Marcus Freeman flips script, questions son's flag football coach at press conference

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had pressing concerns on his mind during his Monday press conference. After a reporter asked him a question, Freeman turned the tables, grilling the reporter on coaching decisions.

However, Freeman wasn’t referring to his own strategies. The reporter was Irish Illustrated’s Tim O’Malley, who is Freeman’s son’s flag football coach this season. Freeman had a few hilarious inquiries about O’Malley’s decision-making.

“Second-third grade championship game, OK? Two trips to the red zone — zero points,” Freeman said. “One play was a reverse pass that was intercepted in the red zone. You were offense coordinator on the red zone play. What’s your thoughts on the red zone play-calling?”

Here's Marcus Freeman turning the tables on Irish Illustrated's @timomalleyND during Monday's press conference. O'Malley coaches Freeman's son's flag football team and Freeman had a couple hard hitting questions on some coaching decisions/mishaps. pic.twitter.com/jIKtJkuQKQ

— ND Football Discord (@NDF_Discord) October 23, 2023

With the roles suddenly reversed, O’Malley gave his best Freeman impression.

“They were attacking the run so much with Nico and Nolan, I thought we could drop one over their head, but maybe the elements of the game, the mud, weren’t great. Basic was probably the way to go there,” O’Malley said to Freeman’s amusement.

While the 37-year-old head coach laughed, he didn’t let O’Malley off the hook. He pushed on with another hard-hitting question.

“Last question,” Freeman said, “there was a Nico Freeman in that same game that had a long run that was negated by only having one flag on. Whose responsibility is it to make sure the young man has two flags on?”

Marcus Freeman lets reporter feel his pain

Awkward. Nico is one of Freeman’s six children. And like any father, Freeman wants to see his son score. The pressure was too much for O’Malley.

“It would be the guy in the huddle, which would be me but you might be able to blame coach Stanley,” O’Malley said. “But I noticed you didn’t ask about the fourth and fifth grade’s thrilling championship game.”

Despite the hysterical moment of confrontation, Freeman finished by thanking O’Malley for giving his time to Nico and the team.

“Congratulations on your two championship wins yesterday,” Freeman said. “Head coaches get the credit sometimes when they deserve it and don’t deserve it but congrats on two wins… I appreciate that. That was a lot of fun yesterday.”

It sounds like Freeman had a fantastic weekend. Not only did his son, Nico, pick up a win, but the Fighting Irish enjoyed a break on their bye week. Now, it’s time for Notre Dame to resume its regularly scheduled programming.

On Saturday, Freeman and Co. will take on the Pitt Panthers at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC.