Joe Judge Clarifies Controversial Comments
Joe Judge, an assistant coach for Ole Miss football, is revisiting some comments he made that stirred up quite a bit of conversation. During a testimony regarding Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility, he brought up issues surrounding sleep and parenthood that some found contentious. He attempted to set the record straight on Saturday.
“Some of my remarks were taken out of context, and I’d like to clarify,” he posted. “When discussing Trinidad’s sleep apnea, my point was centered around the NFL’s focus on sleep for recovery and performance, along with the need for families to find a balance during the football season.”
“These insights are drawn from my experience with veteran players and situations I’ve faced at the professional level. This isn’t solely a college issue. As a husband and father of four, I really get those struggles, and I will always prioritize my family. We instill that same family commitment in our players, always being there for them through their personal challenges.”
During his testimony, when discussing the role of sleep for athletes, Judge expressed that players, especially in soccer, shouldn’t be expected to care for newborns at night if they want to perform well on the field. “You need to have those important figures in their lives educated,” he remarked. “Having a baby in the midst of a season means that fathers must communicate that they have to play good football, regardless of the added responsibilities.”
He added, slightly jokingly but also seriously, “It’s a day-to-day job. If they need to perform, they have to be well-rested. You have to ensure that they can get quality sleep, even if it means setting boundaries.”
Judge, who previously coached the Giants from 2020 to 2021, mentioned that any diaper duties would be postponed until after the season—suggesting it was not the time for such responsibilities.
Regarding Chambliss’ eligibility, a Mississippi judge ruled in favor of the Ole Miss quarterback on Thursday, granting him an extra year of eligibility and a preliminary injunction. This outcome might still be challenged by the NCAA in the future.
