Dari Nowkhah issues apology after breaking news about Steve Ensminger's daughter-in-law to Joe Burrow during live interview
Clouded around LSU’s dominant win over Oklahoma on Saturday was the tragic news of the passing of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s daughter-in-law Carley McCord, who died just hours before kickoff in a plane crash in Louisiana.
Showing remarkable strength, Ensminger went on to call plays for the LSU offense, as the Tigers compiled 692 total yards in a 63-28 win over Oklahoma to earn a spot in the national title.
After the game, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was asked by SEC Network host Dari Nowkah about McCord’s passing and revealed he did not know about the news until the interview.
Yikes. Dari Nowkhah broke the news of the plane crash to Burrow live during a postgame interview. Burrow ended up handling it well, and it had been talked about so much on the broadcast I don't really blame Dari for figuring the team knew. pic.twitter.com/IID00JLuJC
— Tim Kaiser (@TimJKaiser) December 29, 2019
Nowkhah took to Twitter to apologize on Sunday, in a series of tweets directed towards Burrow and everyone involved in the tragedy.
There’s understandably so much sensitivity surrounding yesterday‘s tragedy involving the LSU family. I’m so sorry for the way we handled the end of our postgame interview with Joe Burrow last night. (1/4)
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 29, 2019
I obviously feel horrible to have been the one to have broken the news of Carley McCord’s passing to Joe, and have shared my apologies and sincere condolences with LSU. (2/4)
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 29, 2019
Our live interview with Joe was several hours after the news broke & was a major storyline of last night’s game. With that said, we shouldn’t have assumed he was aware, and that’s on us. (3/4)
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 29, 2019
We never intended to hurt Joe & we will learn from this mistake. My heart goes out to the McCord & Ensminger families, and the entire LSU family, during this incredibly tragic time. I hope they, including LSU fans, will accept this apology. (4/4)
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 29, 2019
Clearly showing remorse for assuming Burrow knew of the news, Nowkah sent his condolences to the LSU community.
Just one day after the terrible tragedy, McCord’s passing will surely remain a rallying point for LSU as they play Clemson for a national championship in her honor on January 13.
He really doesn’t have to apologize. The incident was plastered all over social and news media several hours before the game. Orgeron himself even made a statement hours prior to the game Ensmiger would still be coaching. There’s no reason for anyone to feel the team didn’t know, college players are on social media as much as anyone these days.
classy…this will motivate the team on Jan 13 for sure
The apology was the right thing to do. Some LSU players, who do check their cell phones prior to a game, knew about it before the game started. It seems Burrow is not in the habit of checking his cell phone prior to a game. When his phone malfunctioned recently, his parents offered to get a new one for him, but he said no because he had a game to play. I get the impression he doesn’t want distractions.
Checking his phone or not, there’s 100+ kids on the sidelines, and no one mentioned it…ok whatever you say. As good as LSU and particularly Joe Burrow is…no extra motivation will be needed. Good luck and Geaux Purple Tigers!
Yeah, I can believe it. The coaches did not tell the players, so the players probably assumed the coaches didn’t want it to be a distraction. So they didn’t talk about it.
Joe Burrow was locked-in on the game plan and playing well…as you stated…he does not want distractions…man he can throw that football ! Go LSU !
I can see the coaches not telling the players hoping it wouldn’t effect their play during the game. Why bring it up? It’s like throwing salt into a wound. I am sure that’s the last thing any LSU coach or player would want to talk about after it had just happened. To me it just shows only thing the media truly cares about is reactions and making a story than someone’s feelings.
Not pointing this specifically at Nowkah, more of a general comment about so called reporters, but they are basically just vultures. Any integrity, or honor that might once have been involved in the profession is long gone. I am far more surprised when I see a journalist behave humanely than when they don’t.
Exactly they all want click bait. Something to get their name out there. Media are scum including ESPN.
Vultures would be correct in naming reporters of all kinds now a days. They just want to be FIRST to get the news out there while asking for forgiveness over permission. Why did he not immediately apologize to Joe ? Instead he waited until the backlash started.
You can tell how much this news upset Joe! His expression was one of shock and grief after being on such a high during the interview. That Dari’s apology was full of we’s and assumes, I know what assume stands for! Fire him!
He obviously didn’t know, like everyone else he assumed by now the entire team knew. It’s sad anyway you look at it. All of are pulling for LSU against Clemson and I hope they play like they did against Oklahoma. But let me say this, does this now not debunk the whole notion that you need to be a conference champion to play in the playoffs? OK wasn’t even a top 10 team, they lost to Kansas that should have been a clue. But the same thing would have happened to Oregon or Utah was well. LSU was head and shoulders above Oklahoma. maybe after losing 3 straight years to the SEC champion maybe OK will decline any further invitations to the playoffs to match up with the SEC! LOL
* lost to Kansas State but no one cares. Also came back to beat Baylor in regular season then had to beat them in OT in conference title game. They didn’t belong on the feild with LSU and the reports that this was the 5th best team LSU played this season is disrespectful to Texas A&M or maybe Vanderbilt. I’m happy that the Coaches called the dogs off in the 2nd half atleast.
As far as the post game “foot in mouth” I agree, why even bring that up to a player? Why assume he knows, Joe Burrow may not own a cell phone (sarcasm but he isn’t exactly a social media guru either) but with so much to talk about there’s no reason to bring up a tragedy like this in a post game interview with a player period. I understand the reason was to hopefully get a response like, “oh yeah we played that first half for Coach E. and felt inspired by his loss!” But it was likely scripted and Dari likely was instructed to ask, I feel bad for him and it’s not really a big enough deal to really get too concerned about maybe just a lesson can be learned and these reporters should carefully choose their questions and avoid bringing up recent major tragedies unless it’s relevant and common knowledge the kid knows about it. Geaux Tigers!
I agree I can say 100% 4 SEC teams Including Bama are a lot better than OU they were overrated.The problem with the SEC is we beat each other up the east and west has to go they should take the top two SEC teams and let them play for the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP game.CLEMSON IS GOING DOWN GEAUX TIGERS Happy New Year!
If anyone needs to apologize, it’s that moron Matt Barrie for saying before the game that Emsminger would have to deal with the “distraction” of the death of his daughter-in-law.
This is the same idiot who said he “loved to see” the on-field brawl between UNLV and Nevada.
I loathe ESPN.
ESPN pretty much owns College Football now…they own the Playoffs too.
That’s a lot of power in one group’s hands.
LSU is one and done. Next year they will go back to losing 2-3 games
Nice. This article is about a deeply tragic event for LSU. It is NOT about their performance next year. Regardless of what you think about the team, this was an awful and saddening time for Tiger nation. Put the sneakiness aside and support this team, if not for the win but as a someone who recognizes that this team is sharing the grief of their coach.
*Snarkiness
Confirms what we already know, sports media types are among the biggest aholes on the planet.