Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman notches win No. 1
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team finally got into the win column on Saturday, and by doing so, Marcus Freeman earned victory No. 1 as head coach.
It was a long time coming for Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman, who took over for Brian Kelly before the bowl game last year. Freeman and the Irish built up a big lead against Oklahoma State in that game, only to falter late, a problem that would rear its ugly head in the season opener in 2022.
Playing against the No. 2 team in the country on the road in Week 1, the Irish looked like the better team through three quarters, only for the Buckeyes to beat them in the end. Last weekend, the Irish returned to Notre Dame Stadium for their home opener, only to lose to the Marshall Thundering Herd in a shocking defeat.
Saturday, the Irish took another swing at getting Freeman his first win as head coach, and they did not let him down, beating Cal by the score of 24-17.
Notre Dame football rides Drew Pyne to win No. 1
Starting for the injured Tyler Buchner, Drew Pyne was solid for the Irish on Saturday, protecting the football, and coming up with some clutch passes in the second half. The defensive line played much better than it has in the first two games, and in the end, the Irish were able to establish the run game and get the job done.
Sure, it was not easy, as the California Golden Bears threw a hail mary pass as time expired with a chance to tie the game, but a win is a win. Notre Dame football needed this win to get their season back on track, and with a tough UNC team on the horizon, there are a lot of good takeaways from this victory.
The team’s attention now turns to the Tar Heels, a team they have had great success against in previous seasons. Getting back to .500 is the first step for Freeman and this Irish team, but for now, they can enjoy win No. 1 for their head coach, and the fans can sleep a bit better tonight.