Notre Dame Football Player Responds to Criticism Over Controversial Play

It looked bad on the telecast but it turns out there are two sides to every story

Notre Dame safety Jordan Clark, right, stares down Louisville running back Isaac Brown (25) after tackling him during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Louisville at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame's 31-24 win over Louisville on Saturday was certainly a bit chippier than any of the previous four the Fighting Irish have played in this season.

After the game the chirping between teams continued as both headed to their respective locker rooms, but during the game things were at a raised level throughout.

Notre Dame's Jordan Clark Head-Butts Opponent

Notre Dame was leading Louisville by 10 just before the halfway point of the third quarter Saturday. At that time, Notre Dame defensive back Jordan Clark was hit with a personal foul penalty for headbutting Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell. The optics, shown below, certainly weren't good.

Here is the disgusting unsportsmanlike penalty from DB Jordan Clark.

Inexcusable. pic.twitter.com/gmvY4bPvI8

— Notre Dame Fighting Irish (@Insidetheirish) September 28, 2024

Notre Dame's Jordan Clark Responds to Criticism

As bad as the optics are, it turns out there is more to the story according to Jordan Clark. Clark took to social media to respond, saying that he was reacting after getting spit in the face of.

If you were brought up to let someone spit in your face, and not do anything I get it. Not me though, be easy😂😂 https://t.co/nap7moGM7Z

— Jordan Clark (@Jclark21_) September 29, 2024

It's a catch 22 position for Clark to be in.

Getting your face literally spit in and not doing anything about it is a lot easier to say than to actually go and do. It's very easy for me to sit here behind a keyboard and talk down about Clark's decision to do what he did.

The fact of the matter is though, that a future opponent is going to see that and try to press Clark's buttons again, very likely in another highly disrespectful way with the hope that he'll respond like he did Saturday.

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