Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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6 SEPT. 12, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC HANSEN O f all the history former Notre Dame All-American defensive lineman Jim Flanigan Jr. got to immerse him- self in and celebrate in early September, perhaps the sweetest was the piece of it that might be repeating itself. Specifically, the kind of talent that surrounded Flanigan during the peak of the Lou Holtz era now appears to be sur- rounding his son, sophomore tight end James Flanigan, on the 2026 Irish ros- ter. That roster got its first taste of what kind of team it can be when No. 4-ranked Notre Dame opened its season Sept. 6 against Wisconsin in the Flanigan fami- ly's longtime hometown, Green Bay, Wis. "I've been saying that for like two or three years now … and I've probably told a hundred people," Jim Flanigan said on a recent episode of the "Third & Gold Pod- cast." "It feels eerily similar to the way that Coach [Lou] Holtz built the program — from the late '80s through the mid- '90s there. I think the talent they have on the squad now is phenomenal." Here is a transcript of some of the most compelling comments from Flanigan in the interview portion of the podcast. WHY MARCUS FREEMAN'S NOTRE DAME FEELS FAMILIAR Not only did Jim go through the re- cruiting process with James, but younger brother Richie is a verbally committed of- fensive line recruit in the 2027 Irish class. So, Jim has had an inside look at current head coach Marcus Freeman as a recruiter and the Irish tradition's latest curator. "You can't kind of overstate what Coach Freeman has been able to do there in just a few years," Flanigan said. "He's made, you know Notre Dame — for lack of a better term — cool again for young kids. "And so, we're getting recruits out of Texas and Florida and other parts of the country that just, not only could we not get, we didn't even try to get 10 to 15 years ago. And so to me, that's what's super encouraging, just to see the talent level and he's selling it the right way too. "It's not all flash. He's selling the sub- stance of Notre Dame, the 'four for 40' campaign, the 'choose hard' model that he has. I think it all resonates with kids and their parents. And so they're choos- ing Notre Dame for the right reasons. And I'm so grateful to be a part of it, for my kids to be a part of it. "But also for the school and the foot- ball team and the institution to be a prominent national contender and in the national conversation constantly. And Coach Freeman deserves all the credit in the world for that." FREEMAN AS A RECRUITER VS. LOU HOLTZ AS A RECRUITER Freeman has recruited both of Flani- gan's sons out of Notre Dame de la Baie Academy in Green Bay, while Holtz re- cruited Jim out of Southern Door High in Brussels, Wis., just north of Green Bay. "Very different obviously, but they also have similarities," Flanigan said of Holtz and Freeman. "Coach Freeman is a lot younger than Coach Holtz was UNDER THE DOME Former Irish defensive tackle Jim Flanigan Jr. (left) is ecstatic that both of his sons, James (right) and Richie (not pictured) will be playing for head coach Marcus Freeman at his alma mater. PHOTO COURTESY TOM LEMMING DÉJÀ VU A history lesson with a repeat ending?