Marcus Freeman opens up on history he, James Franklin are making as Black coaches in College Football Playoff

Marcus Freeman led Notre Dame to a resounding win over Georgia in the Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff on Thursday afternoon, and now the Fighting Irish will meet James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Semifinals next week.

Regardless of the result next week’s contest brings, history will be made — Freeman or Franklin will become the first Black head coach to lead their team into an FBS national championship game. While it’ll be a huge accomplishment for whichever coach gets the job done, and Freeman is grateful to be part of the conversation, it’s not at the forefront of his mind after advancing in the CFP.

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“Yeah. Again, you’re very grateful,” Freeman said, regarding the accomplishment, via his postgame press conference. “It’s a reminder that you are a representation for many others and many of our players that look the same way I do. Your color shouldn’t matter. The evidence of your work should.

“But it takes everybody. And that’s what I continue to remind myself. When people will try to point the finger at you, it’s a great reminder of you’re not in this position without everybody, without all these guys. And that’s what I told them in the locker room. I couldn’t get off that stage fast enough because everybody couldn’t be up there. It’s about the team. It’s about everybody that puts everything they have into making sure that we can achieve that success.

“And so, it’s a great honor. It’s a privilege. But again, as the head coach of this place, I understand we’re not in this position unless everybody in this program gets their job done.”

As Freeman has done eloquently throughout his coaching career, he chose to deliver the credit to his players and his staff for Notre Dame’s success, recognizing he wouldn’t be where he is today without their assistance. The Fighting Irish may have been overlooked by some entering the CFP, but that’s no longer the case, for sure.

Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame squad will be in Miami next week for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl against James Franklin’s Nittany Lions, as both teams are itching for a national title. That one will kickoff on Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.