call reported he had burst into her residence and threatened to harm himself. Moore recently avoided prison by pleading no contest to misdemeanor counts of trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device. Charges of home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering were dismissed as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Shiver's Revelation
Shiver later revealed in an interview with ABC that she became pregnant during the affair but terminated the pregnancy due to health concerns after being diagnosed with Pompe disease, a rare inherited disorder. She said doctors advised against continuing the pregnancy, and Moore urged her to "do what's right for your body." The Daily Mail reached out to Moore's attorney for comment.
Shiver informed the school about the affair on December 10, leading to Moore's dismissal. Hours later, she said Moore barged into her apartment, accusing her of ruining his life. She described fearing for her safety as the 6ft4 Moore grabbed butter knives.
