Marcus Freeman: Alumni presence at pro day, practice demonstrates the power of Notre Dame
The Notre Dame network. You’ve probably heard of it.
But last weekend, you didn’t need to hear about it. It was on full display to anyone who walked into the Irish Athletic Center, whether it was for Friday’s pro day or Saturday’s open practice.
When a dozen Notre Dame players participated in pro day on Friday with a final shot to prove their worth to around 20 NFL teams, former teammates showed up from all corners of the country, including Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman and Carolina Panthers cornerback Troy Pride Jr., among others.
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“They built this place, right?” head coach Marcus Freeman said. “For any one person to come in here and act like this is about one person, you’re crazy. It’s about the people that have come, led and built Notre Dame to the place it is.
“This is their home and will always be their home. I want to make sure that’s clearly communicated. They are always welcome back here. They’re the reason why we’re in this position.”
Of course, it’s been well-documented that former Irish great and NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis is back on campus completing his degree and often around the team. He was present on Friday as well.
The reunion carried over into Saturday, as five-time All-Pro Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin returned to his alma mater for spring practice No. 5. He is now 31 years old, and he took time to attend a two-hour practice with players, some of whom are more than a decade his junior.
Sure, Martin was present in part to see his former Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, but his presence provides additional value to the current team.
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“It’s great,” Freeman said. “That just shows the impact Harry Hiestand has on guys. You have one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL coming back to spend time with Coach Hiestand but also our players. That tells you the instant credibility of Coach Hiestand.
“I think it’s great for our current players to learn from the best but also to see the respect that the best in the NFL have for Coach Hiestand.”
As with nearly everything in Marcus Freeman’s eyes, it’s not just about football either. The current players are making connections with the best on the field, but they are also getting to know former players in different business realms, life situations and more.
“That’s what you want to create,” Freeman added. “That network of guys paying (everything) forward to our current players. I think they like hearing there’s an open door, but I don’t need somebody to come back and say thank you. Just come back. Thank me by coming back and being around our players.”
