Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2023 5 T he idea of Notre Dame elevating Marcus Freeman to replace Brian Kelly felt credible and not careless because of the continuity that would come with him. Keeping the pillars of a 54‑9 program, in theory, offered a first‑ time head coach room to grow with a little margin for error. Freeman, then a former defensive co‑ ordinator self‑aware enough to know he wasn't a three‑phase mastermind, signed off on keeping offensive coordi‑ nator Tommy Rees. He then touted Rees during his December 2021 introduction and said there was no consideration of another choice. "It's what you've seen on the field," Freeman said of his offensive philoso‑ phy. "It's what you've seen Tommy do. When I talked to [athletics director] Jack Swarbrick about the opportunity to keep Tommy Rees, that was without question." Fourteen months later, Rees' depar‑ ture to become Alabama's offensive coordinator will reveal how much of that philosophy still applies. Not be‑ cause a 9‑4 campaign with an imperfect offense turned him off to everything Rees did in 2022, but because a year of learning about a largely new topic has a way of changing some thinking. And because Freeman is no longer the rookie hoping his surroundings can elevate him while he learns. He can't afford to be anymore, at least. Finding Rees' replacement is the most important hire of Freeman's last 14 months and perhaps his entire ten‑ ure. Kelly's coordinator hirings showed how the right move can elevate a team and the wrong one can nearly get a head coach fired. This one, though, will also hint at how Freeman's offensive philosophy has evolved and further confirm this is his program. Freeman is not trying to run his ver‑ sion of Brian Kelly's Notre Dame. Not anymore. Notre Dame is his team in his image. This hire feels like his biggest opportunity to state what that is. "What Coach Kelly did here was tre‑ mendous with the wins and the success he had," Freeman said in October. "But I can't come in here and say, 'I have to be Brian Kelly.' I've got to be Marcus Freeman." Being Marcus Freeman right now means acting on 14 months of develop‑ ing a feel for what he wants his team's offense to be. Offense shouldn't be a blind spot anymore. And his philoso‑ phy doesn't have to be continuing the past. Growth in 14 months as a head coach also meant readying for the day it couldn't be that. That day was inevitable. Rees' offer to follow Kelly, his reported dalliance with Miami last winter and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay's praise of his offense were signs he wouldn't be at Notre Dame forever. His coaching career goals extended beyond calling plays at his alma mater. Freeman knew that when he strolled into the Irish Athletic Center on Dec. 6, 2021, to formally be crowned the pro‑ gram's next leader. Freeman's hire to replace Rees won't say everything about his offensive pref‑ erences, but it will reveal a lot more than what's clear now. Which is, really, not much. If Freeman has his way, Notre Dame will have a sturdy run game. We know that just by hearing him profess his de‑ sire for an offensive and defensive line‑ driven program. Beyond that? We'll see. What's also clear is Notre Dame should attract plenty of qualified and intriguing candidates. If Freeman wants to take a big swing akin to Notre Dame hiring him as defensive coordinator two years ago, there's reason to believe he can connect. Whoever replaces Rees will inherit a 45‑game starting quarterback with 110 career touchdown passes (Sam Hart‑ man), two potential three‑and‑done NFL Draft pick offensive tackles (Blake Fisher and Joe Alt), three running backs who had at least 100 carries last year and a receiver unit high on potential. Notre Dame successfully keeping Rees away from LSU last year and beat‑ ing out the Tigers and their reported nearly $2‑million‑per‑year for Free‑ man two seasons ago indicate money shouldn't be an issue either. The passion for recruiting and a de‑ manding‑but‑not‑demeaning coach‑ ing style feel like two non‑negotiables, as they were in last year's staff hires. Those are Freeman's priorities and the standards to which he holds himself. This is a tenure‑defining decision for Freeman, but that doesn't make it a chore. Hiring Rees' replacement and taking a leap in offensive involvement was a mat‑ ter of when, not if. Freeman's approach with the offense was not always going to be as careful as it was in Year 1. He's more comfortable in his job than he was 14 months ago. More willing to make it his. Rees' departure gives him the oppor‑ tunity to show it. ✦ ENGEL'S ANGLE PATRICK ENGEL Patrick Engel has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since March 2020. He can be reached at pengel@blueandgold.com Freeman's offensive coordinator hire feels like the most important one of his tenure. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER Tommy Rees' Replacement Will Reveal Plenty About Marcus Freeman