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Newsstand: What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about Miami University QB

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•09/20/24•

ByKyleKelly

Marcus Freeman Purdue
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

On Saturday, Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman faces a familiar foe when Miami (Ohio) comes to town. For the second time in Freeman’s coaching career, he will have to defend RedHawks quarterback Brett Gabbert.

Gabbert, the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert, went up against Freeman’s Cincinnati defense in his third career collegiate game in 2019. The 6-foot, 210-pound gunslinger completed 10-18 passes for 143 yards in a 35-14 loss. Since then, he has registered 41 career games, over 1,000 passes, 8,459 passing yards and 61 touchdowns.

Against Freeman, Gabbert could not get the run game going. But he has posted 450 yards and 7 touchdowns in his career. According to Freeman, the Irish will be prepared for both elements of Gabbert’s game on Saturday.

“He is a competitive individual,” Freeman said. “He really runs the offense well. He’s experienced. I went back to 2019 —  we played him when I was at Cincinnati, his freshman year. He throws a really good deep ball and does a really good job of taking care of the football. 

“I don’t know if he’s run as much as he has in the past, but I would assume, this game, that he’s going to do whatever it takes to try to give his offense a chance to have success. So, we’re planning for him to run the ball and throw it, but he is an experienced quarterback that will be difficult to confuse. We’re going to have to really play well on defense versus him.”

Miami (Ohio) will enter Notre Dame Stadium with an 0-2 record on Saturday. The Irish (2-1) will look to get back on track at home after losing to fellow MAC opponent Northern Illinois in the home opener on Sept. 7.

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“Some of the things I do outside of football aren’t to — it isn’t really isn’t to gain recognition or get rewarded for. But part of who I am in the position I’m in — the ability to impact others, to impact your community, are so important to me. Those are values that I have and want to continue to do.”

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