Everything Notre Dame Fighting Irish football head coach Marcus Freeman said
Amid a busy recruiting week on the cusp of National Signing Day, Marcus Freeman took a few moments to continue his media tour since being named Notre Dame’s head coach Friday.
Freeman called in for his latest interview — a Tuesday afternoon ESPN Radio hit — from a high school on the West Coast. The whirlwind hasn’t abated for the 35-year-old newly minted leader of a blue-blood college football program. That’s just how he wants it.
“It hasn’t stopped,” Freeman said Tuesday. “It won’t stop. And I’m excited for the challenge and opportunity to lead this program.”
Here’s everything Freeman said on ESPN Radio with former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. and Chris Canty.
On Notre Dame’s culture and being picked to maintain it
“We have unbelievable leaders. That’s what Notre Dame is about. We have exceptional thinkers. We have guys who aren’t afraid to go against the norm and speak their mind. They’re also the leaders of our program and leaders of our society.
“Our culture is one of toughness and player-led. We have leadership and our players drive our culture. It’s a culture of doing everything right. It’s a culture of never taking the easy route.
“My job is to continue to enhance it. Not change it, but enhance the things we do. One thing is the relationship between coaches and players. It all has to be together. We have to understand we’re doing this thing together, and that’s why I’m so excited to lead this team.”
On building trust with players in 11 months at Notre Dame
“It takes time. Trust isn’t just freely given. It’s built over time. It’s spending quality time with your players, making sure they know you on a personal level, having your family around, having them over to your house.
“It’s about being honest, being real with them and letting them know you’re in the battle with them. I have been on the other side of this. I’ve been in the seats. I’ve known what it’s like to say, ‘This is us versus you’ and I know what it’s like to hear, ‘This is us together.’ I like to lead through the style that we’re in this together, through the good and through the bad. That’s where a lot of the trust is built.”
On his priorities this month
“It’s going to change day by day and week by week right now. As a staff, we’re on the road recruiting. We have a couple days left in this recruiting cycle to make sure everybody who’s committed, everyone who plans on signing at Notre Dame, is ready to go.
“The other side of it is making sure our players know the coaches are gone and the expectations to do the things the right way, finish strong academically. That was the meeting we had yesterday.
“When we get back on Friday, the focus will no longer be recruiting, because we’re off the road, but how can we get the team prepared so that Jan. 1, they’re ready to have a successful bowl game versus Oklahoma State.
On winning a national title
“I think we’re…
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