Michael Oher's former coach speaks out on Tuohy family amid controversy

21 August 2023 , 20:29

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OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 28: Michael Oher #74 of the Ole Miss Rebels stands with his family during senior ceremonies prior to a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 28, 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)

The high school coach of former NFL star Michael Oher says he 'loves the Tuohys' amid controversy surrounding the family behind the story of the Hollywood movie ‘The Blind Side’.

Oher was the subject of the blockbuster ‘The Blind Side’ movie, starring Sandra Bullock, which was released in 2009. The movie tells the story of Oher working his way from an impoverished background and being adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy before playing football.

However, on August 14 news emerged that Oher had filed a petition in court in Shelby County, Tennessee, alleging that the Tuohy family never actually adopted him. Oher alleges that he was tricked into signing paperwork that would make the Tuohy family his conservators, which would give them legal permission to make and secure business deals using his name.

The documents provide further details which allege that Tuohys used their conservator power to strike deals that would see them apparently earn more than $300 million (£235 million) in royalties from the movie. The film starred Bullock, who portrayed Leigh Anne Tuohy, where she was nominated and won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2009.

Oher played for the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens during his career in the NFL, winning the Super Bowl with the latter in 2013. Before then, though, he played football at Briarcrest Christian High School in Memphis, where he was coached by Freeze.

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And Freeze has spoken about the recent controversy following the filing of the petition in court by Oher. In the process, Freeze expressed his affection for both Oher and the Tuohy family.

"I love Michael Oher. He’s like part of our family. I love the Tuohys," Freeze told The Auburn Observer, via .

"I think it’s sad, and I certainly don’t claim to understand all the ins and outs of adoption, conservatory, all of that. But I know what I witnessed, and I witnessed a family that totally took in a young man. And I think without that, there is no story.

"I think it will all, whatever happens, will happen, of course," Freeze added. "The facts will come out.

“But, you know, I love both sides of it. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy did something that most families, a lot of us talk about doing things, but they actually put the shoes on and pulled the boots up and got in the arena and did something. I think that’s admirable."

Mark Wakefield