Notre Dame football players, recruits, and alumni backing Marcus Freeman
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team did not announce who will replace Brian Kelly, but one thing is for sure, alumni, players, and recruits have their choice.
On Monday night, the news broke that head coach Brian Kelly would be leaving South Bend in a hurry, taking the job with the LSU Tigers, and not coaching the team in any potential bowl, or playoff game. That news sent shockwaves throughout the Twitter world, and when all was said and done, the rumor was true, and Kelly would be leaving for the Bayou.
That left the program wondering who would be the next man up, taking one of the more prestigious jobs in all of sports. Looking around the Twitter world, it was clear that one man stood out among the rest, and that was current defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.
Considered an incredible hire by Kelly this past offseason, Freeman hit the ground running in terms of recruitment, bringing in some elite classes for 2022 and 2023. In fact, Freeman did such a good job at adding new talent, that many felt the Irish were finally closing the gap between them and the likes of Alabama, Clemson, and even Ohio State.
Now, the Irish have to make sure they are able to keep Freeman in South Bend, as Kelly is making a play to bring him to Baton Rouge. Notre Dame won the Freeman battle against LSU last offseason, and they need to make sure they do it again now.
Notre Dame football needs to keep Freeman in South Bend
From alumni to current players, and even recruits, the love for Freeman all around Twitter was astonishing. One of the great, young coordinators in the game, Freeman seems like an obvious choice for athletic director Jack Swarbrick, though the AD refused to name a successor in his press conference on Tuesday.
In fact, with how vague Swarbrick was in terms of the search, it could send some recruits running, much like cornerback Devin Moore did on Tuesday afternoon. With so much unrest in the program right now, one thing is perfectly clear, and that is Freeman should be the guy who gets the job, and someone who would be welcomed with open arms by the players and alumni together.
Nobody knows how this will play out, as it is a business, and coaches have to do what is right for them, and their families. However, Freeman strikes me as someone who is already invested in bringing a championship to South Bend, and if he does get the opportunity to lead this program, they are in the best hands possible.