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LB Marcus Freeman (HC Notre Dame, Constant Backtracker)

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He was one of my favorite players on the team during his tenure here. Amazing that he'll be the head coach of ND at 35. Congrats to him.

We're going to have some interesting insight into ND in Columbus with all the connections he has to local radio personalities. He played basically played with half the 97.1 staff.
 
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bukIpower said:
Really hope he does well but honestly I'd be surprised if this goes well.

Has literally no HC experience? Maybe the next Lincoln Riley but geez I dont know.

Barely was even a DC with experience.

Will be pulling for him other than his 2nd game (OSU) but concerned he's not ready for this leap.
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Often when AD’s hire the “players choice” it doesn’t end well.

I still can’t believe that Fickell is out of the running.
 
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MaxBuck said:
I think Freeman will be a terrific head coach. I hope they hire some senior offensive coaches (Cutcliffe has been mentioned) to help Tommy Rees and Marcus learn the ropes.
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I tend to agree with @bukIpower , idk if this will end well for Freeman. ND is not the same program as it was 30-40yrs ago, and no matter how much media wants to give them a bias, they still can’t compete against the best CFB teams. And I hate to say it, but his leash will be quite short being an African American HC in South Bend, IN. ND chased off Willingham quickly only to lures Charlie Cheeseburger who had a similar record
 
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pnuts34 said:
I tend to agree with @bukIpower , idk if this will end well for Freeman. ND is not the same program as it was 30-40yrs ago, and no matter how much media wants to give them a bias, they still can’t compete against the best CFB teams. And I hate to say it, but his leash will be quite short being an African American HC in South Bend, IN. ND chased off Willingham quickly only to lures Charlie Cheeseburger who had a similar record
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I don't disagree, but there are only three programs since the playoffs began that have consistently outperformed Notre Dame. Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson. You can make a solid argument for Oklahoma and LSU, as well. But still, they're a top 8 program and the playoffs will be expanding.
 
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pnuts34 said:
I tend to agree with @bukIpower , idk if this will end well for Freeman. ND is not the same program as it was 30-40yrs ago, and no matter how much media wants to give them a bias, they still can’t compete against the best CFB teams. And I hate to say it, but his leash will be quite short being an African American HC in South Bend, IN. ND chased off Willingham quickly only to lures Charlie Cheeseburger who had a similar record
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I'm legitimately curious about something.

Twice (19,21) in the last 3 years ND has been part of cfb's playoffs. In both years they lost to the eventual national champions by LESS points that the national runner up.

2019 - (4) ND lost to NC (1) Clemson by 27 - One week later Alabama lost to Clemson by 28!
2021 - (4) ND lost to eventual ND (1) Alabama by 17 - One week later Ohio State lost to Alabama by 28!

...but ND can't "compete"?

This isn't a shot at OSU. Its a logical question. Against common opponents in a one off ND is NOT losing by a margin larger than the mean!

I'll close with this. Marcus Freeman will be the 2nd black HC that ND has hired in 20yrs. Isn't it kinda nutty for fans of schools that have NEVER hired a black head coach (almost all), to point schools that have, as being somehow being less tolerant than they are, about issues that they have NEVER had to deal with?
 
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With the portal, is this a sign (and not a good one) that programs have to start giving more attention to the player's ideas in a coaching change?

A few higher profile ND players apparently came out strongly on social media for Coach Freeman so I assume there was even more talk in the locker room and whatnot. Coaching changes always create transfers but with the portal it's easier and players have seen transfers ball out at their second school.

We've all sensed a trend solidly away from the Woody or Bear "lifer" coaches and these ridiculous salary/buyout deals aren't changing the trend. I wonder if schools are seeing a different reality: if we totally ignore the coaching pick of our roster, we might end up with several key players in the portal.

As for ND, promoting Freeman is a "trial by fire" for sure but I don't think Luke Fickell is leaving Cinci this year anyway. He'll be there if Freeman tanks as a fallback for ND.
 
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There's an odd myth that this is some type of "woke" hire. I guess ultraconservative Christian university hires ultraconservative Christian coach just doesn't get clicks.
 
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Thump said:
Often when AD’s hire the “players choice” it doesn’t end well.

I still can’t believe that Fickell is out of the running.
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I wonder if timing plays a part in this. Early Signing Day is coming up. I don't see Fick leaving his Cincy team while in the hunt for CFP. ND has to have a permanent coach on board for the recruits. At least that is my thinking.
 
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BuckBackHome said:
I wonder if timing plays a part in this. Early Signing Day is coming up. I don't see Fick leaving his Cincy team while in the hunt for CFP. ND has to have a permanent coach on board for the recruits. At least that is my thinking.
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I think that’s on target.

The early signing period was supposed to be better for the players. In reality, it’s forcing the vast majority of them to commit early, and many of them can’t be sure if their school will be changing coaches or not, or they’ll be switching to a new school they never visited in order to follow a coach who switched jobs in the last month.
 
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