Marcus Freeman describes unique situation for him, Jim Tressel for National Championship

For Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, the National Championship Game is a bit of a full-circle moment. There, Freeman is set to take on Ohio State, his alma mater where he was a standout defensive star for former head coach Jim Tressel.

Ahead of the National Championship Game, Freeman was asked about his relationship with Tressel and if he shared any advice about the game.

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“I’ve talked to him recently,” Marcus Freeman said. “I didn’t know he was coming to the game. We don’t talk about things like that. We just talk about probably some — I’m able to ask him questions, and he gives me his opinion. That’s probably what’s most important. Somebody that I hold very high, somebody that has experience in games like this, somebody that can give you a perspective from a previous head coach in terms of how you performed last game.”

Marcus Freeman played linebacker for Jim Tressel at Ohio State from 2004 through 2008. Twice he would be named a Second-Team All-Big Ten performer and during that time he, ironically, beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Freeman then would come back in 2010 to begin his career as a graduate assistant under Tressel and the two have maintained a strong relationship over the years.

“We talk often. But I know it’s a unique situation for him being that he is a part of Ohio State but also a part of my life. I wouldn’t put him in a position that he has to choose,” Freeman said. “But he’s been great for me all season long. I’m excited for him to be here.”

Marcus Freeman made history by being both the first black and the first Asian coach to make it to a National Championship Game. In his own career, this is the deepest he’s made it in the postseason as a coach at all. However, he did play for the BCS National Championship twice under Jim Tressel, losing both games.

For his part, Jim Tressel won a national championship while at Ohio State to go along with the pair of losses he had when Marcus Freeman was with the program. That gives him plenty of experience he can share with Freeman, though it’s hard to say just how much he’s going to want to given that it’s the Buckeyes on the opposite sideline.

This won’t be Marcus Freeman’s first time coaching against Ohio State, of course. The two had a home-and-home series in Freeman’s first two seasons at Notre Dame. Both of those games were won by the Buckeyes.