Advertisement
football Edit

Column: What helped Notre Dame players’ voices resonate in search? Winning

The head coaching position at Notre Dame is one of the most prestigious in all of sports, and certainly one of the toughest.

One reason for its unique challenge is the truly national scope of the school. No single region, or single city, is more likely to produce the perfect candidate for the position. Roots in the Northeast don’t prohibit success, nor do roots in the Midwest guarantee it.

That is one reason why in 2009, Notre Dame director of athletics Jack Swarbrick had to cast a wide net in a search that ultimately led to the hiring of Brian Kelly. Notre Dame was in need of rehab, and all options nationwide needed to be considered to find the best candidate.

But rehab does not apply this time.

Sign up for Blue & Gold’s FREE alerts and newsletter

Advertisement

The 2021 Fighting Irish are 11-1 and have posted five straight seasons with 10 or more wins, a Notre Dame record. The current group of players have something the 2009 team and its 6-6 record did not have, or the 2004 team (6-6) or the 2001 (5-6) team for that matter. This team has leverage — because they win.

Current players, with an assist from former players and recruits, used that leverage to help usher in a quick and needed transition from Kelly to Marcus Freeman, who Notre Dame will promote from defensive coordinator to head coach.

To be sure, Freeman is a worthy replacement on his own right. He has been a highly successful defensive coordinator and recruiter. The improvement his Irish defense made over the course of this season was nothing short of amazing. In other words, he can coach.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football’s Marcus Freeman with recruits
Soon-to-be Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman spoke with recruits prior to a Fighting Irish home game this fall. (Chad Weaver)

In addition, he has a tremendous ability to engage people and interact with them. Find a photo of Notre Dame recruits on the sideline prior to a home game and you’ll likely see Freeman in conversation with those prospects.

In a plea to hire Freeman, former Notre Dame and current Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill shared on Twitter how Freeman reached out to him last January. There are no shortages of pictures of former players in the Gug. Freeman saw one of Tranquil and made the effort to check in with him after arriving in South Bend.

That is the action of someone that understands relationships, even with those that won’t have a say on whether you win your next game — a talent very few have.

My immediate answer to the general question of, “Should players decide who the next coach should be?” would be an emphatic no. That is what athletics directors and search committees do. Adults with advanced degrees working to make the best call in an extremely important decision is a far more prudent approach than a social media storm generated by current players.

It became clear in the 48-hour period between Kelly’s departure and news of Freeman being promoted that the current Notre Dame players had a lot to say, and the consensus nature of their message was clear: No need for a prolonged national search. We are good. We are 11-1. We are almost there. The players said Freeman is the man to take them there.

We don’t know how many people Swarbrick contacted, or from how many states in this country. If the answer is zero, Notre Dame’s players, and most of Notre Dame nation, is good with that. The smart decision was with the quickest search, with the enthusiastic support of a large group of young men who have won a lot of football games.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON THE LOU SOMOGYI BOARD

----

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.

• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

• Sign up for Blue & Gold's news alerts and daily newsletter.

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts.

• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @MikeTSinger, @PatrickEngel_, @tbhorka, @GregLadky, and @ToddBurlage.

• Like us on Facebook.

Advertisement