Marcus Freeman named Dick Corbett Head Football Coach

[stlnd01]

IMO, motivation should be easy. It's having a great plan and then getting the 300ish players, coaches, support plan all aligned and executing on it.

I think that's been the gap the last 2 years, i don't think we had a great plan for on the field as a whole, especially on the road.

Well that's the thing, isn't it. At least two of our losses last year can be hung largely on in-game coaching. Ohio State with the blunders at the end, Clemson with the just abysmal offensive gameplan/playcalling. (Louisville was different, more like the entire team having run out of gas on the wrong night).

Which sucks because so much else about this program seems to be clicking under Freeman. But ultimately you're judged on how many games you lose. But I think Denbrock was a great hire and I'm confident Freeman continues to learn with experience. So, on to A&M!

 

[PutuporShutup]

Well that's the thing, isn't it. At least two of our losses last year can be hung largely on in-game coaching. Ohio State with the blunders at the end, Clemson with the just abysmal offensive gameplan/playcalling. (Louisville was different, more like the entire team having run out of gas on the wrong night).

Which sucks because so much else about this program seems to be clicking under Freeman. But ultimately you're judged on how many games you lose. But I think Denbrock was a great hire and I'm confident Freeman continues to learn with experience. So, on to A&M!

Yep! I’m excited to see the program take a major step forward.

 

[irishff1014]

Freeman seems 100% on ND football and ND itself. He seems like an amazing ambassador for everything ND. He is also putting together very good staffs and teams on paper. Now can he get them to all work well together and put a great product on the field?

He cares more about ND then Kelly ever could.

 

[PutuporShutup]

He cares more about ND then Kelly ever could.

That should be about number 70 on most important list of nd HC requirements

 

[IrishLion]

That should be about number 70 on most important list of nd HC requirements

I would argue it's a top-3 factor for ND specifically, because of how unique a job it is.

I could write a thesis on why BK falling short at ND was a direct result of how he was more worried about shaping ND to himself, than he was about shaping himself to ND.

Both things happened, to be clear. ND desperately needed to modernize, and BK did a better job of pushing that than maybe anyone outside of Saban would have. But BK didn't reciprocate quite enough on changing some of his modes of operation, imo.

Is Freeman the guy that can meld it all together? I think he's got a shot based on early returns, but he def needs more seasoning on game management.

(BK's an elite coach, put the program on top-tier footing as it relates to the CFP era, set the table for how to effectively recruit a roster with a high floor despite limitations, etc. etc. But his ego held him back at key times, and it was an extension of a personality that wasn't willing to 100% buy into what ND is. Freeman doesn't have that roadblock, which is hugely important, I think.)

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

IMO, motivation should be easy. It's having a great plan and then getting the 300ish players, coaches, support plan all aligned and executing on it.

I think that's been the gap the last 2 years, i don't think we had a great plan for on the field as a whole, especially on the road.

So what was BKs issue that every time we played a team with a pulse we laid an egg and got blown out without even coming out and competing…since motivation is easy and all…

 

[stlnd01]

I would argue it's a top-3 factor for ND specifically, because of how unique a job it is.

I could write a thesis on why BK falling short at ND was a direct result of how he was more worried about shaping ND to himself, than he was about shaping himself to ND.


(BK's an elite coach, put the program on top-tier footing as it relates to the CFP era, set the table for how to effectively recruit a roster with a high floor despite limitations, etc. etc. But his ego held him back at key times, and it was an extension of a personality that wasn't willing to 100% buy into what ND is. Freeman doesn't have that roadblock, which is hugely important, I think.)

I completely agree that understanding/accepting Notre Dame for what it is is essential for success there. But I would also contend that Kelly was better at that than any of his three predecessors, which is a big part of WHY he was as successful as he was. And yet ultimately he left because of it, because he wants to win a title and decided the path was easier at LSU.
Regardless, all of these people - Freeman included - have a healthy ego. You don't - can't - reach this level of their profession without one, without believing that you are the guy who can do what others failed to do.
That the coach's ego and our interests as fans align, is really the best you can hope for.

 

[a mike]

So what was BKs issue that every time we played a team with a pulse we laid an egg and got blown out without even coming out and competing…since motivation is easy and all…

Post-2016, with 2017 Miami and 2019 Mich being the obvious exceptions--I wouldn't say there was a ton of egg laying going on against good teams

They were competitive against Georgia in 2017

Beat Mich in 2018

Competitive and looked like they belonged at Georgia in 2019

They got ran against two teams that were historically good (2018 Clemson, 2020 Bama) and also against a really good team that had all the intangibles on their side (2020 Clemson rematch)

I would fault his lack of recruiting for those games moreso than some inherent issues with motivation

And don't know what you define as "teams with a pulse" but 2017 USC, 2018 Stanford, 2018 Syracuse, 2020 UNC, 2020 Clemson off the top of my head were all solid wins

Kelly's greatest strength in his reboot stretch was winning the games he should. Freemans biggest weakness thus far has been losing the games he shouldn't

Motivation stemming directly from the HC isn't solely the domain of "The Big Game". Holtz noted on many occasions that motivating his teams for the lesser opponents was typically a difficult task

Freeman seems to be a quick study and mostly seemed to have resolved the issues with motivation against the lesser teams last year that plagued his first year

With @TA&M and @USC looming large this year--he's going to be in trouble if he doesn't get the road game situation figured out this year

He's been given a ton of resources and aid so now the results need to start being seen on the field

I think @TA&M is going to be the watershed game for his tenure

 

[T-Boone]

BK loved ND more than Freeman does. I’ve spoken to them both and it is obvious. That’s just my opinion. Freeman is a bit of a BS salesman. I’m just having a go at all the painful continuing Kelly hate.

 

[Irish#1]

I always said ND was still a premier job and the failings since Lou were just a result of bad HC hires. Kelly proved that and I will always appreciate what he did for the program. Kelly may love ND more, but part of his problem was his ego. It appears that Freeman doesn't let his ego get in the way when working with the administration.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I would argue it's a top-3 factor for ND specifically, because of how unique a job it is.

I could write a thesis on why BK falling short at ND was a direct result of how he was more worried about shaping ND to himself, than he was about shaping himself to ND.

Both things happened, to be clear. ND desperately needed to modernize, and BK did a better job of pushing that than maybe anyone outside of Saban would have. But BK didn't reciprocate quite enough on changing some of his modes of operation, imo.

Is Freeman the guy that can meld it all together? I think he's got a shot based on early returns, but he def needs more seasoning on game management.

(BK's an elite coach, put the program on top-tier footing as it relates to the CFP era, set the table for how to effectively recruit a roster with a high floor despite limitations, etc. etc. But his ego held him back at key times, and it was an extension of a personality that wasn't willing to 100% buy into what ND is. Freeman doesn't have that roadblock, which is hugely important, I think.)

If you consider what BK did at ND as falling short (I do), what do you consider freeman almost 2.5 years in?

I think it's awesome Freeman is all in on ND, but it doesn't matter how much everyone loves ND that's apart of this team if the HC can't create a plan on how to get the team to execute at a very high level consistently on game days.

The ability to manage a game and win when your team doesn't have it's best, the ability to go win on the road vs good teams that you SHOULD beat, he's struggled here big time.

Freeman inherited a program that needed to take a step forward to win a championship. We've taken a step back first, now he has to take 2 steps forward with this program to win it all. One step forward for Freeman gets us back to BK level and in the CFP.

 

[PutuporShutup]

So what was BKs issue that every time we played a team with a pulse we laid an egg and got blown out without even coming out and competing…since motivation is easy and all…

Did we? Yes there's obvious ones like at Miami in 17, or at Michigan in the rain, stanford 17. But during the last 5 years we smashed michigan and texas, had a great chance to beat Georgia twice, Beat a really good MSU team on the road in 17, beat a really good UM team at home in 18, smashed a good USC team in 17, in 18 smashed a tech team at night that many thought we would lose, beat clemson in 20, smashed a good UNC team at UNC in 20. Yes we didn't do great then vs Clemson in bowl games or Bama, but they were the absolute best team(s) in the country those respective years. I don't love BKs results, but to say the team never showed up when we played someone with a pulse is just factually incorrect.

With Freeman we're talking about Marshall, a terrible stanford team, an overatted OSU team when we had the game won, an average clemson team, a solid Louisville team. All in the span of 2 years. He did have an dominant win over a declining clemson team in 22, but still a great win.

BK was NOT "IT". But so far on the field, we've taken a step back with Freeman. I really like what Freeman has done building the roster and staff, that's why it's completely obvious the issue is him and his lack of coaching ability, especially if we don't have a great 2024. WE have 2 of the best coordinators in the business, a roster filled with talent everywhere. Kudos to freeman for that, but again, if we don't have a great 24 season there isn't some other move he can make other than hoping he figure it out.

 

[NDohio]

I am encouraged by the ways that Freeman improves on his shortcomings.

Year one it wasn't road preparation that was the issue, it was maintaining focus for lower tiered teams. He drastically changed that in year two - ND smoked all the teams that they were supposed to last season. So in his second year as a head football coach he struggled on getting his team focused on big road games. Freeman seems like a guy that will do all he can to make sure that changes as well. Having experienced coordinators should also be a positive in this growth of his coaching ability as well.

 

[Fbolt]

Did we? Yes there's obvious ones like at Miami in 17, or at Michigan in the rain, stanford 17. But during the last 5 years we smashed michigan and texas, had a great chance to beat Georgia twice, Beat a really good MSU team on the road in 17, beat a really good UM team at home in 18, smashed a good USC team in 17, in 18 smashed a tech team at night that many thought we would lose, beat clemson in 20, smashed a good UNC team at UNC in 20. Yes we didn't do great then vs Clemson in bowl games or Bama, but they were the absolute best team(s) in the country those respective years. I don't love BKs results, but to say the team never showed up when we played someone with a pulse is just factually incorrect.

With Freeman we're talking about Marshall, a terrible stanford team, an overatted OSU team when we had the game won, an average clemson team, a solid Louisville team. All in the span of 2 years. He did have an dominant win over a declining clemson team in 22, but still a great win.

BK was NOT "IT". But so far on the field, we've taken a step back with Freeman. I really like what Freeman has done building the roster and staff, that's why it's completely obvious the issue is him and his lack of coaching ability, especially if we don't have a great 2024. WE have 2 of the best coordinators in the business, a roster filled with talent everywhere. Kudos to freeman for that, but again, if we don't have a great 24 season there isn't some other move he can make other than hoping he figure it out.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

BK loved ND more than Freeman does. I’ve spoken to them both and it is obvious. That’s just my opinion. Freeman is a bit of a BS salesman. I’m just having a go at all the painful continuing Kelly hate.

My impression was the opposite.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Motivating 18 years olds is hard. To much testosterone clouding their thoughts

 

[Bantry19]

Andy Reid comes to mind.

I don’t think of Andy Reid as a players coach. His training camps are notoriously grueling.

 

[ulukinatme]

My impression was the opposite.

I'm of the same persuasion. I haven't talked to either of them, but BK always came across as the BS guy to me. He's the politician through and through, he's going to tell you what you want to hear most of the time and then deflect to others when he comes up short. How many times did he throw others under the bus? Freeman has always taken accountability in that regard.

So I haven't talked to BK or Freeman, but I've talked to some people that have interacted with both and the general consensus is that Freeman does love ND more. You can see it with the way he has embraced the history and the past legends, something BK refused to do. Lou would write hand written letters to BK and BK basically blew Lou off and ignored him. Freeman, on the other hand, has often met with Lou and picks his brain. They seem to generally have a friendship, which is cool to see. Freeman has also been inviting past players back, something BK shied away from. Freeman is always at basketball and hockey games too, I don't know how he has time for everything that he does. How often did BK do that? It definitely feels like Marcus loves ND more.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I could write a thesis on why BK falling short at ND was a direct result of how he was more worried about shaping ND to himself, than he was about shaping himself to ND.

I think this is 100% accurate.

 

[IrishLion]

If you consider what BK did at ND as falling short (I do), what do you consider freeman almost 2.5 years in?

I think it's awesome Freeman is all in on ND, but it doesn't matter how much everyone loves ND that's apart of this team if the HC can't create a plan on how to get the team to execute at a very high level consistently on game days.

The ability to manage a game and win when your team doesn't have it's best, the ability to go win on the road vs good teams that you SHOULD beat, he's struggled here big time.

Freeman inherited a program that needed to take a step forward to win a championship. We've taken a step back first, now he has to take 2 steps forward with this program to win it all. One step forward for Freeman gets us back to BK level and in the CFP.

I don’t consider it anything, because it’s only been two years. It took BK a hard reset after 7 seasons to really figure things out.

I understand the argument that BK left MF a better base than what BK got… but BK kind of had to rebuild his own shit after 2016 because there were major flaws in what he was building, so even that argument doesn’t hold much water for me. BK left himself what appeared to be a strong base, and still fell short.

Like it or not, ND hired a HC with no HC experience. He’s still learning. Will he learn enough to get over the top? Idk. But two years is too early to say it’s been disappointing IMO.

I know you don’t care about how likable he is since you think he’s underachieved so far, or how well he “gets” ND… but the reality is that “getting” ND IS important, and MF has a leg up on BK in that regard at least. If he can catch up on some of the coaching chops, I think he can put this team in position to win a natty.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I don’t consider it anything, because it’s only been two years. It took BK a hard reset after 7 seasons to really figure things out.

I understand the argument that BK left MF a better base than what BK got… but BK kind of had to rebuild his own shit after 2016 because there were major flaws in what he was building, so even that argument doesn’t hold much water for me. BK left himself what appeared to be a strong base, and still fell short.

Like it or not, ND hired a HC with no HC experience. He’s still learning. Will he learn enough to get over the top? Idk. But two years is too early to say it’s been disappointing IMO.

I know you don’t care about how likable he is since you think he’s underachieved so far, or how well he “gets” ND… but the reality that getting ND IS important, and MF has a leg up on BK in that regard at least. If he can catch up on some of the coaching chops, I think he can put this team in position to win a natty.

We've disappointed on the field 2 years in i think that's fair because off the field freeman has been a home run.

He has this years team in a position to win a natty on paper. Probably our best shot in 30+ years.

 

[brewdog_14527]

Did we? Yes there's obvious ones like at Miami in 17, or at Michigan in the rain, stanford 17. But during the last 5 years we smashed michigan and texas, had a great chance to beat Georgia twice, Beat a really good MSU team on the road in 17, beat a really good UM team at home in 18, smashed a good USC team in 17, in 18 smashed a tech team at night that many thought we would lose, beat clemson in 20, smashed a good UNC team at UNC in 20. Yes we didn't do great then vs Clemson in bowl games or Bama, but they were the absolute best team(s) in the country those respective years. I don't love BKs results, but to say the team never showed up when we played someone with a pulse is just factually incorrect.

With Freeman we're talking about Marshall, a terrible stanford team, an overatted OSU team when we had the game won, an average clemson team, a solid Louisville team. All in the span of 2 years. He did have an dominant win over a declining clemson team in 22, but still a great win.

BK was NOT "IT". But so far on the field, we've taken a step back with Freeman. I really like what Freeman has done building the roster and staff, that's why it's completely obvious the issue is him and his lack of coaching ability, especially if we don't have a great 2024. WE have 2 of the best coordinators in the business, a roster filled with talent everywhere. Kudos to freeman for that, but again, if we don't have a great 24 season there isn't some other move he can make other than hoping he figure it out.

Just so I am clear, you are comparing year 1 Marcus Freeman to year 25 Brian Kelly?

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Just so I am clear, you are comparing year 1 Marcus Freeman to year 25 Brian Kelly?

Well Im afraid that the “year 3 marcus freeman” vs “year 3 brian Kelly” comparison is not gonna go well for coach marcus

 

[Fbolt]

3089 = 3080 = 3079 = 3065 = 3036 = 3060

 

[Irish du Nord]

Well Im afraid that the “year 3 marcus freeman” vs “year 3 brian Kelly” comparison is not gonna go well for coach marcus

I think 2024 Notre Dame will have more success than 1993 Grand Valley State

 

[mango4]

Well Im afraid that the “year 3 marcus freeman” vs “year 3 brian Kelly” comparison is not gonna go well for coach marcus

Year 3 Brian Kelly went 6-3-2. We can't compare Year 3 of Brian Kelly at ND to year 3 of Marcus Freeman because Kelly had quite a bit more coach experience by the time he got to ND.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Just so I am clear, you are comparing year 1 Marcus Freeman to year 25 Brian Kelly?

Do you want me to tell you how Brian Kelly did his first 2 years coaching?

I'm not trying to show huge support for Kelly because he was NOT IT. With that said, i'd really like Freeman to hurry up this "learning on the job" process that a lot of people keep making excuses for. The only thing IMO that can hold back ND in 2024 is Freeman

 

[a mike]

Freeman is very polished and knows how to play the game. I wouldn't be surprised if he has some type of a personal PR consultant type guy

Its in his best interest to tout up his employer for a multitude of reasons

He'd likely do the same for any spot he's at because that's just his MO. He's also probably pretty extroverted and it comes easy for him too i.e. a natural salesman

For all the talk about Kelly being a politician he's actually not very good at keeping up a public persona and lets his mask slip often

All these guys have huge egos so let's not disillusion ourselves, even Freeman. Dude probably spends a decent amount of his mornings trying out fits and preening in front of the mirror and always is on the scene

I'm guessing Freeman doesn't quite love ND as much as he puts on (but still has a healthy respect for overall) and Kelly didn't hate ND as much as people speculate

Truths usually lie somewhere in the middle

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think Freeman not only gets Notre Dame, he gets people, especially the kids. I think that's huge and helps bridge that gap that he lacks in head coaching experience. He has a very experienced group around him too in Golden, Denbrock, Rudolph and McCullough. This can't be overstated.

Davie and Willingham didn't get it. Weis was an NFL guy who was an alum. Kelly always came off to me as very politician/CEO-ish and it is 100% true that he had to do an internal program audit after 2016 that resulted in a hard reboot because he was bringing in too many people from his Grand Valley State days and it wasn't working for what challenges were in the 2010s of college football. I sensed he was frustrated by the end and he came across as less politician and seemed more distant.

The early returns suggest to me that Freeman is more self aware and has tried to do a healthy combination of surrounding himself with people he knows while also looking to reach when hiring assistants.

So Kelly left it better than he found it for Freeman, and hiring Freeman as DC as a big part of that, but I think Freeman is the right person to take it into the 2020s from where Kelly gave it to him. I think he will be successful and win a lot of games. Will that result in a championship or two, I cannot say, but I certainly hope it does and I think he can be the one to finally get it done.

 

[brewdog_14527]

Do you want me to tell you how Brian Kelly did his first 2 years coaching?

I'm not trying to show huge support for Kelly because he was NOT IT. With that said, i'd really like Freeman to hurry up this "learning on the job" process that a lot of people keep making excuses for. The only thing IMO that can hold back ND in 2024 is Freeman

No, because I don't know how he did the first year or 2nd year, nor do I really care. The point is that you are constantly bitching about Freemen and his coaching acumen. The facts actually are that, in his first season as a head coach, he won 9 games with 2 qbs, who still have college eligibility, and they were so talented that one has walked on the lacrosse program at ND rather than go to a different school for football, and another who will be on his 3rd school in 1.5 years. Have there been missteps for Freeman along the way? Of course there have been. Just like there were with Saban, Smart, Dabo, Sark and everyone who has actually been a coach instead of just thinking they are one on the internet because they stayed at a motel 6 at some point. Is it ideal that his first head coaching experience is coming at ND, vs getting his feet wet at a Grand Valley St? Probably not. But that is the way things fell. We are fortunate that you come on here and remind of this all the time.

If you had watched other games besides Marshall and first year Stanford, there is plenty to get excited about. Maybe people aren't making excuses, but they actually choose to look at all the positive that is happening at ND and there seemingly new investment in, not only football, but the whole sports program. Do they do that if they don't believe in Freeman? They didn't with Kelly. Why do you think that is?

You fancy yourself as being able to break down recruits and tell us when they suck. Or break down the coaching staff and tell us when they suck. If you thought that ND was a championship contender in the first 2 years of Freeman's tenure, then maybe you aren't as astute a talent evaluator as you think. Would Kelly have won the title?

Now, before you start to criticize me as a homer, or not posting enough or whatever, I have a question for you. Driscoll takes a lot of heat on this site for his opinions, as do you. He is remodeling his kitchen based on his opinions, whatever you think of them. How come you have not taken a similar track? You could charge people for these instead of giving away the milk for free?

I