Marcus Freeman on leading team out of tunnel at Notre Dame: It gives me goosebumps

Marcus Freeman is going to do something for the first time on Saturday. He’s going to lead Notre Dame out of the tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium as the team’s head coach. There is a lot of excitement for his tenure in South Bend, but after losing to Ohio State in Week 1, the pressure is on to start finding victories for Freeman.

During a press conference, Marcus Freeman was asked what he thinks it’s going to be like to go through the tunnel with his team for the first time at Notre Dame Stadium.

“I’ve tapped it [play like a champion today sign] a couple times,” Marcus Freeman smiled. “I don’t remember if I got to tap the sign as a recruit, but I did tap it as a defensive coordinator.”

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“But, you know, once you get out of that tunnel, you know, to be able to run onto that field, it gives me goosebumps thinking about it.”

Of course, this won’t be the first time Marcus Freeman will run out of that tunnel. He was the team’s defensive coordinator last season and he had the Spring Game. At the same time, this is the first time he will be the head coach for a regular season game there.

“I know we did it in the Spring game but to really do it when it’s real, it’s gonna be exciting. And, I know it’s not about me and it never will be about me, but personally, for me, that’s gonna be one you’ll never forget. The first time to run out of this tunnel into Notre Dame Stadium, when it’s real, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Notre Dame’s home opener will come against Marshall on September 10th.

Marcus Freeman updated Jarrett Patterson’s status

A big help for Marcus Freeman would be having his veteran on the offensive line, Jarrett Patterson, back from injury against Marshall. He gave an update on Patterson’s status as he tries to return from injury.

“The communication we had with the medical staff with Jarrett was, ‘Let’s go through warm-ups and see how you feel,'” Marcus Freeman said. “When you get to that environment, sometimes the excitement and what that environment will do for you will kind of numb the pain sometimes. He wasn’t able to go after warm-ups. So, we said we made the decision, ‘OK, you won’t go.’ We’ll re-evaluate him today and this week and I would still think he’s questionable. Let’s see. If he’s ready to go, we’re going to play him this week.”