The College Football National Championship is just hours away, as Notre Dame football and Ohio State had their media availability on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Through out media day, there were many quotes from Marcus Freeman and the team that caught media's attention.
"The guys on this team don't like the feeling of losing." Jadarian Price stated. "It's been too long for this program to win a big one like this."
"We got good players too." Freeman stated on Saturday. "We gotta do what we do. We're going to trust our guys to get the job done."
However the silver lining quote about Notre Dame football came from not a player or a coach, but a College Football analyst and announcer.
Kirk Herbstreit silver lining quote on Notre Dame football
The ND head coach has the opportunity to win his first National Championship with the Irish, and he could do it in the magical third year. Media has seen the culture Freeman has built and Notre Dame is now becoming a nation favorite instead of one of the most hated programs.
"They've been searching." ESPN Kirk Herbstreit stated on Marcus Freeman. "This is not something that just happened over the last three years. You have to almost go back to the early and mid-90s for the last time Notre Dame was really a giant in this sport."
Herbstreit gave major praise to the Irish head coach, as he deserves it. Freeman has led this Irish team to elite status, and is breaking records along the way. Freeman has the most wins in a single season for Notre Dame with 14, and has won two New Year Six Bowl games this postseason run, which gave the Irish their first NY6 bowl win since 1994.
"What he has been able to do in three short years, and not just getting here, but the culture he has been able to create is probably the most impressive." Herbstreit stated. "Whether they win this game or not, to go where they have been, to go where they are now, and to go where they are heading with Marcus Freeman, if I was a Notre Dame fan, this to me going to be a really exciting era."
Herbstreit stated this Irish team is different then years past because of that culture and it is clear on the field. Freeman has a 33-9 overall record, 14-5 vs record vs ranked teams, and is currently 5-1 in bowl games.
"If I was a Notre Dame fan--to me, this is going to be a really, really exciting era."@KirkHerbstreit raved about Notre Dame's run through the #CFBPlayoff and Marcus Freeman leading the charge.
— Dominic Miranda (@DomMirandaTV) January 18, 2025
"I already put him [Marcus Freeman] at that legendary status."@WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/gz2G51lriL
Freeman brings passion and swagger to this historic program, a passion and type of swagger Irish fans aren't used to. The Fighting Irish head coach won the Dodd Trophy Coach of Year, which highlights the coach who embodies scholarship, leadership and integrity, but also showcases skill and success on the field.
"I already put him at that legendary status." Kirk Herbstreit ended his statement on Marcus Freeman.
Freeman has his eyes on Notre Dame football history, as he has the opportunity to make history, and lead this Notre Dame football squad to their first title since 1988.