Marcus Freeman named Dick Corbett Head Football Coach

[Luckylucci]

What does it matter? He had two candidates that emerged at the top of his list during the search -- one willing to come and one not. Whether or not Ludwig was 1st or 2nd choice, he was the one that ND paraded around on campus and then stepped on their own dicks about when it came time to sign him. This part of the fuck-up is 100% on the admin. The subsequent hire is on both the admin AND Freeman.

Ludwig was the one Freeman paraded around campus.

And, just like in recruiting, I would think landing the top of board target would be important. Though, this might be one of those times we change the rules depending on how it reflects upon Freeman

It's infinitely more perplexing to me that people actually believe Jack Swarbrick allowed Freeman to go out and hire Al Golden to be his DC but forced him to hire Parker because of money, lol.

The mental gymnastics on this are gold medal worthy.

 

[ThePiombino]

Ludwig was the one Freeman paraded around campus.

And, just like in recruiting, I would think landing the top of board target would be important. Though, this might be one of those times we change the rules depending on how it reflects upon Freeman

It's infinitely more perplexing to me that people actually believe Jack Swarbrick allowed Freeman to go out and hire Al Golden to be his DC but forced him to hire Parker because of money, lol.

The mental gymnastics on this are gold medal worthy.

I don't think he was forced to hire Parker by Jack or anyone else. I think I've been clear I didn't like the hire then anymore than I don't like it now. But let's be very clear - if the admin would have gotten out of its own way just once with regard to this OC hire, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now because we would have an experienced, competent individual calling plays.

EDIT: Again, the Parker hire just as much on Freeman as the admin for forcing Freeman's hand. Or at least feeling like it was forced into the decision...

 

[Giddyup]

If you’re shoveling out elite $$ and paying both coordinators more than the HC makes what do u need a HC for?

I realize that is extreme but really MF should have found his OC and success at Akron before coming to ND. Obviously that’s not where we sit now.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Couple of thoughts/questions…

1. Listening to the Irish Illustrated podcast and the comments on MF as well as the demeanor of the team are EXTREMELY concerning.

2. If let’s say the team actually has mailed it in and this thing goes completely sideways…like 6-6 or 7-5…is there any chance MF gets the boot with a new AD taking over?

 

[Giddyup]

If he loses the team anything is possible imo. We’ll see how much grit MF has.

 

[stlnd01]

Couple of thoughts/questions…

1. Listening to the Irish Illustrated podcast and the comments on MF as well as the demeanor the team are EXTREMELY concerning.

2. If let’s say the team actually has mailed it in and this thing goes completely sideways…like 6-6 or 7-5…is there any chance MF gets the boot with a new AD taking over?

You recall the 22 months of national goodwill Notre Dame has received between hiring Marcus Freeman and the end of the Ohio State game? You think they're going to flush that down the toilet because of a couple of tough losses?
Freeman will, and should, get at least one more season. Probably more.

 

[Giddyup]

National good will?

 

[stlnd01]

National good will?

Yeah. I dunno how many national commentators and random fans on twitter have said stuff along the lines of "it's so much harder to hate Notre Dame with Marcus Freeman as their coach."
That's not Ws, I agree. But if you fire him quickly, you get, like, the inverse of all that. Some schools might take that, but Notre Dame won't.

 

[NDPhilly]

Couple of thoughts/questions…

1. Listening to the Irish Illustrated podcast and the comments on MF as well as the demeanor of the team are EXTREMELY concerning.

2. If let’s say the team actually has mailed it in and this thing goes completely sideways…like 6-6 or 7-5…is there any chance MF gets the boot with a new AD taking over?

Cliffs on #1? Hated the team body language on Saturday. Zero player leadership. Considering how well-liked it seems Sam is, very surprised he hasnt stepped up.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Cliffs on #1? Hated the team body language on Saturday. Zero player leadership. Considering how well-liked it seems Sam is, very surprised he hasnt stepped up.

The way I took it was the Tims were making comments on how flat the team appeared as well as the body language of MF throughout the game.

 

[stlnd01]

I call bullshit that the team is done with the season and is just going to just mail it here on out. If so, it’s time to revoke a lot of scholarships. (Not realistic, I know.) But hyperbole aside, play all the players who want to bust their ass. I know these guys are young and sacrifice a ton more than I had to physically live out at that age, but you play for your University and the people who support you. And if you have none of that in your mind, you play for your self respect. Those guys with the Cs on their chest need to step the fuck up and get it rolling again. You don’t play for a coach. You don’t play for the fans. You play for your brothers (aka teammates) and your University. If that’s old school, well then CFB sucks.

Agreed. I'm not worried about the defense. They're veterans and they play hard (even if some miss too many tackles). But Hartman and Estime looked defeated the other night and that can't continue.

 

[Grahambo]

The way I took it was the Tims were making comments on how flat the team appeared as well as the body language of MF throughout the game.

Which, if we’re being honest, is understandable given the difficulty of T25 back to back to back games they played; two of which were on the road. And still have to get up for USC.

Not excusing poor performance by players/coaches. But, it should factor in to some small degree.

 

[Terry Jillery]

I’ve been getting the biting lip look or snickered at lately in public for wearing my ND gear. Haven’t felt that way since, well, last year.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Not saying I condone this but, wow…

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The way I took it was the Tims were making comments on how flat the team appeared as well as the body language of MF throughout the game.

O’Malley was down on the field and said the players looked like they’d already been beaten. He stressed that he is not a body language expert just his two cents. When he went back up to the box, Prister greeted him w/ a similar response that something didn’t feel right.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I call bullshit that the team is done with the season and is just going to just mail it here on out. If so, it’s time to revoke a lot of scholarships. (Not realistic, I know.) But hyperbole aside, play all the players who want to bust their ass. I know these guys are young and sacrifice a ton more than I had to physically live out at that age, but you play for your University and the people who support you. And if you have none of that in your mind, you play for your self respect. Those guys with the Cs on their chest need to step the fuck up and get it rolling again. You don’t play for a coach. You don’t play for the fans. You play for your brothers (aka teammates) and your University. If that’s old school, well then CFB sucks.

I don't disagree with you. There are just so many issues. Blowing it against OSU, probably should of lost against Duke, get bitch slapped by Louisville, Bad coaching decisions, bad coaching, tough school schedule, no conference title to play for, no top draft picks. USC coming to town to knock us out of the top 25 to turn around and play Pitt who's only mission in life is to beat ND to then play Clemson...I mean...to what end.

 

[NDPhilly]

This team didn’t collapse after losses to Marshall and Stanford last year, even with Drew Pyne. They fought to 9-4, with a huge home win over Clemson.

Just refuse to believe a team that outplayed OSU is going to collapse.

 

[AvesEvo]

I call bullshit that the team is done with the season and is just going to just mail it here on out. If so, it’s time to revoke a lot of scholarships. (Not realistic, I know.) But hyperbole aside, play all the players who want to bust their ass. I know these guys are young and sacrifice a ton more than I had to physically live out at that age, but you play for your University and the people who support you. And if you have none of that in your mind, you play for your self respect. Those guys with the Cs on their chest need to step the fuck up and get it rolling again. You don’t play for a coach. You don’t play for the fans. You play for your brothers (aka teammates) and your University. If that’s old school, well then CFB sucks.

Estime looked really upset by the loss on Saturday.

 

[Luckylucci]

Serious question, what coordinator did BK ever hire that needed to be bought out of such a large contract like Ludwig's?

 

[ThePiombino]

Serious question, what coordinator did BK ever hire that needed to be bought out of such a large contract like Ludwig's?

What's your point? You really comparing the needs of a 2nd year coach vs a coach with decades of experience? You can't hire the guy with no experience and not arm him with the best possible assistants.

 

[NDWarrior]

Serious question, what coordinator did BK ever hire that needed to be bought out of such a large contract like Ludwig's?Right be

This team didn’t collapse after losses to Marshall and Stanford last year, even with Drew Pyne. They fought to 9-4, with a huge home win over Clemson.

Just refuse to believe a team that outplayed OSU is going to collapse.

Of course, they had Tommy as the OC... Come to think of it, did we ever get severely blown during Rees tenure? I know there were some glaring playoff loses but not by too a ridiculous margin. I think Miami is the last big one I remember but that was Chip Long (not sure what role Tommy had then).

 

[Sea Turtle]

FWIW, Mike Frank’s explanation as he was told is that there was a deal agreed up in principal. Then ND realized that Ludwig had just signed an extension at Utah and they had been looking at his previous contract. The extreme increase in buyout allegedly put a pause on it to get worked out. Ludwig was thinking something to the effect of “I thought we had a deal but some idiot didn’t do their due diligence…why would I want to work for this program?” Frank said it looked like ND would’ve approved the buyout but Ludwig felt betrayed and called it off. My big take away from Frank’s account is that he absolved Swarbrick saying that he has to take the buyout the “powers that be” (Father Jenkins?) for approval. Anyways, that’s how he said it was explained to him. Whether it’s 100% accurate he doesn’t know.

Good grief, if that's accurate, what an amateur hour program. No wonder he didn't want to work for this program.

 

[NDRock]

Of course, they had Tommy as the OC... Come to think of it, did we ever get severely blown during Rees tenure? I know there were some glaring playoff loses but not by too a ridiculous margin. I think Miami is the last big one I remember but that was Chip Long (not sure what role Tommy had then).

Michigan 2019 was bad (think Long was still here)

 

[Terry Jillery]

Anyone remember what Tressel offense was like? Was it explosive or boring? Could freeman be stuck in an offensive philosophy from his playing days in college?

 

[allenm5333]

Anyone remember what Tressel offense was like? Was it explosive or boring? Could freeman be stuck in an offensive philosophy from his playing days in college?

Iowa with athletes

 

[NDWarrior]

That's it though... Does Freeman have any offensive philosophy? I just don't think it's his forte and (I'm beating a dead horse) that's why they make a similar Al Golden exp'd DC hire for OC. I think as good Irish fans, we said ok, maybe this will work with G-rad but objectively, it wasn't going to and here we are

 

[rtrn2glory]

Would love to sit down and have a beer with Marcus and ask him straight up how much he really hated having to hire the goon he did as OC

 

[PutuporShutup]

This team didn’t collapse after losses to Marshall and Stanford last year, even with Drew Pyne. They fought to 9-4, with a huge home win over Clemson.

Just refuse to believe a team that outplayed OSU is going to collapse.

Are you saying regular season 8-4 is good this year? 8-4 this year is a collapse , and it’s right in front of us

 

[Terry Jillery]

Shaun Davis just said Greathouse’s issue isn’t physical. Something else going on with him 😒

 

[LSWho?]

Anyone remember what Tressel offense was like? Was it explosive or boring? Could freeman be stuck in an offensive philosophy from his playing days in college?

Iowa with athletes

He was one of the first (after Randy Walker and Joe Tiller) to run a pass-first spread offense in the Big Ten.

In case anyone needs a firsthand reminder:

The problem is not offensive philosophy. The fix is as simple as hiring an experienced coordinator. Better, in my opinion, if that coordinator is comfortable with multiple backs and tight ends. That is the strength of the roster, the historical strength of the program, and what this staff already recruits well. It is also why I liked Ludwig. But there are other talented, experienced coordinators out there that can do this. Just have to pay for one.