Marcus Freeman named Dick Corbett Head Football Coach

[ulukinatme]

Freeman running away with it in the comments:

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Freeman running away with it in the comments:

You'd have to be drunk to pick Sark

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

You'd have to be drunk to pick Sark

You CAN BE drunk to beat Franklin.

Sark is the best play caller in America right now. The Lincoln Riley gloss is over as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

He wanted it. He was ready for it. He didn't run to LSU or somewhere else. There wasn't reluctance to take the job when it became available to him. His heart is here and not somewhere else the way Bob Davie's was. He's not perfect. Has lost a few stinkers. He's won more big ones than he's had stinkers, though.

There's something about him, from day one. He leads. He understands. He is only worried about today, then getting better tomorrow. He knows it takes more than just one person to make it go. He's a leader. He's our guy.

 

[rtrn2glory]

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He wanted it. He was ready for it. He didn't run to LSU or somewhere else. There wasn't reluctance to take the job when it became available to him. His heart is here and not somewhere else the way Bob Davie's was. He's not perfect. Has lost a few stinkers. He's won more big ones than he's had stinkers, though.

There's something about him, from day one. He leads. He understands. He is only worried about today, then getting better tomorrow. He knows it takes more than just one person to make it go. He's a leader. He's our guy.

I usually go to a spring practice. I would love my morning run to be passed a statue of MFMF with that exact pose

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think he’s going to choke the next reporter that asks about being a black coach. Thought it was great that he reminded one that he’s half Korean.

Didn't get this vibe whatsoever. He answered the question with the same grace and dignity that he shows to everyone.

Go back and watch when he was a guest on The Pivot. He's made his stance about his heritage pretty clear.

I'm sure plenty of others have a problem with him being asked about it. Coach Free seems fine, though.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Winning obviously alters the perception, but gosh this guy is such a great leader for young men. I'm very happy to root for a team lead by a humble coach. A refreshing change from the personality of BK.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

We finally have a TRUE elite coach again

 

[irishff1014]

Didn't get this vibe whatsoever. He answered the question with the same grace and dignity that he shows to everyone.

Go back and watch when he was a guest on The Pivot. He's made his stance about his heritage pretty clear.

I'm sure plenty of others have a problem with him being asked about it. Coach Free seems fine, though.

And he goes back to giving everyone credit for putting him in this situation. Very genuine and humble about it.

 

[NDRock]

You CAN BE drunk to beat Franklin.

Sark is the best play caller in America right now. The Lincoln Riley gloss is over as far as I'm concerned.

This is just personal opinion and it’s probably changed through the years but I’m just not a fan of the offensive guru HC who calls plays. Even if he is “the best”. Sark, Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, the douche who coaches the Dolphins, etc…There’s so many moving pieces to leading a team (especially college) that I don’t it’s a great idea spending so much time on offensive game planning/play calling. Give me the defensive minded guys who are obsessed with the details.

 

[stlnd01]

This is just personal opinion and it’s probably changed through the years but I’m just not a fan of the offensive guru HC who calls plays. Even if he is “the best”. Sark, Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, the douche who coaches the Dolphins, etc…There’s so many moving pieces to leading a team (especially college) that I don’t it’s a great idea spending so much time on offensive game planning/play calling. Give me the defensive minded guys who are obsessed with the details.

FWIW I think you're seeing a shift away from that approach, at least in college.
Lincoln Riley is showing its limitations at USC. And to some extent Kiffin is at Ole Miss. Aside from from Sark I'm not sure I'd describe any of the top-tier of college coaches right now as offensive gurus. Even Ryan Day stepped away from that part and hired a guru OC, while Lanning, Smart, Freeman, etc. come from defensive backgrounds.
There are of course exceptions out there (Kenny Dillingham for instance, if ASU keeps winning), but the roster-building and culture-building stuff seems so much more important, big picture, right now, than the pure Xs and Os, and you can hire a coordinator for that part.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Great leaders hire other great people around them and work to elevate not suppress. They share the glory and take the blame. Freeman exemplifies everything you want in a coach and he's seen the ups and downs. I love where this program is headed.

 

[stlnd01]

Small thing maybe but was listening to the Andy and Ari podcast yesterday and they were talking about how the punt switcheroo put Georgia’s sideline “into a blender.”

Then one of them (Andy? Not sure.) recalled talking with Freeman a few days after the Ohio State game last year when he saw we had 10 guys on the field and our sideline was in a blender and froze up. And even by then, Freeman said, he had a plan if that ever happens again, a signal to the corner to go hit their WR and stop the play. I’d never heard that before.

In other words, Freeman has made plenty of mistakes. He has owned them and learned from them. That’s leadership.

 

[DillonHall]

This is what I always said about Freeman - he has great attention to detail and is a great learner so it's just a matter of time before he becomes a great head coach. I just didn't know if he'd have enough time for that to come to fruition at ND. Very proud that he's well on his way

 

[Fbolt]

My thoughts on this love affair, since many of you have asked.

Freeman is doing a great job, without a doubt. But hell, many posters on here are spitting on their hands to help him rub one out, ready to name their kids Marcus, and just jumping all over him.

Unhealthy. Your father or grandfather are likely better role models. FM doesn't know your name, has his own worries in life, and doesn't need a swarm of middle-aged men or pre-pubescent kids riding his crank.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Someone said “pause”

 

[IAIrish]

This is just personal opinion and it’s probably changed through the years but I’m just not a fan of the offensive guru HC who calls plays. Even if he is “the best”. Sark, Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, the douche who coaches the Dolphins, etc…There’s so many moving pieces to leading a team (especially college) that I don’t it’s a great idea spending so much time on offensive game planning/play calling. Give me the defensive minded guys who are obsessed with the details.

Obviously not the model you're thinking but pretty sure Andy Reid is still calling plays for KC. There's a reason we weren't saying this a year ago when Freeman still had parker as his OC.

But I get your point. Just think it's more about the makeup of the coach and getting good/great assistants organized around him.

 

[zelezo vlk]

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He wanted it. He was ready for it. He didn't run to LSU or somewhere else. There wasn't reluctance to take the job when it became available to him. His heart is here and not somewhere else the way Bob Davie's was. He's not perfect. Has lost a few stinkers. He's won more big ones than he's had stinkers, though.

There's something about him, from day one. He leads. He understands. He is only worried about today, then getting better tomorrow. He knows it takes more than just one person to make it go. He's a leader. He's our guy.

What delicious irony that Freeman turned down more money from LSU to be BK’s DC and less than a year later BK makes the opposite decision, leaving for Baton Rouge and a heap of dough, allowing MFMF to be hired and begin a new era for the Irish

 

[NDWarrior]

What delicious irony that Freeman turned down more money from LSU to be BK’s DC and less than a year later BK makes the opposite decision, leaving for Baton Rouge and a heap of dough, allowing MFMF to be hired and begin a new era for the Irish

I don't know if I would ever give BK that much credit but, again, he did mention at one point, about a year prior to his exit, that he believed ND may very well have its next HC on the then-current staff, I believe referring to MF if I recall correctly. Likely BK was already thinking that was going to be his last year at ND and that he was going to bolt at the end of that year.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

This is just personal opinion and it’s probably changed through the years but I’m just not a fan of the offensive guru HC who calls plays. Even if he is “the best”. Sark, Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, the douche who coaches the Dolphins, etc…There’s so many moving pieces to leading a team (especially college) that I don’t it’s a great idea spending so much time on offensive game planning/play calling. Give me the defensive minded guys who are obsessed with the details.

I don't disagree. I think in most cases a lot of guys are coordinator in name only. Let's be real, those defenses were Saban's more often than not. Those defenses were Belichick's more often than not. A few are able to be the playcaller and CEO HC but it's few and far between.

Be that as it may, Sark started out 5-7 and in Year Four he has Texas in the National semis. I'm not as harsh on Ryan Day as most, and I think Franklin is pure garbage as a coach though I'm sure the recruitnik ball lickers can find ways to compliment him, so apart from that I take Freeman out of some admitted bias and Sark second out of the four.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

I don't disagree. I think in most cases a lot of guys are coordinator in name only. Let's be real, those defenses were Saban's more often than not. Those defenses were Belichick's more often than not. A few are able to be the playcaller and CEO HC but it's few and far between.

Be that as it may, Sark started out 5-7 and in Year Four he has Texas in the National semis. I'm not as harsh on Ryan Day as most, and I think Franklin is pure garbage as a coach though I'm sure the recruitnik ball lickers can find ways to compliment him, so apart from that I take Freeman out of some admitted bias and Sark second out of the four.

I get that Franklin has failed as a big game coach, but pure garbage is an overstatement. He had unprecedented success at Vandy and has had success at PSU. To me he is reminiscent of BK, he can build or stabilize a program, but he has not been championship caliber or shown ability to beat elite teams.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I get that Franklin has failed as a big game coach, but pure garbage is an overstatement. He had unprecedented success at Vandy and has had success at PSU. To me he is reminiscent of BK, he can build or stabilize a program, but he has not been championship caliber or shown ability to beat elite teams.

It's also unfair to characterize the guy when he's in the same conference at Ohio State, Michigan, etc. Those two teams have been... pretty good lately.

That said, I thought some of the offensive playcalling against Boise was certifiably asinine. Penn State was in real danger of outcoaching itself.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I get that Franklin has failed as a big game coach, but pure garbage is an overstatement. He had unprecedented success at Vandy and has had success at PSU. To me he is reminiscent of BK, he can build or stabilize a program, but he has not been championship caliber or shown ability to beat elite teams.

He brings it on himself. He's an arrogant prick who hasn't really won anything other than, what, one Big Ten title?

He's garbage.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It's also unfair to characterize the guy when he's in the same conference at Ohio State, Michigan, etc. Those two teams have been... pretty good lately.

That said, I thought some of the offensive playcalling against Boise was certifiably asinine. Penn State was in real danger of outcoaching itself.

He's getting paid up there with Day and with where Harbaugh was. The buyout is $56M. You'd think he could beat either or both a bit more than to the tune of 4-16.

This is also the dude who, with Vanderbilt, voted an unbeaten ND behind three SEC teams in 2012, all of whom had losses (UGA had two). If he's got a hard on for ND, this is his first chance to do something about it. I look forward to seeing the outcome.

 

[Huntr]

tbh, not sure who this says more about. Especially when THAT guy says it. Damn.

 

[stlnd01]

tbh, not sure who this says more about. Especially when THAT guy says it. Damn.


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Yeah. I thought same. Kind of a massive shot at Kelly. Especially, when it comes to standing up with somebody, I can remember BK looking vaguely ridiculous wearing a giant lei at the Heisman ceremony when he was a finalist.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Probably very accurate, and coming from a guy who played for both Weis and Kelly that probably has more equity than any recent former player. That being said....

Are we past the point of knowing what Kelly is/was in comparison to what Marcus Freeman is? Kelly left ND better than he found it, in spite of many faults as a football coach and person, not to mention that he ultimately hired Freeman in the first place.

 

[Irish#1]

tbh, not sure who this says more about. Especially when THAT guy says it. Damn.


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Kelly always gave off that "me" vibe. It became clearer toward the end of his time at ND and very obvious after MF was hired.

 

[FOTY977]

Kelly always gave off that "me" vibe. It became clearer toward the end of his time at ND and very obvious after MF was hired.

It was obvious early days with the “my guys” debacle.

 

[NDRock]

Crazy how universally liked Freeman is by other team's fanbases. Not heard a single negative thing said about him and this is from SEC fans and even Michigan fans. Doesn't really mean anything but it's nice to hear.