Live updates: Marcus Freeman Orange Bowl press conference
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is meeting with reporters on Saturday morning, in person and virtually, ahead of his Fighting Irish date with Penn State next week. A clash of historic programs, how does he see the Orange Bowl matchup shaping up?
Follow along with our live updates from the session:
Live updates: Marcus Freeman Orange Bowl press conference
(Marcus Freeman press conference ended at 12:35 p.m.)
Change in schedule
01/04/2025 10:32:35 AMToday is game week Monday. Have done this schedule for 10 out of 12 games. Don’t have those extra days. Now have to utilize the time they have to expedite the preparation. What you miss from those extra couple of days – physically they’re healthy, but mentally have to utilize every hour of the day to capitalize on the prep. For them, it’s routine. Have seven days between games.
Grinding out games
01/04/2025 10:31:17 AMThis upcoming opponent does a heckuva job on defense and their offense presents challenges. Built a little bit like Notre Dame. The question is what it takes each week to win. Georgia was the best defense they faced all year. Knew they wouldn’t have 400 yards of offense. Had to just take care of the football no matter what. Had to find ways to get positive rushing yards, sometimes running Riley, but had to take care of it. Defensively, stopped the run. Said passing yards aren’t going to beat them that game, it’s rushing yards. And special teams superior. Positives in all those phases, but that was the formula for that game. Haven’t yet defined the keys to this game, but for sure it’s going to be similar to last game.
Importance of middle eight
01/04/2025 10:29:22 AMFinish the first half, but never take the foot off the gas. Have to come out of locker room with a sense of urgency, no matter the situation. Up 10, don’t survive this thing. Sometimes human nature to do that. Have seen Georgia come back against multiple teams this season. So it’s a mentality. But your guys gotta go out there and get it done, and they’ve been doing that.
On the middle eight
01/04/2025 10:28:08 AMPractice two minute situations multiple times a week. Practice last-play situations that can occur a couple times a week. Then it’s important to start fast out of halftime. Different ways to practice that. Put a halftime break in practice and have to start fast out of that. End of the day, you gotta win the interval on that play. The game is made up of a lot of intervals. That’s what the guys are able to do. Those 39 seconds left when RJ forced the sack, and he won the interval on that play. The next play, Riley won the interval. It’s about winning the interval on that play. The only thing consistent in the game is that this is the only play that matters. Like life, the game is unpredictable. It’s how you handle it that makes it a success. Not the last play, not the next play, you can keep that as consistent as you can, you’re probably going to have a lot of success.
On Al Golden
01/04/2025 10:21:48 AMHe’s been a tremendous hire for the program, not just the defense. He is a tireless worker. He’s got experience. He’s intelligent. He finds ways to motivate his players and get them to play at a high level. A lot of guys on the staff that do those same things. What he loves about him is he works together well with his staff and they produce a great output. He’s collaborative. He’s been great for the staff.
Having potential to be first black coach in national championship
01/04/2025 10:17:09 AMI love my dad, but boys love their moms too, and want to make sure it’s well stated that he’s half-Korean. It is an honor. It’s a great honor to be even mentioned to be in this position. A reminder that you are a representation for so many people who look like you. Doesn’t take that for granted. Will work tirelessly to be the best version of himself. Own kids understand, don’t put a ceiling on what you can be and do. With that said, it’s not about him, the head coach. It’s about us. More than anything, wants opportunity to achieve team glory with this program. That’s what’s important. What that means to other people, that’s what it means. But he’s focused on doing whatever it takes to help them to achieve team success. Not about recognition, being first to do something. Have a chance to achieve team glory in the Orange Bowl. Will focus on prep it takes to do that.
Riley Leonard
01/04/2025 10:11:25 AMFreeman: He is an ultra competitive individual who finds ways to get his job done. It’s never perfect, but in the most crucial moments, he’s going to find away. That’s flipping over on his head to get a first down. He’s doing exactly what they ask him to do. And he wants to do more. Have to find a way to get more. But he’s done a heckuva job and he finds a way to get it done.
Handling success this week and noise around the team
01/04/2025 10:10:11 AMFreeman: Probably louder this week than it’s ever been. It’s human nature to enjoy people saying good things about you. But have talked all year about being misfits and have to continue to be that. Make the choice to waste time listening to people telling you how good you are or putting in the time to prepare for the opportunity in front of you. That’s been the message and everyone has to make that choice. As soon as you start thinking about the past or future that is uncertain, get back in the moment and put the work in to get the outcome you want. The minute you start dreaming about the outcome, put the work in.
Opening statement
01/04/2025 10:06:29 AMFreeman: Thursday seems like forever ago, but it was a great moment for the program. Give due credit to Georgia and Kirby Smart. The job he has done the past nine years is the standard in college football. Has a ton of respect for that program and him.
Quickly had to turn the attention to Penn State. As special as that victory was, they put all their attention to Penn State and being ready for this opportunity in front of them. If you don’t prep the right way, then that moment Thursday will be their last great moment this season and no one in the program wants that. So have to understand that and put the work in necessary to achieve result they want.
Cooper Flannigan will be out the remainder of CFP with a foot injury. Will miss him and love what he brings to the team. Otherwise a pretty clean game for injuries.
Ton of respect for James Franklin. Disciplined team. Creative offense with multiple formations. Forces you to be disciplined. Tyler Warren is one of the best players in college football, period, regardless of position. Both running backs extremely good players. Both home run threats, power runners, speed, balance, tough. QB playing as well as he has all season. Confident, making good decisions, standing in the pocket and delivering good balls.
Defensively, create a lot of havoc. Doesn’t have to be with pressure. Front four create havoc and stop the run and get after the pass game. And No. 11, Abdul Carter ,he’s as good as anybody in college football at his position. They’re fourth in FBS in interceptions. Challenge to prepare the right way and be ready for this opportunity.
