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JD PicKell: Marcus Freeman has fired up the Notre Dame fanbase

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•07/31/22•

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Notre Dame is in a unique position heading into the 2022 college football season. Brian Kelly high-tailed his coaching talents to LSU following the 2021 regular season, leaving Marcus Freeman to take over as headman while expectations still there for a College Football Playoff berth.

According to On3’s JD PicKell on a recent episode of the Hard Count, the Fighting Irish’s unique position has allowed Freeman the freedom to make subtle changes that rejuvenated the Notre Dame faithful since Kelly’s departure.

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“In terms of the fan base, they are fired up,” PicKell said. “Marcus Freeman has done just about everything right when it comes to being the new head coach Notre Dame. The recruiting trail has been a yellow brick road for the Irish as of late – they have crushed it. The biggest sentiment that I’ve gathered for Marcus Freeman’s early few months as the head coach Notre Dame, he’s making Notre Dame cool again.

“Like, look at all the things he’s done that have gotten this fan base excited … They do the cool unveiling of the uniforms with the Hangover video – that thing could have won an Academy Award; that got me fired up for the jerseys they’re going to wear against BYU in Las Vegas, October 8. That got all the buzz in the world on social media.”

Add in the fact that instead of the old, “stuffy” style of Notre Dame, they’re having recruits take pictures on campus in golden thrones and other grandeur object.

Little tidbits such as wearing green on ‘Irish wear green day’ (which they never had before, ironically), bringing back game day mass and incorporating a healthier alumni presence into and around the program are things Kelly all failed to make happen in his tenure that Freeman has jumped on during his first offseason as head coach.

“There’s a lot more buy-in from this fanbase now,” PicKell said. “They’re very much excited about what Marcus Freeman is bringing to the table.”