Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1438218
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2022 19 will never change and that's why I've had success as a position coach and as a coordinator. "Now I'll use those same philosophies as a head coach." Yes, it's a risk to hire a 35-year-old with no prior head-coaching experience into this pressure-cooker and put those expectations for greatness on him. But ever since Freeman arrived, the question was not if he would get an opportunity to be a head coach, but how long it would take. He was almost assuredly getting a shot somewhere. Perhaps this year. Freeman's readiness for the big whis- tle won't become clear until he actually coaches a full season, of course. That'd be true no matter where the chance came. What should be clear now, though, is Freeman's rare drive to work harder than anyone else. And when as- sessing his contributions during the last 11 months, one can't help but think the risk also would have applied equally to passing him over. ✦ The hiring of Marcus Freeman took the world by storm. Freeman, a 35-year-old first-year head coach, being named Notre Dame's new head football coach less than a week after Brian Kelly, 60, walked away from the job after 12 years at the helm was simply too intense a juxtaposition for the college football landscape to ignore. Freeman unintentionally threw gasoline on the raging fire by being himself, too. As Kelly infamously feigned a southern ac- cent during a short appearance at an LSU basketball game, Free- man showed who he really is in a viral celebration video in his introduction to Notre Dame players as their head coach and in an introductory press conference in which he made himself cry. "Marcus Freeman's genuine sincerity and appreciation might be the single most refreshing thing about the state of college football right now," ESPN analyst Heather Dinich said. Dinich wasn't alone in her praise of Freeman. Here are some notable personalities who voiced their support and excitement for the Freeman era at Notre Dame. "He gets Notre Dame. He didn't graduate from there, but some people who did graduate from there don't get it like he gets it. He gets it." — Tom Mendoza, Notre Dame alumnus and American business executive "I had some great coaches, but I've never seen that kind of entrance. Does it mean anything? Maybe. But what it did tell you is you didn't lose a single player in that locker room. That was real joy. They were excited. I think it gave everybody who hasn't met Marcus Freeman or hasn't seen him interact with the team a quick insight into how much rapport he's built with his team in just one year." — Ryan Harris, former Notre Dame offensive lineman "I believe this was a blessing from Touchdown Jesus for the University of Notre Dame. In the short term, Notre Dame keeps continuity, they keep con- sistency, they keep cohesion, they keep culture, they keep connection. Notre Dame, thanks to Brian Kelly's departure, may have ended up with a star who just needed an opportunity. "They didn't just do this to placate players. They didn't just to this because they wanted to keep as much continuity as possible this season. They think that highly of Marcus Freeman. I'm here to say right now, Marcus Freeman wins a national championship before Brian Kelly does at LSU." — Michael Smith, sports media personality "How far he's come in the last 11 months, from Group of Five defensive coordinator to Notre Dame head coach, I think he's going to have a really big impact on the program. I think people are going to love him. He's a real player's coach. I'm glad the offense gets to experience that now." — Kyle Hamilton, All- American Notre Dame safety "Rarely has Notre Dame been so likable for people not already predisposed to like Notre Dame. And rarely do you see and feel such unanimous excitement about a hire that carries no small element of risk. In introducing a charismatic people person, the Irish won the press conference by as wide a margin as they usually lose College Football Playoff games." — Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated columnist — Tyler Horka "The goal is to win the national championship. That's the ultimate goal. But how you get there, it's going to take a process. It's going to take enhancing whatever we've done to get to this point. It's going to take looking at every single thing we do as an organization and find a better way to do it. That goes back to challenging everything." FREEMAN What They're Saying About The Marcus Freeman Hire Freeman, pictured here with graduate student linebacker Drew White, has been lauded for his ability to connect with his players. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS