James Laurinaitis admits leaving Marcus Freeman was 'tough'

A former Ohio State great opted to return for a graduate assistant position on the staff, and the decision didn’t come easy. In fact former Buckeyes great James Laurinaitis had to leave a former teammate to do so, and Laurinaitis admitted leaving Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame wasn’t easy.

The two played their college football together, and Laurinaitis had been a graduate assistant on Freeman’s staff with the Fighting Irish.

“I hate to let people down just by nature, that’s who I am,” Laurinaitis said. “It was tough, because Marcus and I go back to freshman year. In each others’ weddings and the whole deal. Thankfully Marcus was great about it. He basically said if that’s where you want to be, if that’s where your family wants to be, he’s like, ‘Then go back home.'”

The chief concern Laurinaitis had in leaving Marcus Freeman was inviting any bad blood between the two.

“I was worried; you never know how people will take that,” Laurinaitis said. “It’s a very competitive industry. And I love coach Freeman. But he was supportive in the sense of like, ‘Our friendship isn’t going to be altered by this.’ We’ve talked plenty of times since and so I’m confident that we’ll continue to stay close and be fine.”

James Laurinaitis heads home

While leaving Marcus Freeman was the obvious downside for Laurinaitis, getting a chance to go back to his roots was a major positive.

“It’s my alma mater,” Laurinaitis said. “I love the game of football and I love working with young people, so that’s why I got into coaching. You want to impact the kids on the field, but more importantly you want to leave, after building relationships with them, as better men. Hopefully give them an example of what being a good husband and father can be. Same thing that Luke Fickell did for me and same thing that Jim Tressel did for me.”

Laurinaitis will carry plenty of cache with him.

In four years in college he totaled 375 tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 13.0 sacks, nine interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine passes defended.

He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006, won the Butkus Award in 2007, won the Lott Trophy in 2008 and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.

He was also a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and a three-time consensus All-American (2006-08).