Al Golden

Te'o4Heisman

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He's not brand new anymore
Correct, but the post I was replying to indirectly said that basically people have lowered the bar and have done nothing but make excuses for anything that went wrong the past two seasons. My point was there is a big difference between lowering the bar and making excuses, and being realistic in that there were going to be some learning moments and figuring things out for a new head coach, while also being able to see the huge potential once he hits his stride.
 
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IrishSteelhead

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Correct, but the post I was replying to indirectly said that basically people have lowered the bar and have done nothing but make excuses for anything that wemt wrong the past two seasons. My point was there is a big difference between lowering the bar and making excuses, and being realistic in that there were going to be some learning moments and figuring things out for a new head coach, while also being able to see the huge potential once he hits his stride.

This was a great way to explain it.

I’m not sure what else could be expected in terms of bar height.

He’s already reached the highest bar any coach after Holtz reached: double digit wins and a mid bowl trophy.


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Te'o4Heisman

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This was a great way to explain it.

I’m not sure what else could be expected in terms of bar height.

He’s already reached the highest bar any coach after Holtz reached: double digit wins and a mid bowl trophy.


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No doubt, especially considering that the overall talent level on the roster was high when he took over, but also had major holes at two of the most important positions in todays college football (QB and WR). Since then he and his staff have substantially increased the talent and depth and have done major work in filling those holes. The admin seems pretty willing to work with him too.
He has shown he can get his teams up for the big games and big opponents like BK could not. Now he has to show us that the days of losing focus and slipping up in a game you’re not supposed were short lived as he learned on the job and are behind us now.
 

Luckylucci

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I guess I'm a "Freemanite" in the sense that the head coach of Notre Dame Football is my guy, so I'm going to carry some water for him from time to time and being a realist I understand that shit happens in life? I thought Bob Davie was a complete dunce but could still admit the guy caught a few bad breaks, and he was a tad more seasoned that Marcus Freeman was/is when he took over. I had face to face and Internet debates about the whole "Brian Kelly killed a kid", and was never entirely keen on Brian Kelly as a person from the moment he got hired. In hindsight, some shit went down and MF made some mistakes, but life went on and finished out positively fourth street. We've seen the alternative.

It's about time this university fed the hand that feeds them. I'm happiest the most that they're doing it in a reasonable way that isn't going to come back and bite them in the ass (see Texas A&M) or stockpiling recruits only to finish .500 (see Miami). Not too long ago there were plenty of people getting frustrated that the Dante Moores and Peyton Bowens were taking greener bags. Only thing is, the bags were greenier but maybe not the pastures. They're doing this and they're doing it right, and they probably see what so many of us believe: Marcus Freeman is the right guy at the right time for this program.

Or we're all just idiots who have watched too much Ted Lasso.

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And, if Freeman is the right guy for the job, at the right time, we’ll see it this season. I get that will ruffle some feathers because of the affection the fanbase has for the man.

The program is loaded. Results have to follow. I think they will. I would bet they will. But, I also thought they would last year.
 
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Luckylucci

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The bar is higher, if anything IMO

Under the last regime, getting your brains beat in by any team that takes football seriously was pretty much a given.

I feel more confident in those games now, and many other people do too.


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Shot
This was a great way to explain it.

I’m not sure what else could be expected in terms of bar height.

He’s already reached the highest bar any coach after Holtz reached: double digit wins and a mid bowl trophy.


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Chaser.
 

NDpendent

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The bar we had the past two seasons for Freeman was too high. Next season the bar should be high.
 

Hautian Domer

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Whether we like it or not, Freeman really didn't have an identity nailed down as a coach. I can make a case that he really doesn't have an identity, and is figuring out who he is as a head coach. He's only been one for 3 seasons.

Each season, we've had issues, and we haven't had it all put together. However, he's always made steps and decisions to address and correct our issues and deficiencies.

I've been pleased with our recruiting and portal approach - Notre Dame isn't for everyone, and it can be a tough place to recruit. We've done well there.

I do think our administration, as a whole, has recognized Freeman's overall approach and "bought in" more than they did for purple face. Maybe they realized they got in the way or dropped the ball on Ludwig and corrected their approach to Freeman's request for resources. That has been evidenced with their commitment to Denbrock and Golden (Hartman and Riley too).

This has been the most optimistic I've been in a while, though. We're the most complete team (roster and coaching) in quite a long time. The 2024 schedule isn't exactly murderers' row and we've got a lot of talent coming back. Playoffs is the absolute floor. Not going to lie, going 0-1 would give me flashbacks of purple face too. Assuming everyone stays healthy, this team may not be up to Georgia or Ohio State's caliber, but I think we can compete with both, and beat anyone else. There's too much talent not to make noise this year.
 

nsisk157

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Whether we like it or not, Freeman really didn't have an identity nailed down as a coach. I can make a case that he really doesn't have an identity, and is figuring out who he is as a head coach. He's only been one for 3 seasons.

Each season, we've had issues, and we haven't had it all put together. However, he's always made steps and decisions to address and correct our issues and deficiencies.

I've been pleased with our recruiting and portal approach - Notre Dame isn't for everyone, and it can be a tough place to recruit. We've done well there.

I do think our administration, as a whole, has recognized Freeman's overall approach and "bought in" more than they did for purple face. Maybe they realized they got in the way or dropped the ball on Ludwig and corrected their approach to Freeman's request for resources. That has been evidenced with their commitment to Denbrock and Golden (Hartman and Riley too).

This has been the most optimistic I've been in a while, though. We're the most complete team (roster and coaching) in quite a long time. The 2024 schedule isn't exactly murderers' row and we've got a lot of talent coming back. Playoffs is the absolute floor. Not going to lie, going 0-1 would give me flashbacks of purple face too. Assuming everyone stays healthy, this team may not be up to Georgia or Ohio State's caliber, but I think we can compete with both, and beat anyone else. There's too much talent not to make noise this year.
I agree with this entire post. To the bolded part, the man converted to Catholicism.. if that doesn't do it for the powers that be, i dont know what will!
 

Rizzophil

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I agree with this entire post. To the bolded part, the man converted to Catholicism.. if that doesn't do it for the powers that be, i dont know what will!
Is that true, I never saw that

I always read that he believed in faith in action. Not catholic
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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And, if Freeman is the right guy for the job, at the right time, we’ll see it this season. I get that will ruffle some feathers because of the affection the fanbase has for the man.

The program is loaded. Results have to follow. I think they will. I would bet they will. But, I also thought they would last year.
I go out of my way not to try and have targets for myself. A year ago I was wondering HTF they went from Andy Ludwig to Gerad Parker, but now I'm sitting here with Mike Denbrock.

Life is life. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Sports can be stupid and unexpected obstacles happen beyond anyone's control. My hope is the program is ready for them, weathers them and does whatever they can to achieve.
 

Irish du Nord

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And, if Freeman is the right guy for the job, at the right time, we’ll see it this season. I get that will ruffle some feathers because of the affection the fanbase has for the man.

The program is loaded. Results have to follow. I think they will. I would bet they will. But, I also thought they would last year.
Last season showed how much impact a single weak position group can have. We had so many talented guys, we really shouldn’t have lost 3 games.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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The small sample size narrative of Freeman starting 0-3 was absolutely great times. Nevermind games one and two were 8 months apart. Nuance. Context. Imbecile Jedi crave not these.

It is obviously frustrating that they really could have won all five of the games he lost. 3 almost certainly.
 

irishandy

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All of the piece are in place for Freeman for this season- a better coaching staff, upgraded with players from the portal, and this year's schedule should be a walk into the playoffs.

Patience should payoff.
 

stlnd01

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That's such a dumb comment. It's almost like Marcus Freeman knew he had never been a head coach before, so he hired a DC who has (and appears to have no particular ambitions to go back to that college head coach life). And now, holy shit, Freeman hired an OC who has seen a lot more ball than he has, too. What an idiot!
 

NDdomer2

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That's such a dumb comment. It's almost like Marcus Freeman knew he had never been a head coach before, so he hired a DC who has (and appears to have no particular ambitions to go back to that college head coach life). And now, holy shit, Freeman hired an OC who has seen a lot more ball than he has, too. What an idiot!
Which kinda means the anonymous source is in fact right tho
 
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