Marcus Freeman is focused on the future, not the past, as Notre Dame prepares to face Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
While the former Ohio State linebacker and current Notre Dame head coach understands a matchup with his alma mater on the sport's biggest stage makes for a great story, he said Sunday that it will have no impact on how the game unfolds.
"This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school," Freeman said. "This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us."
Freeman addressed several other topics in the over-20-minute press conference on Zoom. He ruled left tackle Anthonie Knapp out for the contest and said right guard Rocco Spindler, who is also dealing with an injury, will give “everything he has into making sure he's prepared.” Freeman also said running back Jeremiyah Love, who said Thursday that Notre Dame wanted to face Ohio State in the national championship game, will be available despite a nagging knee injury, as will wide receiver Beaux Collins, who has dealt with a calf strain.
Here is a complete recap of Freeman's press conference:
Opening Statement
First off, I want to recap this last weekend and the great Orange Bowl experience that we had in the hard-fought victory over a tough Penn State football team. Being that it was the semifinals, victories are short-lived as we prepare for this last opportunity together with this special group. Ohio State will present a tough challenge. We know that. We're looking forward to this opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff national championship.
On Notre Dame's pass defense vs. Ohio State's pass offense
As you watch film, not many teams are successful just sitting in man coverage versus these receivers. We'll have to mix some things up and come up with a great plan to try and limit what they do in the passing game. You're not going to be able to stop their receivers totally. They're a talented bunch. We'll come up with a plan to and be able to adapt and adjust based off what's going on in the game."
“We'll have to mix some things up and come up with a great plan to try and limit what they do in the passing game. You're not going to be able to stop their receivers totally. They're a talented bunch.”– Marcus Freeman on Notre Dame defending Ohio State's wide receivers
On whether facing his alma mater in the title game is a full-circle moment
"In terms of this season, yeah, from where we started at (Texas) A&M and the loss to Northern to now getting ready to play for the national championship, yeah, it's full circle. This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school. This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us."
“This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school. This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us.”– Marcus Freeman on facing his alma mater in the national championship game
On Notre Dame offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp's injury
"Yeah, Knapp will miss this game. He had a high ankle sprain and won't be able to make it back. But we expect Rocco (Spindler) to be able to — and we'll see how he progresses this week of practice. But I know he'll give everything he has into making sure he's prepared. As far as the starting lineup, we'll do what's best for our program. We've got to figure that out. We have a week of preparation to make sure we get the right guys to start this game, and we'll see what that is here in the next couple of days."
On how Notre Dame's offense can have success vs. Ohio State's defense
"I think each team can be different. For us, we have to run the football, and we've got to find ways to do that. At the end of the day, you're going to study teams that have had success against your opponent, but you still have to do what your team does well. Again, for us to have success, we're going to have to be able to run the football, and we're going to have to be able to stop the run. Obviously, you know me well enough that I've said that for every game we play. But it won't be any different for this game."
“for us to have success, we're going to have to be able to run the football, and we're going to have to be able to stop the run.”– Marcus Freeman on how Notre Dame can have success against Ohio state
On the flu outbreak Notre Dame experienced before the Orange Bowl
"I'm sure every school — Ohio State is probably dealing with it, too. I think really probably over half our team has gotten it already, so I don't think it will have an impact on this week's game."
“I'm sure every school — Ohio State is probably dealing with it, too. I think really probably over half our team has gotten it already, so I don't think it will have an impact on this week's game.”– Marcus Freeman on the flu outbreak within the notre dame program
On his experience watching the Cotton Bowl on television
"You know, you don't get any schematics out of watching it on TV. You can see playmakers. You can see big plays. That was evident in that game. But you have to go back, and you've got to watch (the all-22 film). You've got to really evaluate the coach's copy of the film and look at schematically how you want to prepare for this game. But I saw some plays on both sides, specifically Ohio State's side, making really big plays on offense and defense. They have playmakers all across the board."
On his favorite memories with James Laurinaitis
"I think there's so many moments when you play together. But he was in my wedding, and I was in his wedding. Those are special moments, obviously, the days you get married. But we had some great moments when we worked together here at Notre Dame. It's a unique situation where a guy you're working with is one of your best friends. We've got a lot of great moments and probably some that I won't share in this press conference. But he's a great friend."
On keeping momentum heading into the title game
"The (team) mentality has got us to this point. It's every person in this program putting this football program in front of (themselves). That's what we continue to do and demand of each other. Everybody outside of this football program will find ways to give individual glory or praise or whatever it is, but we know inside this building that every person has a vital role for us achieving the results that we have. That's what it's going to be as we prepare for this game. Your roles will be determined as we get finished with prep here soon, and we need you to execute your role — whatever role that is — to be the best you can to make sure we can achieve the results that we want. That's what we'll continue to preach."
“It's every person in this program putting this football program in front of (themselves). That's what we continue to do and demand of each other.”– Marcus Freeman on how notre dame can keep momentum entering the title game
On Jeremiyah Love saying Notre Dame wanted to face Ohio State in the title game
"If you need (last season's loss to Ohio State) to motivate you to get ready for this game, then you're not the right person. That's the reality of it. We don't need motivation to be prepared for this game. We've got a chance to play in the national championship game. This isn't about the past. This is about this opportunity we have right in front of us, and we'll continue to focus on this opportunity right in front of us. If there are learning opportunities from other games or previous games, absolutely, we're going to use them. If that's going to help us be more prepared for what could happen in this game, we're definitely going to use it. But it isn't for motivation at all."
“We don't need motivation to be prepared for this game. We've got a chance to play in the national championship game. This isn't about the past. This is about this opportunity we have right in front of us, and we'll continue to focus on this opportunity right in front of us.”– Marcus Freeman on whether notre dame has extra motivation to beat Ohio state
On Jeremiyah Love and Beaux Collins' health
"No, J-Love is good to go. J-Love will be full go. Beux is still healing from — he has a calf strain, so he'll work back into practice here in the next couple of days. But as long as he progresses, he'll be good to go for the game. But we've got to make sure that he progresses as we go through this week."
On Notre Dame's inconsistent offensive performances against Georgia and Penn State
"I think you're talking about two really good defenses that we faced, two of the best in the country, as this one we're going to face this week will be, too. It's a game of adjustments and a game of taking care of the football and taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented, and that's what we did versus Georgia. We took care of the football, and took advantage of opportunities that were presented and found tough, gritty ways to get first downs.
"Penn State, early in the game, was giving us some unique looks and probably were running the ball into some difficult looks that we hadn't seen going into this game, but we had to make some adjustments. That's what this game is going to be about is, OK, everybody has a plan coming in, but how do you make adjustments? How do you find a way to get the tough yardage that you need to get a first down and keep the sticks moving and take care of the football? We didn't do a great job of that versus Penn State. That's probably one of the couple of reasons that the game was really close. We've got to take care of the football. We've got to find ways to run the ball."
On what a national title would mean for Notre Dame
"Oh, it would be something special. Obviously, this place hasn't won a national championship since 1988. Every year, the aspirations are to win a national championship. That's why all these players choose to come to Notre Dame — one of the reasons — is to be a part of the program that can win a national championship. I think it's something that they'll be able to say for the rest of their lives is that they were part of a national championship football team. There's a lot of work that goes into getting that outcome. That's what we've got to focus on, but it would be special for this university and for these players who have poured so much work into getting the results we have."
