Notre Dame’s heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M (41-40) at home on Saturday was one for the books. It was a wild 41-40 thriller decided in the final 13 seconds that left Irish fans stunned. The game was a seesaw battle from the jump. Notre Dame led late thanks to Jeremiyah Love’s touchdown, only to see Tyler Buchner’s fumble on the extra point snap leave the door wide open. Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed capitalized with a clutch touchdown pass to Nate Boerkircher on fourth-and-goal with just 13 seconds left, then nailed the extra point for the win. Notre Dame’s defense, porous all night with 488 yards allowed, couldn’t stop the final Aggies drive, leaving Irish fans stunned. But the real postgame drama wasn’t just about the loss. What followed on the sidelines stirred plenty of chatter.

At one point during the game, Texas A&M’s defensive guru and HC, Mike Elko, was throwing a chair in frustration on the sideline. Why? Because Elko watched his unit crumble piece by piece early in the game. One heated moment came when officials flagged Dezz Ricks for a costly personal foul after he shoved Jeremiyah Love post-play. That penalty handed Notre Dame extra downs, directly leading to a touchdown that flipped the scoreboard to 14-7 in favor of the Irish. After that touchdown, Elko’s frustration exploded. But Elko wasn’t the only Aggies staff member turning heads with their actions.

As the team was walking through the stands, Tommy Moffitt, Texas A&M’s director of football strength and conditioning, stirred some buzz by making derogatory remarks to a Notre Dame fan in the crowd. He said, “You s**k.” That offhand insult quickly sparked a wave of backlash questioning the Aggies’ culture and class. Notre Dame insider Tyler Horka posted the video on X, saying, “This Texas A&M coach (?) literally went off the field, singling out a Notre Dame fan in a sea of Aggies yelling, ‘You S**k!” So, uh, yeah. Southern hospitality or somethin’.” 

Now, it’s important to understand who Tommy Moffitt is before jumping to conclusions. Moffitt is a Tennessee Tech alum who cut his teeth coaching in the late ’80s. His resume is stacked with serious credentials. Before joining Texas A&M in 2024, he spent 21 seasons at LSU in strength and conditioning roles. He even rose to the assistant athletics director level. He was part of powerhouse teams that won multiple national championships under legendary coaches like Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron.

His job is about building disciplined, fundamentally sound athletes who can withstand the brutal grind of college football. But yesterday, his on-field behavior towards a rival fan wasn’t dignified at all. When Moffitt was hired last year, Elko said this about the new hire. “It was interesting, obviously the thing everyone always asks about offensive coordinator. I’m a defensive-minded head coach, and so you get hired and everyone wants to talk about who’s the OC, who’s the OC?” Elko said. “But in truth, sometimes the most important hire you make is your strength and conditioning coach.” But why?

“Because that guy spends so much time with your team,” Elko said. “He establishes your toughness level, and establishes your culture, and establishes your discipline level. We took a lot of time to kind of research and make that hire.” But all this is last year’s impression; Moffitt’s recent act may or may not have an impact on his career with the Aggies. But that is not the point. Moffit’s actions legit blended the fine line between fiery competitiveness and sideline decorum.

Fans react to Tommy Moffitt’s sideline slip

The aftermath of Tommy Moffitt’s “You s**ck” remark to a Notre Dame fan stirred a wide mix of reactions among college football fans. “Great sportsmanship…” a fan chimed in, dripping with sarcasm. No surprise there. See, as A&M’s strength coach, Moffitt’s expected to set the standard for leadership and professionalism. Fans pointed out that such public insults to opposing supporters betray the spirit of the game. For a seasoned coach with decades of experience like Moffitt, this moment came off as out of character and poor form.

Another fan said, “Don’t like it, do something about it.” This take highlights the frustration some feel when venting turns into disrespect. Most fans appreciate passionate reactions, but expect them to stay on the field. You know, within the game. And only time will tell if Mike or the Aggies’ authorities will take any actions against Moffitt. Then a fan comment said “Pure Class” — but ironically. Many applauded the fan’s ability to brush off Moffitt’s insult without escalating chaos. In the world of CFB, these moments where fans choose sportsmanship over confrontation stand out.

Finally, plenty said, “Can’t believe a grown man would say that after winning a game!” It nails perfectly. Texas A&M pulled off a thrilling 41-40 win, a defining moment for their season, only to have the sideline behavior overshadow the celebration. Many expected restraint, especially with victory in hand. But Moffitt’s outburst sparked questions about the Aggies’ sideline culture.