Freeman aims for national title as he takes over No. 5 Irish
3 years ago

Freeman aims for national title as he takes over No. 5 Irish

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! — Saying he was “ready for this challenge,”Marcus Freeman was formally introduced Monday afternoon as Notre Dame’s 30th head football coach. “I’m ready to lead this program to the greatest heights,” said the 35-year-old Freeman, never a head coach but an assistant at five schools, including the last 11 months as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator under former coach Brian Kelly. You’re tireless workers, and you’re committed to excellence in everything you do.” Junior running back Kyren Williams said Notre Dame was expanding its horizons with the hiring of Freeman, the second Black head coach in the school’s history. “We have a lot of diversity and we’re moving forward at this university … being able to accept more and different.” Williams was one of seven team captains who met with Swarbrick last Tuesday afternoon after Kelly delivered a four-minute talk to the stunned team at 7 a.m. that day before driving away from campus and flying to Baton Rouge.

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History of this topic

No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 9 Indiana take one last spin with 1-year QBs Kurtis Rourke and Riley Leonard
2 weeks, 5 days ago

No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 9 Indiana take one last spin with 1-year QBs Kurtis Rourke and Riley Leonard

Associated Press  

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti pored through the transfer portal last December, looking for a proven quarterback with a winning resume who could quickly become the cornerstone in another rebuilding project. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman had a far simpler pitch to former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard — win a national championship and go down in Fighting Irish lore. Both coaches …

Notre Dame gives coach Marcus Freeman contract extension as playoff week begins
3 weeks ago

Notre Dame gives coach Marcus Freeman contract extension as playoff week begins

Associated Press  

— Marcus Freeman opened his first playoff week as a head coach by holding a team meeting and fielding questions from reporters. A few hours later, Notre Dame made sure Freeman wasn’t going anywhere. This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football.” …

AP Top 25 Takeaways: Marcus Freeman again is explaining a stunning loss at Notre Dame 3 years in
3 months, 4 weeks ago

AP Top 25 Takeaways: Marcus Freeman again is explaining a stunning loss at Notre Dame 3 years in

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman still has not mastered the most underrated part of being a college football coach at a blue-blood school: Beat the teams you’re supposed to beat. Notre Dame came in ranked fifth, coming off a quality road win over Texas A&M and …

No. 5 Notre Dame looking to maintain focus against Northern Illinois in home opener
4 months ago

No. 5 Notre Dame looking to maintain focus against Northern Illinois in home opener

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman received a phone call from former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel two days after the No. “It was, ‘Hey, I just want to remind you that the greatest danger is the illusion all is well when indeed, all isn’t well,’” …

New Boston College coach Bill O’Brien brings experience, energy and excitement to The Heights
4 months, 2 weeks ago

New Boston College coach Bill O’Brien brings experience, energy and excitement to The Heights

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! BOSTON — New Boston College coach Bill O’Brien stood in the middle of the practice facility surrounded by his players, loudly reminding them it’s time to believe they can beat anyone. “It’s not like, ‘We can win it.’ It’s, ‘We’re gonna win it.’” O’Brien’s players seem …

Former Alabama football players thank retired coach Nick Saban for helping them reach NFL combine
10 months ago

Former Alabama football players thank retired coach Nick Saban for helping them reach NFL combine

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! INDIANAPOLIS — Some Alabama players saw the signs of Nick Saban’s impending departure from college football long before his January retirement announcement. Still, the Crimson Tide players attending this week’s NFL annual scouting combine shared one sentiment: Without Saban’s mentorship, they might not be here — …

Marcus Freeman doubles down on Gerad Parker, Notre Dame coaching staff amid roster changes
1 year, 1 month ago

Marcus Freeman doubles down on Gerad Parker, Notre Dame coaching staff amid roster changes

New York Times  

Editor’s note: Notre Dame fired receivers coach Chansi Stuckey on Tuesday. “If it’s up to me, as I just told the coaching staff in our staff meeting, I have a strong belief in the coaches that we have in this football program and would love all of them to be back.” Marcus Freeman asked about coaching changes on the Notre …

Marcus Freeman has to figure out how Notre Dame got here, why it couldn’t go further
1 year, 1 month ago

Marcus Freeman has to figure out how Notre Dame got here, why it couldn’t go further

New York Times  

STANFORD, Calif. — The best of Audric Estime came between the tackles, forcing Stanford into a night of business decisions on Saturday, en route to 25 carries, 238 yards and four touchdowns. As officials reviewed Gi’Bran Payne’s fumble or touchdown late in the second quarter, Freeman got into Estime and running backs coach Deland McCullough for the hint of another …

No. 17 Notre Dame looks to avenge Marcus Freeman’s most disappointing loss in trip to Stanford
1 year, 1 month ago

No. 17 Notre Dame looks to avenge Marcus Freeman’s most disappointing loss in trip to Stanford

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman learned that lesson the hard way last fall when his team suffered such an inexplicable loss to Stanford that fans and analysts openly wondered if Freeman was the right man for the job. “For many of the guys that were here …

No. 10 Notre Dame hopes to improve its struggling offense at No. 25 Louisville
1 year, 3 months ago

No. 10 Notre Dame hopes to improve its struggling offense at No. 25 Louisville

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! So, that’s our challenge: to improve faster than our opponents.” Notre Dame thought it had solved the problem when Hartman led the offense to 46.0 points and 508.8 yards through the first four weeks. “Maybe sometimes what our film study shows is not what we get.” …

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman enters 2nd season with revised blueprint for success
1 year, 4 months ago

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman enters 2nd season with revised blueprint for success

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “You know where the potholes are, and you know how to look around bends.” While Notre Dame must replace defensive end Isaiah Foskey, the school’s career sacks leader, it will have experienced leaders in linebacker JD Bertrand and star cornerback Ben Morrison. “We have to continue …

With NCAA probe in Vols’ rearview mirror, Josh Heupel ready to chase titles
1 year, 5 months ago

With NCAA probe in Vols’ rearview mirror, Josh Heupel ready to chase titles

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! The NCAA cited Tennessee’s cooperation with the investigation involving violations described as “egregious and expansive.” On Thursday, Heupel credited Tennessee administration for backing him in his first season by refusing self-impose a bowl ban in his first season. The guys that were left were were innocent …

What’s next for Notre Dame football under Marcus Freeman? Year 2 can send mixed messages
1 year, 7 months ago

What’s next for Notre Dame football under Marcus Freeman? Year 2 can send mixed messages

New York Times  

— Marcus Freeman didn’t look all that different as he put a bow on his second spring in charge, just colder. Sideways rain and frigid temps forced Notre Dame’s head coach to cover up during the Blue-Gold Game, adding a dark blue coat and a green shamrock hat, but underneath Freeman cut the same authentic figure as he did in …

QB Sam Hartman announces transfer to Notre Dame
2 years ago

QB Sam Hartman announces transfer to Notre Dame

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! — Sam Hartman is transferring to Notre Dame, giving the Fighting Irish a dynamic quarterback for coach Marcus Freeman’s second season. In 2021, Hartman threw for 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns as Wake Forest went 11-3, finished 15th in the final AP poll and lost the …

New coaches lead ancient rivals into Notre Dame-USC clash
2 years, 1 month ago

New coaches lead ancient rivals into Notre Dame-USC clash

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “I knew it last year, but this year, being at the end of the year, at USC, you can really feel it.” CALEB VS IRISH USC quarterback Caleb Williams has leaped into the Heisman Trophy race by commanding the nation’s attention with a spectacular series of …

Notre Dame beats No. 5 Clemson 35-14 with punt block for TD
2 years, 2 months ago

Notre Dame beats No. 5 Clemson 35-14 with punt block for TD

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “That was a way more drastic field rush than the last one.” Two years ago, only 11,071 fans, mostly students and university employees, were on hand when Notre Dame upset top-ranked Clemson 47-40 in double overtime because of COVID-19 restrictions. “It’s special” Notre Dame coach Marcus …

Stacked: SEC QB talent goes well beyond Young, Bennett
2 years, 4 months ago

Stacked: SEC QB talent goes well beyond Young, Bennett

Associated Press  

The Southeastern Conference has a national championship quarterback, a Heisman Trophy winner and a collection of promising passers both new and old. “Just the upside’s pretty crazy everywhere,” said Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback who works as an ESPN college football analyst and co-hosts a Birmingham, Alabama, radio show. “I think Spencer was the victim of his own success …

Notre Dame football fan survey: On Marcus Freeman, Brian Kelly, 2022 and more
2 years, 6 months ago

Notre Dame football fan survey: On Marcus Freeman, Brian Kelly, 2022 and more

New York Times  

— Maybe the quantity of respondents to this year’s Notre Dame fan survey said it all. The vibes around Notre Dame football aren’t exactly the same as they were during last year’s survey, but they’re pretty dang close. It’s safe to say that the Notre Dame fan base — or at least the Notre Dame fan base subscribing to The …

College football coaching grades: Which school aced the hiring spree?
3 years ago

College football coaching grades: Which school aced the hiring spree?

LA Times  

New Florida football head coach Billy Napier speaks during his introductory news conference Sunday. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame: When Brian Kelly bolted for LSU, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick did not need to hit the panic button. But Kelly’s sudden exit could have been catastrophic if Swarbrick had conducted a national search, dragging out toward early signing day, and …

Notre Dame hires Cincy’s Freeman as defensive coordinator
3 years, 11 months ago

Notre Dame hires Cincy’s Freeman as defensive coordinator

Associated Press  

— Notre Dame has found its new defensive coordinator, hiring Marcus Freeman away from Cincinnati. “As we looked into finding someone to run our defense, it was important to find the right fit for our program and Marcus and his family are just that,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Friday in a statement. Additionally, he is considered among the …

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