Marcus Freeman named Dick Corbett Head Football Coach

[Jimmy3Putt]

Thank god for Louisiana State University

I don't thank or ask God for anything outside of my family's health and protection, but yeah.

He works in mysterious ways!

 

[KPENN]

 

[NDFAN2008]

Thank god for Louisiana State University

People on this board were hesitant when Kelly left and Freeman took over but Freeman is night and day a way better coach and way better recruiter than Kelly. Not to mention you’ve seen things change for the better under Freeman way better coaches and better facilities

 

[greyhammer90]

3 wins from a statue

 

[NDFAN2008]

What I love about Freeman is he's clearly placed an emphasis on speed and playing physical. Kelly's teams had fast players on occasion but it almost always felt we were slow overall. My brother went to the Virginia game and mentioned in person the team speed (especially the db's) was unlike any team he's seen for ND. He's made some mistakes but the dude is a winner and my favorite coach since Holtz.

Remember the slow ass LB’s under Kelly? We had that walkon starting over younger players

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

People on this board were hesitant when Kelly left and Freeman took over but Freeman is night and day a way better coach and way better recruiter than Kelly. Not to mention you’ve seen things change for the better under Freeman way better coaches and better facilities

He did something Kelly never could: convince the school to join the arms race.

It might not happen because winning four playoff games is unbelievably hard, but a championship feels inevitable under Freeman.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'd follow him to the ends of the Earth, and then I'd follow him into hell. As a fan, there haven't been many coaches I could legitimately say that about. Regardless of sport.

 

[NDFAN2008]

He did something Kelly never could: convince the school to join the arms race.

It might not happen because winning four playoff games is unbelievably hard, but a championship feels inevitable under Freeman.

I think new leadership like new President and AD are part of the reason too

 

[ThePiombino]

I think new leadership like new President and AD are part of the reason too

It's the perfect storm for ND to take that next step we've been talking about for a decade plus.

 

[NDpendent]

Need coach to stick around long enough to be the winningest coach in ND history. Really hate that the Kelly holds that title.

Kelly is also the losingest coach in ND history for the record.

 

[Irish#1]

It’s very simple. We have a coach.

 

[greyhammer90]

this motherfucker

So THAT'S his recruiting secret

 

[NDFAN2008]

It's the perfect storm for ND to take that next step we've been talking about for a decade plus.

Doesn’t hurt to have a AD who was a past player you can tell he wants to win and they’ll do whatever they have to as long as it’s legal to do it

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I love how pissed he was at Cignetti talking so much shit. Freeman is an authentic dude who felt disrespected by the stupid excess chatter. That postgame handshake was cold. Hes really grown into his role and adapted and the future is bright.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

I'd follow him to the ends of the Earth, and then I'd follow him into hell. As a fan, there haven't been many coaches I could legitimately say that about. Regardless of sport.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Can we get Denbrock and Golden in on that statue? Just one big one of all three?

 

[Katzenboyer]

It really feels like we have the next "star" coach in college football.

I love how hard, fast, and violent this team plays. They tackle well. They make you fight for every inch on the field. And they seem like everybody genuinely cares for the other guys on the sideline.

Glad he's here to stay. Hopefully the new contract keeps other colleges away (it almost assuredly will), and that he has no interest in the NFL.

 

[Bluto]

Can we get Denbrock and Golden in on that statue? Just one big one of all three?

Those two hoisting Freeman up onto their shoulders ala Rudy would look kinda weird
honestly.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

I dont have the time or energy to read back through pages and pages of nonsense, but wondering where all the panty wetters who have done nothing but bitch about freeman and had no perspective or patience to let the man learn on the job have gone.

It was obvious from day 1 he was intelligent and would work relentlessly until he figure’d it out if given time, and now that he’s clearly got command of the program, just wondering who will raise their hand and step out of the woodwork to admit they’re a whiney bitch and were wrong…

 

[irishff1014]

I dont have the time or energy to read back through pages and pages of nonsense, but wondering where all the panty wetters who have done nothing but bitch about freeman and had no perspective or patience to let the man learn on the job have gone.

It was obvious from day 1 he was intelligent and would work relentlessly until he figure’d it out if given time, and now that he’s clearly got command of the program, just wondering who will raise their hand and step out of the woodwork to admit they’re a whiney bitch and were wrong…

I have said it multiple times. I even made the comment that freeman should have the game ball from Friday night. The mental toughness, the attitude, the ability to do your job in the field after the NIU loss has been nothing short of amazing.

This is the best team on the field and mentally we have seen in a long time.

 

[TorontoGold]

I dont have the time or energy to read back through pages and pages of nonsense, but wondering where all the panty wetters who have done nothing but bitch about freeman and had no perspective or patience to let the man learn on the job have gone.

It was obvious from day 1 he was intelligent and would work relentlessly until he figure’d it out if given time, and now that he’s clearly got command of the program, just wondering who will raise their hand and step out of the woodwork to admit they’re a whiney bitch and were wrong…

Dw I got you. Bitch boy booby who only shows up when something bad happens. He's got 75% of the site on ignore as well.

Been saying it from year one. This guy is NOT a Head Coach. Deer in headlights no idea what he’s doing.

The team wins in his tenure have little to nothing to do with his on field coaching. Sure he might connect with the players, but it takes a lot more than that to be a good head coach.

My leash has officially run out with Freeman, no more room for hoping he can figure it out. He will never be a winning coach at ND.

 

[rikkitikki08]

I was very critical of him after NIU (who wasn’t lol) but you won’t find a bigger supporter of him than me right now. It’s clear as day he’s not only a good coach but he’s a great leader. The wheels totally could have fallen off after that game and he got guys to continue to buy into the team before me approach. ESPN said the other day ND is the only school that made the playoffs not have a player enter the portal, that speaks volumes. He's clearly created a culture that’s working

 

[wizards8507]

I was very critical of him after NIU (who wasn’t lol) but you won’t find a bigger supporter of him than me right now. It’s clear as day he’s not only a good coach but he’s a great leader. The wheels totally could have fallen off after that game and he got guys to continue to buy into the team before me approach. ESPN said the other day ND is the only school that made the playoffs not have a player enter the portal, that speaks volumes. He's clearly created a culture that’s working

And that's going to matter in the era of NIL. Teams with a real identity are going to have much more success than teams full of mercenaries.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Can you imagine being LSU and Brian Kelly you recruits 10 studs every year lose 8 of them
Because they transfer out then gotta go fill holes

 

[Huntr]

And that's going to matter in the era of NIL. Teams with a real identity are going to have much more success than teams full of mercenaries.

Eh, sort of, IMO.

Besides having a good, experienced QB, FSU's success last year was due in large part to all their incoming transfers hitting.

That went a long way to papering over G5 Mike's inability to recruit HS players.

Basically none of them hit this year.


What I'm saying is you can have a ton of transfers and make bank, but there's no bottom if you falter.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Eh, sort of, IMO.

Besides having a good, experienced QB, FSU's success last year was due in large part to all their incoming transfers hitting.

That went a long way to papering over G5 Mike's inability to recruit HS players.

Basically none of them hit this year.


What I'm saying is you can have a ton of transfers and make bank, but there's no bottom if you falter.

I think it's certainly possible to win with mercenaries but what FSU did in 23 isn't a reliable model. They tried it again this year and it blew up in their face.

You need a foundation and a culture, because transfers aren't around for years in the program.

 

[bobbyok1]

Agreed.

I was waiting until the USC game and/or playoff game 1 to see if Freeman could prove me wrong. . .

Okay, I humbly and gladly acknowledge that I was wrong about Freeman. He is a better Head Coach than I gave him credit for. I was hard on him in the past 18 months, especially after the NIU loss.

But, I am happy to give credit where credit is due. And credit is due Marcus. He has always been a likable guy, so I always hoped he would succeed. And it is probably that hope of him succeeding that led to my greatest angst and criticism when they lost games they just should not have lost.

Well done Marcus, you have exceeded my expectations. As always, pulling for you and the Irish against Georgia. Let's show the SEC what ND is made of for a second time this year. Go Irish 🍀🍀🍀

 

[LifelongFan]

I was wrong about Freeman. I thought the NIU loss showed an inability to run a major program. Everything since that day shows he's as good at it as anyone in the country. This is the first time since Holtz that Notre Dame has a strong head coach who can get a team to lock in AND a stable of assistants who work in unison and elevates their position groups. It's a really special staff.

 

[greyhammer90]

I've been enjoying the snippets of his pregame/halftime speeches we've been seeing from the Irish Access videos. One thing I noticed about both the USC and IU games was that he used the message "Give everything for Notre Dame." For IU in particular, he said "Give everything you've got in your heart for this place."

Strongly reminded me of Holtz's mysticism and I'm really glad to hear that sort of reverence for the institution in his vernacular when speaking to the team. It's a small thing but I think it's a really powerful message to a bunch of bought in college-aged men.

 

[LifelongFan]

I've been enjoying the snippets of his pregame/halftime speeches we've been seeing from the Irish Access videos. One thing I noticed about both the USC and IU games was that he used the message "Give everything for Notre Dame." For IU in particular, he said "Give everything you've got in your heart for this place."

Strongly reminded me of Holtz's mysticism and I'm really glad to hear that sort of reverence for the institution in his vernacular when speaking to the team. It's a small thing but I think it's a really powerful message to a bunch of bought in college-aged men.

The mysticism is really important in the transfer portal. It shows that you're not a mercenary but a part of something bigger. This will probably keep a 50/50 guy from transferring.