Marcus Freeman opens up on evolution of relationship between Tommy Rees, Drew Pyne

In 2022 with cameras everywhere and social media quick to latch onto anything that could go viral, coaches and players alike have experienced some moments they’d probably rather have back. Notre Dame‘s offensive coordinator and starting quarterback had one of those moments in the California game on Sept. 17 when Tommy Rees lit up Drew Pyne over the phone in between series.

Cameras captured it and both coordinator and quarterback had to address it after. On Saturday in a win over Clemson the scene was remarkably different.

Instead of yelling, the two shared an emphatic embrace.

“Those two moments, that’s a real relationship,” head coach Marcus Freeman said. “Anybody in this room. Anybody, that’s a real relationship. You’re not always hugging each other like they were doing on the sideline. You’re not always, hopefully, yelling and screaming at each other like they were doing, I don’t know whatever game that was, Cal game.”

Of course, back in September Pine was making his first start after quarterback Tyler Buchner was lost for the season due to injury.

Naturally there were some growing pains for Pyne.

“That’s a real, authentic relationship and that’s a reflection of two guys that trust each other,” Freeman said. “That you can have those type of moments but also embrace and tell him, ‘I love ya and I’m so proud of you.'”

Tommy Rees, Drew Pyne relationship what Notre Dame is all about

Freeman made it a point to underscore the relationship between Tommy Rees and Drew Pyne as an example of what he wants his program to be all about.

Forget the stat lines, forget wins and losses. Those are all important and they matter, no doubt, but Freeman also wants Notre Dame to be a place where young men can come and develop as people.

That means being able to handle tough situations, while also being comfortable enjoying the good times together.

That’s one of Freeman’s sales pitches.

“That’s real, and that’s what I tell our players and I tell these recruits,” Freeman said. “That’s what you’re going to get here at Notre Dame. You’re going to get real, authentic relationships where sometimes the greatest display of love is discipline. Right?

“Discipline might be yelling and screaming at somebody, ‘Do your job,’ whatever explicit set of (words) he used. Right? But the other part is telling him, ‘I love you and I’m so dang proud of you, man.’ That’s what I want all our coaches having. That’s what I want our players to have with their coaches.”