Over his two-plus decades covering college football, Dan Wolken has witnessed his share of losing locker rooms. However, following Notre Dame’s 34-23 defeat to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, he experienced an atmosphere he had not encountered before — and not in a good way. “Bizarre scenes from the Notre Dame locker room, players yelling at reporters, coaches warning people not to ask certain questions,” Wolken posted to X shortly after the game. “Amateur hour.”
Bizarre scenes from the Notre Dame locker room, players yelling at reporters, coaches warning people not to ask certain questions. Amateur hour.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 21, 2025
Understandably, many followers sought more details, with some suggesting he was being overdramatic about a locker room filled with young adults facing the disappointment of losing the biggest game of their lives. In subsequent posts, Wolken noted that reporters were being “sworn at,” emphasizing that the “decorum” in Notre Dame’s locker room differed significantly from other losing locker rooms he had covered. He asserted, “If the locker room is open, which it is for the CFP, reporters should be able to go in there and respectfully ask questions without being sworn at. If a player doesn’t want to talk, that’s fine.”
I think that if the locker room is open, which it is for the CFP, reporters should be able to go in there and respectfully ask questions without being sworn at. If a player doesn’t want to talk, that’s fine.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 21, 2025
Wolken mentioned that video isn’t allowed in the losing locker room, leaving those seeking visual proof of his initial comments without confirmation. However, Jack Soble, who covers the Fighting Irish for on3, hinted that something was amiss in the Notre Dame locker room, albeit with more tact than Wolken. He remarked, “Lotta emotions tonight. Players were distraught. Plenty of them were more than willing to talk to us and those who wanted to did it with class. Let’s have some empathy and give these kids some grace.” In an apparent critique of Wolken, Soble further stated, “As media, we have to have thicker skin than to complain about this stuff after these guys poured everything they had into a game like this.”
As media, we have to have thicker skin than to complain about this stuff after these guys poured everything they had into a game like this.
— Jack Soble (@jacksoble56) January 21, 2025
While Wolken and Soble hold differing views on the incident, both reporters seem to agree that this was not a typical losing locker room experience, even for a championship game. Without additional context, we may never fully understand whether this episode was simply a moment of heightened emotion following a significant defeat or if there is more beneath the surface.
